Press Release – National Poetry DayThe National Poetry Day 2026 Calendar of Events is officially live today, with poets, publishers, librarians, and community organisers across Aotearoa answering the call to celebrate poetry and keep this annual celebration thriving. “If there’s one thing that stands out this year, it’s the incredible enthusiasm from our libraries,” says National Poetry Day Coordinator Gill Hughes. National Poetry Day also encourages poetry lovers across Aotearoa to pick up the pen through a wide range of competitions and creative challenges. Whether someone is scribbling, performing or simply taking a moment to read, National Poetry Day is a chance for poetry to shine and for everyone to celebrate it in their own way.” The full programme of National Poetry Day events can be found on the website – https://www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/calendar-of-events/NOTESNational Poetry Day was established in 1997 with a mandate to celebrate discovery, diversity, community and pushing boundaries.