Iowa City Book Festival 2026

Dates: October 18–25, 2026
Edition: 18th annual
Organizer: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature (nonprofit 501(c)(3))
Official site: iowacityofliterature.org/icbf

The festival is held at locations throughout downtown Iowa City and nearby Coralville. Most City of Literature events are free to attend. Visiting guests can use discounted rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown.

About

The Iowa City Book Festival showcases original events and collaborative programs with partner organizations, celebrating the written word and the exchange of ideas. The City of Literature works to celebrate and support literature locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

2026 schedule (from the official festival page)

Times and rooms are as listed on the official site; check the page for updates.

• Oct 18, 14:00 — Christopher Merrill receives the 2026 Paul Engle Prize — Coralville Public Library, 1401 5th St., Coralville, IA 52241
• Oct 19, 12:00 — Tree Tour: Literary Grove at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop — Dey House, Iowa City
• Oct 19, 19:00 — Marilynne Robinson and Nicholas Kristof — Macbride Auditorium, 17 N. Clinton St.
• Oct 20, 18:00 — Bonnie Jo Campbell: The Spirits — Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St.
• Oct 20, 19:00 — Megan Greenwell: Bad Company — Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.
• Oct 21, 16:00 — Curator tour: Ding Darling wildlife conservation exhibition — University of Iowa Main Library Gallery
• Oct 21, 17:30 — Pilar Quintana: La perra (The Bitch) — Prairie Lights
• Oct 21, 18:00 — Slamovision: International Slam Poetry Judging — Iowa City Public Library
• Oct 21, 19:00 — Mark Leidner: Elegy for Pangaea — Prairie Lights
• Oct 22, 17:00 — Melissa Tedone: The Poison Book Project — University of Iowa Main Library
• Oct 22, 19:00 — Panel: Weirdos Writing for Weirdos — Iowa City Public Library
• Oct 23, 19:30 — An Evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Yiyun Li — Levitt Center for University Advancement, 1 East Park Road
• Oct 24, 10:00–16:00 — Book Fair — MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St.
• Oct 24, 10:00–15:00 — Friends Foundation pop-up used book sale — Iowa City Public Library
• Oct 24 — Additional author events at the public library, Prairie Lights, and Iowa City Masonic Building (312 E. College St.)
• Oct 25, 11:00–15:00 — Writers Row – Local Author Book Fair — MERGE
• Oct 25 — Poetry in Public (Josie Nabhan-Warren), National Youth Poet Laureate Daniel Somtochukwu Umemezie, and Michael McCarty: Eerie Iowa

Volunteer opportunities for 2026 were listed as coming soon on the official page. Donate via the City of Literature site.

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Register for entry or booths

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Venue Map and Hotels Around

Iowa City - Iowa City, Iowa, United States