Poetry Community Powers National Poetry Day 2026The 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. Organisers right across Aotearoa have embraced the opportunity to create events that celebrate poetry in their own communities, proving once again that National Poetry Day has always belonged to the people who make it happen.” “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. 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.