Festival Schedule & Events
Two days of authors, conversations, and stories in the heart of Salt Lake City.
- October 16–17, 2026
- The Gateway · Salt Lake City
Read & Ride with UTA
- Salt Lake City
Have the movies convinced you that reading on a train is the most cinematic activity known to humankind? Same.
Join us Thursday, September 17 for a FrontRunner Train Takeover, a night of reading, riding, and generally making public transit feel a little more fun.
📍 Meet at Salt Lake Central Station at 6:45 PM
🚆 Pick up your pass & board the third (last) train car and pick a seat
⏰ Train departs promptly at 7:06 PM
📖 Read your own book all the way to Provo
🚆 Get off at Provo Station at 8:11 walk across the platform to hop on the next train back to SLC at 8:16
Bring a book, settle in, and spend the evening reading your way down the Wasatch Front with fellow book people.
Ticket includes a FrontRunner pass. All proceeds support the 2026 Salt Lake Book Festival on October 17.
- Salt Lake Central Station
The Prologue
- Salt Lake City
A festival kickoff — the night before
The Prologue is the perfect opening chapter to a weekend dedicated to the written word. Join us at the Library, grab a drink, and start your festival story with us!
6:30 PM: Doors | Library Entrance
7 PM – 8 PM: Adult Spelling Bee | Auditorium
8 PM – 10 PM: Rooftop social + Literacy Book Sale | Rooftop Terrace
- Salt Lake City Library
Festival Day
- The Gateway, 400 W 200 S
10:00AM
The Language of Stone
Brian Laidlaw & Nicholas Triolo
Each ticket includes entrance to the The Language of Stone panel featuring Brian Laidlaw and Nicholas Triolo
- Kiln Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
Magic, Desire, and Destiny: Inside the World of Romantasy
Jennifer K. Lambert, Bel Banta & Nghi Vo
A Conversation on Love, Magic, and the Rise of Romantasy. Featuring Jennifer K. Lambert, Bel Banta, and Nghi Vo
- Main Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
How to Escape a Playdate: Storytime
Rachel Michelle Wilson
This event is free and open to the public but we do request you RSVP for a read-aloud from Rachel Michelle Wilson’s brand-new picture book, How to Escape a Playdate: The Fun Way
- Kids Corner Stage · The Gateway
- Read-Aloud
- Free · RSVP Requested
11:30AM
Don't Read This Alone: Middle Grade Horror
Alexis Powell, Kaela Rivera, & A.M. Luzzader
This event is free and open to the public but we do request you RSVP for a panel featuring Alexis Powell, Kaela Rivera, and A.M. Luzzader
- Kids Corner Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
- Free · RSVP Requested
11:45AM
Outwit, Outplay, Out-Plot
Samantha Allen, Lovell Holder, Erica Hendry & Parvati Shallow
Each ticket includes entrance to Outwit, Outplay, Out-Plot panel featuring Samantha Allen, Lovell Holder, Erica Hendry, and Parvati Shallow
- Main Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
12:00PM
Perspectives Over Pints: Is It a Book?
Lyuba Basin & Theadora Soter
Each ticket includes entrance to Perspective Over Pints: Is It a Book with Lyuba Basin and Theadora Soter
- Kiln Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
1:00PM
Cuentos en Español
with Zyanya Bejarano
This event is free and open to the public but we do request you RSVP for a story hour with Zyanya Bejarano
- Children's Room Stage · The Gateway
- Story Hour
- Free · RSVP Requested
1:30PM
Into the Dark: A Conversation on Horror
Alexis Powell, Mathilda Zeller, Taylor Grothe & Abe Moss
Each ticket includes entrance to Into the Dark: A Conversation on Horror featuring Alexis Powell, Mathilda Zeller, Taylor Grothe, and Abe Moss
- Main Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
What the Land Knows: Memory, Ecology, and the Living Planet
Merritt R. Turetsky & Jason Dove Mark
Your $10 ticket gets you a seat for this hour-long panel on the Kiln Stage, plus you’re joining us for a full Saturday at the Salt Lake Book Festival, free and open to all
- Kiln Stage · The Gateway
- Panel Discussion
1:45PM
Fire in Your Belly: A Story Hour with Aly McKnight
Aly McKnight
This event is free and open to the public but we do request you RSVP for a story hour with Aly McKnight
- Kids Corner Stage · The Gateway
- Story Hour
- Free · RSVP Requested
3:10pm
Habibi Means Beloved
Featuring Moudi Sbeity, in Conversation with Erin Geesaman Rabke
Each ticket includes entrance to Habibi Means Beloved with Moudi Sbeity
- Kiln Stage · The Gateway
- Author Conversation
3:15pm
Been There, Done That: A History Lesson for Right Now
Featuring Greg Jackson, in Conversation with Robert Gehrke
Each ticket includes entrance to Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome with Greg Jackson
- Main Stage · The Gateway
- Author Conversation
3:45pm
Kills the Rules, Bury the Bones: A YA Horror Showdown
Bree Despain, Lindsay Lovise, & John Stephens
This event is free with a live Q&A with Bree Despain, Lindsay Lovise, and John Stephens
- Kids Corner Stage · The Gateway
- Author Q&A
5:30PM
A Conversation with Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult
Each ticket includes a signed hardcover copy of Hollow Bones as well as a professional photo taken with Jodi
- Offsite · West High School
- Signed hardcover + photo included
Attending Authors
Jodi Picoult
Hollow Bones
Abe Moss
Morsels
Taylor Grothe
Lethal Kiss
Kaela Rivera
The Hungry Forest
Aly McKnight
Fire in Your Belly
Parvati Shallow
Nice Girls Don't Win
Mathilda Zeller
It Looks Like You in the Dark
John Stephens
The Age of Fury
Lindsay Lovise
Gingerbread Bones
Bree Despain
The Killing Rules
Moudi Sbeity
Habibi Means Beloved
Erica Hendry
Let's Not Go Overboard
Lovell Holder
The Book of Luke
Samantha Allen
Puck
Rachel Michelle Wilson
How to Escape a Playdate
Jennifer K. Lambert
Among the Thorns
Nicholas Triolo
The Way Around
Brian Laidlaw
Erratica
We'd Love to See You There
Grab your tickets, explore the lineup, and start planning your perfect festival day.