Sun Valley Writers' Conference

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Sun Valley Writers' Conference Engage with writers. Reflect on ideas. Be astonished. Mark your calendars: July 19-21, 2025 We call ourselves SVWC for short. You bet.

We are a once-a-year community of discerning readers and writers who come together to consider ideas set forth in fiction, nonfiction, journalism, poetry, and film making. While covering a great breadth of subjects, the conference is always anchored by important literary figures and frequently includes policy makers who have authored respected books. We often liken SVWC to a four-day literary house party that takes place in Sun Valley, Idaho, a gorgeous Western resort nestled under the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. As the weekend unfolds you will become aware of our unique staff, which is a never-say-no group that makes all things possible; if you ask for help you’ll get a guiding hand and a big smile. You’ll meet the members of our exceptional audience – generous individuals who flock here from all over the country. Like you, they believe in the importance of books in all forms, of civil discourse and teaching, of coming together to laugh, cry, listen and learn from the authors of the written word. And you will get to know some of our generation’s finest writers. Are we different from other literary events? Until you have had “the Sun Valley experience” you won’t know what the best writers’ conference in the country is all about.

Join us for SVWC Winter—a new one-day gathering at The Argyros in downtown Ketchum, Idaho. On Saturday, March 6, 2027, s...
10/20/2026

Join us for SVWC Winter—a new one-day gathering at The Argyros in downtown Ketchum, Idaho. On Saturday, March 6, 2027, six leading writers, thinkers, and experts will gather to consider what it means to live with uncertainty in the age of AI—tracing the question through geopolitics, creativity, literature, and what remains distinctly human in a world increasingly shaped by machines.

Designed to go deep rather than wide, this intimate, invigorating day will challenge assumptions, inspire new ways of thinking, and leave you with few easy answers and much better questions.

Passes go on sale November 10 ($295 – $495). Learn more at svwc.com/winter.

We were lucky to have two special literary exhibitions at , exploring the powerful evolution of the written word. 📚✨Don...
10/15/2026

We were lucky to have two special literary exhibitions at , exploring the powerful evolution of the written word. 📚✨

Donna Seager returned this year with her exhibition of artists’ books and book-related works of art. “In the hands of artists,” says Seager, “books can be transformed into eloquent works that enhance our experience of reading, subvert or recontextualize content, replicate patterns found in nature, or make wry commentary on popular culture. My goal is to provide an experience that expands the idea of what a book can be."

Ellipsis Rare Books, led by husband-and-wife team Andrew Lenoir and Charlotte Anderson, specializes in unsung histories, esoteric traditions, folklore, and artistic experimentation. Their presentation considers books and paper objects as evidence of political struggle, spiritual inquiry, cultural upheaval, and the ways knowledge survives in material form.

Learn more about Donna Seager's work at donnaseager.com and more about Ellipsis Rare Books at ellipsisrarebooks.com.

Thank you to these curator-collectors for enriching our conference experience!

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The golden season in Sun Valley! 🍂 🍁 📸 :
10/08/2026

The golden season in Sun Valley! 🍂 🍁

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Here for ALL the books 📚❤️📸 :
10/06/2026

Here for ALL the books 📚❤️

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We convened our 2026 gathering with the magical voice of Robert Macfarlane, a man who has been called the greatest natur...
10/01/2026

We convened our 2026 gathering with the magical voice of Robert Macfarlane, a man who has been called the greatest nature writer of this generation. No one writes with more knowledge, passion, and lyricism about the natural world and how we can be better stewards of all its bounty. That theme underlies his globally acclaimed books, including most recently Is a River Alive?, the moving story of three imperiled rivers around the world and the intrepid people who have fought to reclaim them. In conversation with Jenny Emergy Davidson, Executive Director of The Community Library in Ketchum, Macfarlane will talk about his adventures, literal and literary, and reflect on our beautiful, fragile planet, and the rivers that run through it.

Watch the full talk now at svwc.com/video.

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We’re incredibly grateful for the kind words from this year’s writers and presenters—and even more grateful that they jo...
09/29/2026

We’re incredibly grateful for the kind words from this year’s writers and presenters—and even more grateful that they joined us in Sun Valley to share their stories and ideas and create such a memorable few days ❤️

It is rare for someone to be both: a poet’s poet and a poet of the people. Ada Limón is that rare writer, able to dazzle...
09/24/2026

It is rare for someone to be both: a poet’s poet and a poet of the people. Ada Limón is that rare writer, able to dazzle critics and readers alike. Over her seven books of poetry, she has woven a lyrical spell that is both sophisticated and also accessible. Her latest collection, Startlement: New and Selected Poems, from which she will read, includes radiant new poems and a selection of earlier ones. They remind us of her uncanny ability to trap a memory on the page, be it about youthful desire, the feel of a table, or the loss of love. But there is joy, so much joy, so much inhaling of the natural beauty of the universe. Separately and together, they are about time itself and how briefly we are here on this planet and our need to savor even our sorrows. To read Ada Limón’s poems is magical. To listen to her read them is a gift.

Watch her full talk now at https://svwc.com/media/video/ada-limon-a-poetry-reading-with-the-former-poet-laureate

Photos:

Our friends over at LitHub did the scouring so you don’t have to. 📚They rounded up the season’s many reading lists and t...
09/22/2026

Our friends over at LitHub did the scouring so you don’t have to. 📚

They rounded up the season’s many reading lists and turned them into one handy list of lists—perfect for anyone wondering what to read next.

Check out "The Ultimate Fall 2026 Reading List" and start adding to your TBR. Thanks, ! lithub.com/the-ultimate-fall-2026-reading-list/

Many of us at some point owned a jacket, a fleece vest, or a piece of outdoor gear from Patagonia. Now we have the fasci...
09/18/2026

Many of us at some point owned a jacket, a fleece vest, or a piece of outdoor gear from Patagonia. Now we have the fascinating story of the unique company and its complex founder. In his new book, Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away, David Gelles, reporter for The New York Times, profiles Yvon Chouinard, the maverick mogul and unwavering environmentalist who committed the company’s future profits to fight the climate crisis. At , in conversation with W***y Walker, host of the Walker Webcast, Gelles talked about Chouinard’s extraordinary career and how Patagonia became a global leader in doing well by doing good.


Watch the full talk now at svwc.com/video. https://svwc.com/media/video/david-gelles-with-willy-walker-dirtbag-billionaire

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Address

PO Box 957
Ketchum, ID
83340

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12087265454

Website

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