The Salt Lake Book Festival will host two days of authors, conversations, and stories in Salt Lake City on Oct. 16–17, 2026, featuring a diverse lineup of panel discussions and appearances by best-selling author Jodi Picoult. The event, centered at The Gateway and the Salt Lake City Public Library, includes specialized sessions on genres ranging from 'romantasy' to middle-grade horror.
Friday Kickoff Events
The festival kicks off on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, with a special event titled The Prologue held at the Salt Lake City Public Library Main Branch. This kickoff event requires a $10 ticket and includes appearances by authors Parvati Shallow and Jodi Picoult. According to the festival's schedule, the evening begins with doors opening at 6:30 PM, followed by an Adult Spelling Bee in the Auditorium at 7:00 PM. The night concludes with a rooftop party from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, offering attendees a view of downtown Salt Lake City.
Saturday Morning Programming
On Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, the festival continues at The Gateway, with programming beginning at 10:00 AM. One of the morning's highlighted sessions is The Language of Stone, a panel featuring Brian Laidlaw and Nicholas Triolo, moderated by Gabriel Tallent. Following this, the Main Stage will host a discussion on the rise of 'romantasy' fiction titled Magic, Desire, and Destiny, featuring authors Jennifer K. Lambert, Bel Banta, and Nghi Vo.
Children and Young Adult Sessions
The midday schedule offers a variety of free and ticketed events across different stages. At the Kids Corner Stage, Rachel Michelle Wilson will host a free read-aloud of her new picture book, How to Escape a Playdate, at 11:30 AM. Shortly after, at 11:45 AM, a panel titled Don't Read This Alone will feature middle-grade horror authors Alexis Powell, Kaela Rivera, and A.M. Luzzader. Both events are free to the public but require an RSVP.
Midday Discussions
Additional Saturday programming includes the panel Outwit, Outplay, Out-Plot at 11:45 AM featuring Samantha Allen, Lovell Holder, Erica Hendry, and Parvati Shallow. At 12:00 PM, Lyuba Basin and Theadora Soter will participate in the Perspective Over Pints discussion on the Kiln Stage. At 1:00 PM, Zyanya Bejarano will lead a free Cuentos en Español story hour in the Children's Room Stage. At 1:30 PM, the Main Stage will host Into the Dark: A Conversation on Horror with Alexis Powell, Mathilda Zeller, Taylor Grothe, and Abe Moss.
Afternoon Author Conversations
The afternoon sessions continue with a discussion on ecology and the living planet featuring Merritt R. Turetsky and Jason Dove Mark at 1:45 PM on the Kiln Stage. At 3:10 PM, Moudi Sbeity will be in conversation with Erin Geesaman Rabke regarding the book Habibi Means Beloved. This is followed by a 3:15 PM session with Greg Jackson discussing his book Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome. At 3:45 PM, the Kids Corner Stage will host a YA horror showdown with Bree Despain, Lindsay Lovise, and John Stephens.
Featured Headliner and Marketplace
The festival's headliner, Jodi Picoult, is scheduled to appear on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the West High School Auditorium. This appearance includes a signed hardcover copy of her novel Hollow Bones and a professional photo with the author. The festival also features a marketplace showcasing independent booksellers and various food offerings.
Festival Background
The Salt Lake Book Festival is part of a broader celebration of writing and writers organized by the Utah Humanities Council. While the festival's main events take place in Salt Lake City, the organization holds events throughout the month of October across the state. The festival highlights a growing interest in independent bookselling, noting that the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. grew by nearly 70% between 2020 and 2025.
