Nevada Arts Council

Release: Mari Basaca Fuentes Named 2026 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Champion

A woman with wavy brown hair and blonde highlights, wearing a denim vest over a black long-sleeve top and a gold chain necklace, stands in front of a brick wall, smiling softly at the camera.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

She Advances to National Competition in Washington, D.C. 

RENO, Nevada (March 10, 2026) – Representing Lyon County, Mari Basaca Fuentes is the Nevada Poetry Out Loud state champion of the 21st Annual Poetry Out Loud State Finals. The competition featured six students from regions across the state, including Carson City, Clark County, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County and Washoe County. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and is managed in Nevada through the Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The state finals were held at the Joe Crowley Student Union at the University of Nevada, Reno on Saturday, March 7.

Mari Basaca Fuentes

With the state title, Basaca Fuentes will advance to the National Poetry Out Loud Finals in Washington, D.C., April 27–29 where champions from across the country will compete for the national title. The competition will be live streamed for those who are unable to attend in person.

“Year after year, Poetry Out Loud reminds us how powerful poetry becomes when it is spoken and shared,” said Tony Manfredi, executive director of the Nevada Arts Council. “Through performance, students build confidence, deepen their understanding of themselves, and gain new insight into the world around them. Each competitor brings their own interpretation and voice to meaningful poetry, showing how personal the experience can be while also demonstrating poetry’s unique ability to connect us across backgrounds and perspectives. We are proud of all the students who participated in the state competition and wish Mari the very best as she represents Nevada on the national stage.”

Poetry Out Loud is a national program designed to help students develop confidence and public speaking skills through poetry recitation. Participants select and perform poems from a curated anthology, exploring works that span literary history and contemporary themes. The 2026 competition theme focuses on America250, in commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

A video of the Nevada competition is available on the Nevada Arts Council’s YouTube channel.

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