Sarah Kay headlines this year’s Blackbird Poetry Festival to be held on April 23rd, 2026, on the campus of Howard Community College (HCC). Now in its 18th consecutive year, the festival is a day devoted to verse, presented in partnership between HoCoPoLitSo and HCC’s Departments of Student Life and Humanities/World Languages, including a writing workshop, multiple readings, HCC’s poetry patrol, a recording session of HoCoPoLitSo’s writer-to-writer talk show The Writing Life, appearances from the Howard County Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate, and much more.

This year, all event segments will be held in the Kittleman Room of Duncan Hall (DH-100), starting off with the 11 a.m. Morning Songs Writing Workshop, hosted by Howard County’s inaugural Poet Laureate, Truth Thomas, on the Skinny— the dynamic poetic form which he created and is now taught worldwide. The 2 p.m. Sunbird Reading features readings from special guest Sarah Kay and Howard County Youth Poet Laureate Penelope Tofigh, followed by a poetry open mic for local authors of all ages. Attendance to the daytime events is free and open to the public, while seating lasts; current HCC students and faculty may find registration links for credits on the college event page.

Finally, the festival culminates its daylong celebration of poetry with the Nightbird Reading at 7 p.m., again in the Kittleman Room. Nightbird will feature Sarah Kay, introduced by poet Teri Ellen Cross Davis following their conversation on the set of HoCoPoLitSo’s The Writing Life, with a reception, book sale and signing to follow the readings. General admission to Nightbird is available NOW while seating lasts for $25 per person, with discounted rates available for educators and students. For questions or issues purchasing tickets, to request accommodations, or to discuss attendance by a larger group, please contact HoCoPoLitSo via e-mail to info@hocopolitso.org, or by phone call to (443) 518-4568. Proceeds support the live and recorded literary programs offered by HoCoPoLitSo for student and general audiences.

HoCoPoLitSo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN 52-1146948) registered in the state of Maryland, donations to which are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of fees and postage.

HoCoPoLitSo is supported in part by funds gratefully received from the Maryland State and Howard County Arts Councils; Howard County Government; Community Foundation of Howard County; Dr. Lillian Bauder; and from numerous other, generous individual and corporate contributors. The Howard County Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate programs are administered in partnership between HoCoPoLitSo, Howard County Arts Council, and the Office of the Howard County Executive. The artistic contents and opinions expressed at HoCoPoLitSo events do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of HoCoPoLitSo’s grantors, donors, or individual Board or staff members.