60+ Book Conventions & Writing Conferences (2026)

Are you an aspiring author looking for ways to connect with a like-minded community of writers, designers, and publishing industry experts? If you’ve spent any time writing, you know that the profession can be an isolating one. Finding a group to connect with is not only a way to learn more about your craft but also a way to increase longevity in an industry that can have lots of twists and turns. 

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Below is a list of book conventions and writing conferences available for the year of 2026. Whether you attend in person or prefer online, there’s a wide variety of options to choose from.

January

• Writers in Paradise, January 17–24, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL
• Seventh Annual Sunshine State Book Festival, January 23–24, Gainesville, FL
• Rancho Mirage Writers Fest, January 28–30, Rancho Mirage, CA
• F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, January 29, Daytona Beach, FL

February

• Savannah Book Festival, February 5–8, Savannah, GA
• 22nd Annual San Francisco Writers Conference, February 12–15, San Francisco, CA
• Left Coast Crime 2026, February 26 – March 1, Bellevue, WA
• Asheville Christian Writers Conference, February 27 – March 1, Asheville, NC
• 2026 AIBF Festival, February 28, Fernandina Beach, FL
• Appalachian Wordfest – Rose Glen Literary Festival, February 28, Sevierville, TN

March

• AWP Conference and Bookfair, March 4–7, Baltimore, MD
• North Texas Teen Book Festival, March 6–7, Irving, TX
• WCoNA, March 6–7, Loretto, PA
• Dahlonega Literary Festival, March 7, Dahlonega, GA
• Southwest Florida Reading Festival, March 7, Fort Myers, FL
• Literary Women Long Beach Festival of Authors, March 7, Long Beach, CA
• Texas Storytelling Festival, March 12–15, Denton, TX
• New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, March 12–15, New Orleans, LA
• Tucson Festival of Books, March 14–15, Tucson, AZ
• Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop, March 18–22, Algonkian Park, VA
• Revival: Lost Southern Voices, March 19–21, Atlanta, GA
• Virginia Festival of the Book, March 20–22, Charlottesville, VA
• Oxford Conference for the Book, March 25–27, Oxford, MS
• Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, March 25–29, New Orleans, LA

April

• Norwescon 48: Into the Wylde, April 2–6, SeaTac, WA
• 10th Annual Books Along the Teche Literary Festival, April 10–12, New Iberia, LA
• Minnesota Writing Workshop, April 11, St. Paul, MN
• BAM (Book, Art & Music) Festival, April 11, West Palm Beach, FL
• 15th Anniversary Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference, April 11, Hamilton, NJ
• San Antonio Book Festival, April 11, San Antonio, TX
• A Rally of Writers Lansing Community College, April 11, Lansing, MI
• Unbound Book Festival, April 16–19, Columbia, MO
• 28th Get Lit! Literary Arts Festival, April 17–19, Spokane, WA
• Ohioana Book Festival, April 18, Columbus, OH
• Los Angeles Festival of Books, April 18–19, Los Angeles, CA
• Las Vegas Writers Conference, April 23–25, Las Vegas, NV
• Newburyport Literary Festival, April 24–26, Newburyport, MA
• Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference, April 30 – May 2, Oklahoma City, OK

May

• Atlanta Writers Conference, May 1, Atlanta, GA
• Annapolis Book Festival, May 2, Annapolis, MD
• 15th Annual Hudson Children’s Book Festival, May 2, Hudson, NY
• Montclair Literary Festival, May 2-9, Montclair, NJ
• The Nonfiction Writers Conference – 16th Annual Event, May 6-8, Virtual
• Longleaf Writers Conference, May 9-16, Santa Rose Beach, FL
• Gaithersburg Book Festival, May 16, Gaithersburg, MD
• Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference, May 16–19, Homer, AK
• Poetry by the Sea: A Global Conference, May 19–22, Madison, CT
• Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, May 25-29, Ridgecrest, NC
• Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, May 30, Pittsburgh, PA
• Bay Area Book Festival, May 30–31, Berkeley, CA

