Celebrating the written word since 1989.
VISIT THE FESTIVAL WEBSITE
WWW.SOFESTOFBOOKS.ORG
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Vanderbilt University Presents:
The Southern Festival of Books,
a program of Humanities Tennessee
OCTOBER 17 (9am to 5pm)
OCTOBER 18 (10am to 6pm)
2026
The Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word is among the oldest literary festivals in the country, annually welcoming hundreds of authors and thousands of visitors to downtown Nashville each October.
The Festival is free and includes performance stages, food trucks, and loads of publishers and booksellers.
Stay up to date and subscribe to SFB emails. We also post updates here and here.
In 2026, we look forward to celebrating the written word with you downtown Nashville at the Bicentennial Mall, Tennessee State Museum, and Tennessee State Library and Archives.
View some past sessions on the FESTIVAL’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
SUBMIT A BOOK
The public book submission window closed May 31, 2026. Thanks for your interest in the Festival!
BE AN EXHIBITOR
If you are a bookseller, publisher, press, literacy organization, or a company with book-related products, we invite you to rent a booth at the 2026 Southern Festival of Books. Head to the Southern Festival of Books website for more information. [UPDATE! Booth rentals for 2026 are at capacity. To join the waitlist, send a note to sfb1@humtn.org. Thank you!]
DONATE OR SPONSOR
Your gift helps ensure that this Festival remains FREE to all attendees, this year and for years to come. It is our mission to make this experience accessible to as many people as possible, of all ages and backgrounds. Thank you in advance for your commitment to The Southern Festival of Books.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact rene@humtn.org.
AUTHORS IN THE ROUND
Authors In The Round is a special event dinner that provides vital funding for the Southern Festival of Books.
VOLUNTEER
The Southern Festival of Books relies on hundreds volunteers to help the event run smoothly. Read about the various volunteer positions needed, and sign up here!
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