JERSEY CITY, NJ —
August 13, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
Richard Blanco, who read at Obama’s 2013 inauguration, headlines this fall’s festival.
The Jersey City Poetry Festival will relocate to Mana Contemporary this autumn and feature Richard Blanco, the poet who read at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
The festival’s move to a new venue and the addition of a nationally known poet signal a growing cultural profile for Jersey City’s literary scene, drawing attention to the city as an arts destination.
Richard Blanco, a Cuban-American poet, delivered his poem ‘One Today’ at the 2013 presidential inauguration, becoming the first Latino and first openly gay person to read at a U.S. presidential inauguration.
The festival will be held at Mana Contemporary, a prominent arts center in Jersey City known for its galleries and cultural programming.
Impact: Residents and local poetry fans will have the chance to hear a poet of national significance in their own city, and the event may boost local arts tourism.
What Happens Next: Organizers are expected to announce specific festival dates and the full lineup of poets in the coming weeks.
The festival’s new venue and headline poet are set to elevate Jersey City’s status as a hub for literary arts in the region.
Source: Jersey City Times
