American Writers Museum (AWM)—the first and only U.S. museum dedicated to the history and impact of American writers—is pleased to announce the complete programming schedule for the highly anticipated third edition of its American Writers Festival, opens a new window, a free event presented in partnership with Chicago Public Library on Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the American Writers Museum (180 N. Michigan Avenue), and Sunday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Harold Washington Library Center (400 S. State Street).
This year’s expanded two-day American Writers Festival features more than 90 writers across 40+ programs. All festival programs are free and open to the public, with seating offered on a first come, first served basis. Admission to AWM is free for the festival on Saturday, June 6. The museum will be closed on Sunday, June 7 when festival programming moves to Harold Washington Library Center. AWM members get preferred seating at main stage events.
A complete American Writers Festival schedule is available at americanwritersfestival.org, opens a new window, including programming details and book signing information. Seminary Co-op Bookstore will be on site selling books from participating writers.
Headlining writers for the third edition of the American Writers Festival include an array of bestsellers and award winners across genres, including: 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner, New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter Daniel Kraus (Angel Down, The Shape of Water); New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-nominated producer Reza Aslan (An American Martyr in Persia, Zealot); award-winning author Tananarive Due (The Reformatory, The Good House) in conversation with this year’s Nebula Award finalists; New York Times bestselling writer and scholar Eve L. Ewing (Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, Marvel Comics’ Ironheart and Black Panther); actor, comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang (Separation of Church and Hate, “Tell Me Everything" on SiriusXM); New York Times bestselling author and three-time National Book Award finalist Lauren Groff (Brawler, Matrix, Fates and Furies); New York Times bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Jen Hatmaker (AWAKE: A Memoir, “For the Love” podcast); legendary broadcast journalist Bill Kurtis (Whirlwind, Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!); New York Times bestselling author and journalist Susan Orlean (Joyride, The Orchid Thief); New York Times bestselling poet Maggie Smith (You Could Make This Place Beautiful, A Suit or a Suitcase); and Chicago Poet Laureate Mayda del Valle. A full list of participating writers follows at the end of this release.
"We are excited to partner with Chicago Public Library again this year as we bring back the American Writers Festival, a celebration that reflects the vibrancy and urgency of the American voice through our country’s diverse and talented writers" said AWM President Carey Cranston. “After the success of our past two festivals, we look forward to expanding to a two-day event this June, welcoming guests to the American Writers Museum and Harold Washington Library Center on alternating days for thought-provoking conversations with dozens of bestselling and acclaimed writers across a breadth of genres and mediums.”
“Libraries would not exist without writers,” said CPL Commissioner Chris Brown. “We’re proud to partner with the American Writers Museum to celebrate the voices of writers from across America and inspire writers of all levels to continue sharing their stories.”
The American Writers Museum’s American Writers Festival aims to transcend the boundaries of a traditional book festival, showcasing the immense contributions made by writers of all genres and styles to American history, culture and daily life. Panels and topics range from recently released novels and memoirs to screenwriting, comedy, adaptations, horror, romance, history, ghostwriting, journalism and more. Attendees can explore topics including:
Saturday, June 6 (at American Writers Museum)
Free Speech Today, opens a new window
Romance: Writing Love Stories, opens a new window
Based on a True Story: Thrillers, opens a new window
Special exhibit: American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture
Sunday, June 7 (at Harold Washington Library Center)
America at 250: Untold Stories, opens a new window
A Nation Wrestles with God, opens a new window
Masters of the American Short Story, opens a new window
SFWA Nebula Award Finalists, opens a new window
Horror Writing: Books & Podcasts, opens a new window
Word is Bond: Hip-Hop Journalism, opens a new window
Social Change, Faith, and the Making of Latino Chicago, opens a new window
Poetry as Storytelling, opens a new window
Classic Tales Re-Told, opens a new window
The festival will also feature special content and conversations from esteemed American literary institutions including The Newberry Library, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Guild Literary Complex, and Poems While You Wait.
The American Writers Festival is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Brenda and James Grusecki, with additional sponsorship support provided by the Poetry Foundation, Sourcebooks, Joan E. and Robert A. Clifford, Totally Booked with Zibby, and Ivan and Kathy Kane. This event is also supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
Writers appearing at the 2026 American Writers Festival
Jabari Asim, Reza Aslan, Quan Barry, Roberta Beary, Sara Benincasa, Amy Bizzarri, Reginald Blount, Darius Bost, Nikki Carpenter, Kat Chen, Amy Chu, Tracy Clark, Stephanie Cohen, Peter Coviello, Catherine-Esther Cowie, Jeffrey Cranor, Stentor Danielson, Mayda del Valle, Lisa Dickey, Nicolas DiDomizio, Deborah D. Douglas, Tananarive Due, Eve L. Ewing, Tom Montgomery Fate, Lilia Fernández, Joseph Fink, Stephen Fishbach, Erica Floyd, Jeaniene Frost, John Fugelsang, Syreeta Gates, Lucy Gilmore, Jenny Gorelick, Lauren Groff, Valerie Gugala, Annabelle Gurwitch, Jane Hamilton, Tiffany Hanssen, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Sarah Hartshorne, Jen Hatmaker, Scott Hawkins, Felipe Hinojosa, Chelsea Hood, Somto Ihezue, Runako Jahi, Ton Johnson, James Kennedy, Joe Kilgallon, Pamala Knight, Daniel Kraus, Bill Kurtis, Aviya Kushner, Anna O. Law, Joanne Leedom-Ackerman, Karen Good Marable, Juan Martinez, Lora McClain-Muhammad, Joy McCullough, Jacob Mchangama, Mindy Mejia, Joshua Moehling, Brian J. Morra, Sahar Mustafah, Arionne Nettles, Annalee Newitz, Angela Nissel, Lonnae O'Neal, Susan Orlean, Sara Paretsky, Kai Parker, Walter Pryor, Noel Rubinton, Donna Seaman, J. L. Seegars, Nadirah Simmons, Naima Simone, Maggie Smith, C. Riley Snorton, John Stauffer, Ilan Stavans, Karen Su, Randall Sullivan, Lew Watts, David Weimer, Nikesha Elise Williams, and Andy Woodruff.
American Writers Festival press kit and images available here, opens a new window.
About the American Writers Museum
The American Writers Museum (AWM) is the first museum of its kind in the United States. The mission of AWM is to excite audiences about the impact of American writers—past, present and future—in shaping our collective histories, cultures, identities, and daily lives. The museum is located at 180 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL 60601, and offers something for every age group including permanent exhibits and special galleries highlighting America’s favorite works and the authors behind them. Tickets to the museum are $16 for adults, $10 for seniors, students, and teachers. Free for members and children ages 12 and under. To inquire about discounted rates for groups of 10 or more, including adults, student travel groups, and University students, visit AmericanWritersMuseum.org/visit/groups, opens a new window or call 312-374-8765. Museum hours are Monday, Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information visit AmericanWritersMuseum.org, opens a new window or call 312-374-8790. Follow AWM on Facebook, opens a new window, X, opens a new window, Instagram, opens a new window and YouTube, opens a new window.
About Chicago Public Library
Since 1873, Chicago Public Library (CPL) has encouraged lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through innovative services, programs and technology. Through its 81 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. For more information, please call (312) 747-4300 or visit chipublib.org, opens a new window. To follow CPL on social media, visit us on X (@chipublib, opens a new window), Facebook (@chipublib, opens a new window) or Instagram (@chicagopubliclibrary, opens a new window).