June

• Write-to-Publish Conference, June 9–12, Wheaton, IL
• Nantucket Book Festival, June 11–14, Nantucket, MA
• American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 25–29, Philadelphia, PA
• Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop, June 28–August 8, San Diego, CA

July

• Readercon 35, July 9–12, Burlington, MA
• Detroit Festival of Books, July 19, Detroit, MI
• Macondo Writers Workshop, July 20–26, San Antonio, TX

August

• Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, August 12–22, Ripton, VT
• Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, August 20–23, Franklin, TN

September

• WriterCon, September 4, Oklahoma City, OK
• Washington Island Literary Festival, September 17–19, Washington Island, WI
• Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, September 25–27, Harbor Springs, MI

October

• Boozy Book Fest, October 3, Kansas City, MO
• Iota Short Forms Conference, October 15–18, Trescott, ME
• Bouchercon, October 21–25, Nashville, TN

November

• Charleston Literary Festival, November 6–15, Charleston, SC

Are book conventions worth the investment?

Whether free or paid, book conventions are an investment of time that no one wants to waste, so finding the right one for you is critical. Here are some benefits to consider before you choose.

Networking. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, networking is an important part of the writing experience. Since most writing work is done in isolation, connecting with others with similar experiences is a great way to stay motivated by sharing your journey. It’s also a great way to meet industry professionals and see where your writing fits in the overall landscape.

The writing business. Writing is a creative process, so sometimes the business side gets overlooked. This can impact your book’s profitability. Learning best practices when it comes to launching and marketing your book effectively is a good skill to have in your toolbox. Many book conventions offer sessions that teach the business of writing and give you a grounded perspective on what to expect and how to run your author career like a profitable business.

Inspiration and insight. Book conventions often have keynote speakers. Authors, publishers, and experts offer a balanced reality check about the book publishing industry, giving writers insight into what they can expect when writing and publishing their books.

Commitment. There’s something about attending a writer’s conference that makes you take yourself more seriously as a writer. Writer’s Digest had this to say:

Attending a conference provides physical evidence of your commitment to writing—whether that means commitment to a particular project or to seeing your creative work in a more meaningful way. 

Book conventions and publishing conferences can offer value on several levels. Depending on your needs, attending one or several can offer significant ROI.

Which book conventions or conferences should I attend? 

Before deciding which book conventions or conferences are best, consider where you are in your writing journey and your goals. Every BIG or popular conference is not necessarily the best one for you. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Where am I struggling right now? Do I want to improve my writing or learn more about the business side of publishing a book? 
• Where do I see myself a year from now? As a published author, or am I okay just writing for my eyes only?
• How’s my author branding? Do I understand the marketing side of the business? 
• Do I need support from other authors or industry professionals? 
• Do I take myself seriously as a writer? Will a book convention give me the confidence to pursue my writing dream?
• Which writers do I admire? Are they speaking at any conferences this year?

Before you spend money on plane rides and event tickets, consider what you want to get out of the conference. Go to the convention or conference website and look closely at what the event offers. If it meets many of your goals for growing as an author, it could be a worthwhile investment of time and money.

Takeaways

I usually end an article with “This may not be for everyone,” but not in this case. Anything that brings writers together to learn and build better author careers is a smart move for everyone. Writing and publishing a book is not for the faint of heart. A community, whether small and closely knit or of the conference variety, is integral to an author’s success.

For many, book conventions are the gateway to the world of serious writing. It’s where you can hone your writing skills, meet new people, and share your work with industry professionals like editors and literary agents. 

If you are on the fence about attending book conventions, start small. If there’s one close to you, attend it to see if you like it. If you do, consider a larger conference next year.

Investing in yourself and your writing future is always worth it. Take a look at the events on this list and see which one is the best fit for you.