The Annual Utah Humanities Book Festival is Utah’s oldest and only statewide book festival and has become Utah’s signature literary event.
The Annual Utah Humanities Book Festival
The 2026 Utah Humanities Book Festival
Our 2026 Utah Humanities Book Festival marks 29 years of strengthening Utah communities through reading, literature, and conversations with authors and each other. Held during October’s National Book Month, the Book Festival offers virtual and in-person events.
As our annual statewide celebration of literature, we work with regional partners in many Utah communities to highlight events with local interest. As always, participants will engage with authors in new, creative, and meaningful ways that are designed to connect readers, authors, and communities.
The 2026 Regional Calendar:
Utah Book Award Reading and Celebration: October 3
Wasatch Back: October 1-5
Northern Utah: October 5-11
Southern Utah: October 5-10
Salt Lake County: October 10-18
Bluff Arts Festival: October 15-18
Moab: October 23
Logan: October 21-24
Utah Horror and Romance Day: October 24
Utah County: October 25-31
With Special Guests:
Jodi Piccoult
John Green
Gabriel Zevin
Rachel Michele Wilson
Brian Laidlaw
Parvati Shallow
…and Many more to come!
2026 Featured Writers and Events:
Utah Book Awards Ceremony: October 3, 6pm,
Salt Lake City Library, Downtown
Parvati Shallow: October 17, 11:45 am, The Gateway, SLC
John Green: October 10, 7:00 pm,
West High School, Salt Lake City
Rachel Michele Wilson: October 17, The Gateway, SLC
October 29, Provo City Library
Buzzy Jackson: October 5, 5 pm,
Park City Library
Brian Laidlaw: October 4,
Park City Library
October 17, The Gateway, SLC
Jodi Piccoult: October 17, 5:30 pm, West High School
Utah Horror and Romance Day: October 24, 2;00-8:00 pm,
Church and State, SLC
Gabriel Zevin: October 7,
Salt Lake City Library, Downtown
We are committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of ability, have equal and full access to our programs. If you require any accommodations, please submit a request to Kase Johnstun at
2026 Utah Humanities Book Festival Program
See all of the Book Festival events in our 2026 program or check our online calendar section at the bottom of this page!
Utah Humanities Book Festival: A Lasting Legacy
The Annual Utah Humanities Book Festival is Utah’s oldest and only statewide book festival and has become Utah’s signature literary event. Each year, the festival is a chance for book lovers of all types to enjoy some great, free-of-charge literary events at locations throughout Utah.
For decades, we've inspired Utah communities by offering the state's largest annual book festival. Our inaugural festival, known then as The Great Salt Lake Book Festival, started in 1998 and was a one-day event featuring 30 authors at Westminster College. Our annual Utah Humanities Book Festival now spans several weeks and we've expanded our reach by partnering with libraries, community centers, cultural organizations, and more to serve upwards of 12,000 Utahns every fall.
Each year, we hear very personal stories about how an author or book has generated conversation, insight, and understanding. We hear about communities coming together and collectively immersing in books of all types - everything from historical fiction to comedy to poetry. We listen to individuals talk about how their personal or professional lives were affected in life-changing ways by talking with an author who inspired them. We hear about how we've helped to improve Utah communities through books, reading, and the resulting conversations . . . in short, through the humanities.
Many Thanks to Our Book Festival Sponsors
