Bestselling author Jodi Picoult will headline the Salt Lake Book Festival on Oct. 17, 2026, as part of the 29th annual Utah Humanities Book Festival. The event, which includes a scheduled conversation with the author and a signed copy of her book "Hollow Bones," marks a major highlight for the signature literary event in Salt Lake City.
Festival Schedule and Events
The Salt Lake Book Festival, organized by Utah Humanities, is set to take place from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17, 2026, at The Gateway. The festival aims to be a welcoming gathering for authors and readers, designed to help individuals discover stories that spark a lifelong love of reading.
On Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, the festival will host "The Prologue," an exclusive pre-party at the Salt Lake City Public Library. The event features appearances by Parvati Shallow and Jodi Picoult and requires a $10 ticket for admission.
Saturday Programming Highlights
The Saturday programming on Oct. 17, 2026, includes various panels and sessions across multiple venues, including the Main Stage, Kiln Stage, and Children's Room Stage at The Gateway. Featured sessions include "Magic, Desire, and Destiny: Inside the World of Romantasy" with Jennifer K. Lambert, Bel Banta, and Nghi Vo, and a panel on middle grade horror featuring Alexis Powell, Kaela Rivera, and A.M. Luzzader.
Other scheduled activities for the Saturday include "The Language of Stone" with Brian Laidlaw and Nicholas Triolo, and a session titled "Outwit, Outplay, Out-Plot" featuring Samantha Allen, Lovell Holder, Erica Hendry, and Parvati Shallow. Some events, such as story hours with Rachel Michelle Wilson and Aly McKnight, are free and open to the public but require RSVPs.
A Statewide Literary Legacy
The Utah Humanities Book Festival is the state's oldest and only statewide book festival, serving as Utah's signature literary event. The organization has grown significantly since its inception in 1998 as a one-day event at Westminster College.
Now spanning several weeks, the festival partners with libraries, community centers, and cultural organizations to serve more than 12,000 Utahns every fall. The 2025 festival, which was held during October's National Book Month, featured various regional calendars across the Wasatch Back, Southern Utah, Salt Lake County, Northern Utah, Moab, and Utah County.
Leadership and Mission
The festival's leadership includes Kase Johnstun, Director of the Utah Center for the Book. Johnstun, a 2021 Ogden Mayor's Award Recipient for the Literary Arts, has spent 15 years teaching writing nationally and internationally and previously worked in publishing for newspapers and professional baseball.
Picoult's 2026 Book Tour
Picoult's appearance in Salt Lake City is part of her 2026 "Hollow Bones" book tour. Her tour schedule includes stops in several U.S. cities, including Boston, New York, and Chicago, as well as international dates in Canada and the United Kingdom.
