“My journey toward becoming the 9th National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States was by no means easy. I started at the grassroots level. Each poem was an inquiry for myself, but marked a larger question for the nation,” said Guest Judge Evan Wang on our blog post about the Civic Power of Poetry.
So, what is a National Youth Poet Laureate? For many teenage writers, the title is among the highest honors of literary excellence. Read on to learn more about what this prestigious opportunity really is.
What is a National Youth Poet Laureate?
The National Youth Poet Laureate title is bestowed annually upon a young writer for exhibiting tremendous skill in poetry as well as a commitment to civic engagement, leadership, and social justice. Founded in 2016 by Urban Word NYC, a youth literary arts and development organization, the award has been granted to nine teenagers: Amanda Gorman, Jellystone Robinson, Kara Jackson, Meera Dasgupta, Alexandra Huynh, Alyssa Gaines, Salome Agbaroji, Stephanie Pacheco, and Evan Wang.
How do I become a National Youth Poet Laureate?
Four powerful youth poets across the nation are selected regionally by a national panel of judges based on their artistic success, civic and community engagement, social impact, and youth leadership. These regional winners are the national finalists, who then compete for the title of National Youth Poet Laureate.
Interested in competing, or know someone who is? This competitive application process invites exceptional candidates to apply here each year.
Why be a laureate?
Youth Poet Laureates are each granted:
- All-expense paid trip to perform at the National Youth Poet Laureate commencement in April
- An artwork featuring their likeness and poetry
- A personalized plaque
- $1,000 cash prize
- A cohort experience with an exclusive writing workshop and mentorship
The opportunity offers a unique platform for young activists to engage with local spaces and take on leadership roles in our tumultuous world.
Who was the first National Youth Poet Laureate?
The first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate was Amanda Gorman, appointed in 2017 at age 19. She is a poet, community leader, and activist from Los Angeles who published her first poetry collection, The One For Whom Food Is Not Enough, in 2015. Throughout her term as the National Youth Poet Laureate, she worked with the LA Commission on Human Relations to develop youth programs and conduct a countywide library tour. In 2018, she served as our Poetry & Spoken Word Competition Guest Judge, and we had the pleasure of eliciting her invaluable advice on finding the strength to conquer your fears and reach broader audiences in an exclusive Q&A.
Gorman rose to fame for delivering her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021, the youngest inaugural poet of all time. Founder and executive director of the organization One Pen One Page, Gorman is currently serving as a UNICEF Ambassador and writing, of course. Her most recent publication is Girls on the Rise, centered around strength, diversity, and unity of girlhood.
Who is the current National Youth Poet Laureate?
The 2025-2026 National Youth Poet Laureate is 王潇 / Evan Wang, the ninth to hold this title and the first of male and Chinese identity. Author of Slow Burn (Northwestern University Press, 2026), he has been deemed a “prodigy” by Teen Vogue and has been featured at and recognized by the Biden White House, NPR, TEDx, Button Poetry, and more. Evan is also the youngest winner of the Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize and has been published in POETRY Magazine, The Kenyon Review, Waxwing, The Harvard Advocate, and elsewhere.
We are proud to welcome Evan as the Guest Judge for our April 2026 Poetry & Spoken Word Competition.
