Headliner Named For 2026 Poetry By The Sea Conference In Madison

MADISON, CT — Award-winning poet Cornelius Eady is scheduled to headline the annual Poetry By The Sea conference in Madison with a keynote reading and musical performance 8:15 p.m. on May 20, according to organizers. The event will take place at Dempsey Hall, located at Mercy Center, 167 Neck Road.

The reading is part of the four-day conference running May 19–22. The event is open to the public, with tickets priced at $15. Organizers recommend advance registration.

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Eady is the author of multiple poetry collections, including Hardheaded Weather (2008), which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Along with poet Toi Derricotte, he co-founded Cave Canem, a national organization supporting African American poets.

In 2025, Eady received the Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, recognizing lifetime achievement in poetry. He was elected a Chancellor of the organization in 2026. Earlier that year, he read his commissioned poem “Proof” at the inauguration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on January 1.

During the May 20 event, Eady will also perform with the Cornelius Eady Trio, joined by guitarist Charlie Rauh and violinist Concetta Abbate. The group blends elements of blues, folk, and contemporary music traditions.

For more information, visit poetrybytheseaconference.org or email poetryby_thesea@yahoo.com.