Save the Date!
October 16, 2026 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Marathon Music Works | 1402 Clinton St., Nashville
Look out for formal invitation in August!
We hope you will plan to join us for Authors in the Round, a special event dinner that provides vital funding for the 38th annual Southern Festival of Books. The dinner pairs a Festival author with a table of Festival supporters, creating an intimate dinner party experience among 400 friends and fans of the written word. Formal invitations will come in August but should you have any questions in the interim, please let us know! René Dillard, Humanities Tennessee’s Director of Development, can be reached rene@humtn.org and 903-399-2005.
The 2026 Southern Festival of Books’ Authors in the Round co-chairs are Libby Page and Alice Brackenbury.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Authors in the Round | October 16, 2026 | 6:00PM – 9:00PM | Marathon Music Works presented by: Humanities Tennessee
Each year Humanities Tennessee hosts an event that welcomes more than 350 guests to dine alongside a selection of nationally known authors. Authors in the Round (AIR), the Southern Festival of Books’ signature fundraiser, ensures that Humanities Tennessee can continue to present the annual festival free of charge. The intimate dinner fundraiser has raised more than $1.6 million to support the festival in the past 16 years.
Among the oldest literary festivals in the country, the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word attracts over 25,000 attendees each October to downtown Nashville. Each year, the festival features more than 150 authors, exhibitors, and numerous performers and artists across 2 performance stages. We look forward to celebrating the 38 th year of the festival with you in October.
Humanities Tennessee is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Founded in 1973, our mission is to foster community and civility in Tennessee through public programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture.
For sponsorship inquiries or team volunteering at SoFest, please contact René Dillard, Humanities Tennessee’s Director of Development, at rene@humtn.org.
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION PDF
Corporate AIR Sponsorship 2026
| STORY STEWARD | · Logo placement on Authors in the Round digital materials · Host one table of 9 with a signed copy of author’s book for every guest · Recognized in Humanities TN Annual Report · 2 invitations to Saturday SoFest Reception | $5,000 |
| PAGE TURNER | · all Story Steward level benefits · Logo placement on Authors in the Round digital and print materials · Name listed on printed program and on-site signange | $7,500-$10,000 |
| READERS' CIRCLE | · all Page Turner level benefits · Host two tables of 9 guests with a signed copy of author’s book for each guest · Verbal name recognition at Southern Festival of Books author sessions · Exhibitor space at Southern Festival of Books · 4 invitations to Saturday Southern Festival of Books Reception | $12,500-$15,000 |
| FRIEND OF THE BOOK | · all Readers' Circle level benefits · Host up to three tables of 9 guests with a signed copy of author’s book for each guest · Verbal name recognition at Authors in the Round | $20,000+ |
TABLE HOSTS
Authors in the Round | October 16, 2026 | 6:00PM – 9:00PM | Marathon Music Works presented by: Humanities Tennessee
Each year Humanities Tennessee welcomes more than 350 guests to dine alongside a selection of nationally known authors. Authors in the Round (AIR), the Southern Festival of Books’ signature fundraiser, ensures that Humanities Tennessee can continue to present the annual festival free of charge. The intimate dinner fundraiser has raised more than $1.6 million to support the festival in the past 16 years. Among the oldest literary festivals in the country, the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word attracts over 25,000 attendees each October to downtown Nashville. Each year, the festival features more than 150 authors, exhibitors, and numerous performers and artists across 2 performance stages. We look forward to celebrating the 38 year of the festival with you in October.
For additional sponsorship inquiries or team volunteering at SoFest, please contact René Dillard, Humanities Tennessee’s Director of Development, at rene@humtn.org.
TABLE AND TICKET INFORMATION PDF
Individual AIR Sponsorship 2026
| FOLIO SOCIETY | Interested in supporting the Southern Festival of Books but unable to attend the dinner? Make a tax-deductible gift and join the Folio Society. | $1,000 |
| TABLE HOST | · Host one table of 9 with a signed copy of author’s book for every guest · Recognized in Humanities TN Annual Report | $3,000 |
| STORY STEWARD | · all Table Host level benefits · 2 invitations to Saturday SoFest Reception | $5,000 |
| PAGE TURNER | · all Story Steward level benefits · Logo placement on Authors in the Round digital materials · Name listed on printed program and on-site signange | $7,500 - $10,000 |
| INDIVIDUAL TICKET | · includes signed copy of author’s book | $300 |
Every gifts makes a difference!