The Virginia Festival of the Book brings together writers and readers to promote and celebrate books, reading, literacy, and literary culture. Featuring the annual Festival in March plus the year-round events, our programming offers something for readers of all levels and interests.
With a longstanding focus on accessibility and diversity, Festival programming engages attendees and viewers with new books, on a variety of topics and across genres, that are timely and necessary, and which we hope will prompt discourse, inspiration, and connection.
We select Festival speakers through active recruitment as well as open submissions (June 1-September 26) and work with community partners to plan programs that speak to the interests and needs of Virginians.
Submissions
Every March, the Virginia Festival of the Book presents book-related programming featuring hundreds of speakers discussing their new books, in addition to year-round in-person and live-streamed events. In 2023, the Festival hosted its first series of Preview Events in Crozet, Emory, Nelson County, Staunton, and Richmond, and 2024 will see more events across the Commonwealth.
We select speakers through active recruitment as well as open submissions, June 1 through September 26. During this time, we invite submissions of new, published books of fiction (including genre fiction), nonfiction, poetry, cookbooks, and books for young readers.
Submissions for the 2024 Virginia Festival of the Book have closed. Submissions for the 2025 Festival will open in June.
Past Speakers & Schedules
Since 1995, we have presented a captivating list of speakers, from international bestsellers and topical specialists to debut authors and poets. Explore the Festival archive to learn more about our past speakers and to discover new authors to read in the future.
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Jason Reynolds (Long Way Down) and Laurie Halse Anderson (SHOUT) discussing the ways in which their work is meant to be a call to action for readers. Photo: Peter Hedlund/Virginia Humanities -
Lisa Ko (The Leavers) talking with a Festival attendee after a program at at New Dominion Bookshop highlighting her as the Festival’s inaugural Carol Troxell Reader.
Photo: Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities -
Mitchell S. Jackson (Survival Math), José Olivarez (Citizen Illegal), and Sarah Smarsh (Heartland) discussing their nonfiction and poetry with The Washington Post’s Carlos Lozada.
Photo: Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities -
Rita Dove (Collected Poems: 1974-2004) and Esi Edugyan (Washington Black) discussing the meanings of race, violence, and freedom in fiction, presented in partnership with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards.
Photo: Peter Hedlund/Virginia Humanities -
Jarrett Krosoczka (Hey, Kiddo) discussing his life and work with local elementary school students as the Festival’s youth headliner and Carol Troxell Reader.
Photo: Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities
Our Team
The Virginia Festival of the Book is staffed by two voracious readers:
Partners & Sponsors
The Virginia Festival of the Book is a community-driven effort, and, as such, greatly appreciates the support of many community partners, sponsors, and volunteers in helping develop and present our annual programs.
