Poets House Showcase

A reader enjoys the Showcase

Poets House Board Member Ward Smith, Poets House Executive Director Lee Briccetti and Poets House Board Member Wendy Larsen

Showcase submissions (c) Byron Bartlett

Former Poets House Artistic Director Stephen Motika displays one of the Showcase submissions

Readers Browse the 2010 Showcase (c) Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times)

The Poets House Showcase at 72 Spring Street, 1993

The only event of its kind, the annual Poets House Showcase is a free exhibit featuring thousands of new poetry books and poetry-related texts published in the English language over the past 18 months. For nearly 30 years, the Showcase Exhibit has displayed thousands of works by and about the poetry community, including volumes by individual authors, anthologies, chapbooks, prose and criticism, multimedia works, artists’ books, and more.

In this diverse, inclusive exhibition, books from small presses receive the same care and attention as those from major publishers, and self-published authors are displayed alongside Poets Laureate. The exhibit is arranged alphabetically by publisher, making it easy to get a taste of each press’s distinctive voice and list.

The 28th Showcase—the first since the pandemic and major renovations—features books published in 2020 and 2021. The exhibition will be on view from April 6–May 31, during regular library hours, and will be accompanied by readings throughout April and May.

Click here to view the exhibition catalog!

Showcase Readings – Spring 2024

Cornelius Eady & Myra Shapiro | In-person | Saturday | April 6 | 4-6pm

Mei-mei Berssenbrugge & Lara Mimosa Montes | In-Person | Thursday | April 11 | 7-9pm

Eduardo C. Corral & Benjamin Garcia | In-Person | Thursday | April 25 | 7-9pm

Rosebud Ben-Oni & Megan Fernandes | In-person | Tuesday | May 7 | 7-9pm

Showcase Community Reading | In-Person | Saturday | May 18 | 2-4pm

John Keene & Pamela Sneed | In-person | Tuesday | May 21 | 7-9pm

More readings TBA!

Submissions are closed for the 28th Showcase exhibit, but you can still send your titles to be added to the collection, or for the upcoming 29th Showcase, featuring books published in 2022 and 2023. Poets and publishers, find out how to submit your books!

Poet looking to get a sense of the publication scene? Librarian in search of poetry books for collection development? Or a reader hoping for an inspiring poetry deep dive? We’ve got you covered with a decade of Poets House Showcase exhibition catalogs—each packed with thousands of titles!

Past Poets House Showcase exhibition catalogs:

2024 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010