What are the opening hours?

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

Sun Valley Writers' Conference

Home
United States
Ketchum, ID
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 hous

e 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.

06/19/2026

Summer in Sun Valley means world-class culture, stunning scenery, and some of the most celebrated writers of our time—all at the Sun Valley Resort & Pavilion.

This July 18–20 at the 2026 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, we're offering free Pavilion lawn talks, free livestreaming, a Live Watch Party, and community programming—creating more opportunities than ever to experience SVWC.

Join us for iconic voices including Ken Burns, Jill Lepore, Beth Macy, Susan Orlean, Michael Pollan, Amor Towles, and more as we gather for three days of storytelling, inspiration, and unforgettable conversation. Whether you're a lifelong reader or simply looking for a uniquely Sun Valley experience, there's something here for you.

Learn more at svwc.com/free.

📸: .pierce .sheehan.photography

06/18/2026

Passes for the Live Watch Party go on sale in less than one week! This July 18-20, select talks will be broadcast to the large theater screen at The Argyros. Join fellow Wood River Valley book lovers for this fun and festive viewing party in downtown Ketchum. Passes are just $25 per day and will go on sale June 23 at 9am MST at svwc.com/watchparty. Learn more and see the lineup at: https://svwc.com/watchparty

📸: .sheehan.photography

06/17/2026

Few writers have changed the way we think about food, nature, and the human mind quite like Michael Pollan.

From The Omnivore’s Dilemma to How to Change Your Mind, Pollan’s bestselling books have sparked conversations around dinner tables, in classrooms, and across the culture. For decades, he has been asking some of life's most fascinating questions—and millions of readers have followed along. Now he joins us at fresh off the release of his highly anticipated new book, A World Appears, exploring one of humanity’s greatest mysteries: consciousness itself.

We can't wait to welcome Michael Pollan to Sun Valley this July!

Pollan's Pavilion Talk will be Sunday, July 19 at 3pm—available for free lawn talk seating, free livestreaming, and at the Live Watch Party. Subscribe to receive updates about these events at svwc.com/subscribe. .pollan

📸 : Christopher Michel

06/16/2026

At SVWC, we’re passionate about supporting literacy and lifelong learning. And since great readers begin with great teachers, we are proud to support The Community Library’s Sun Valley Early Literacy Summit. This program, which happened June 9-12, brings together 120 educators from across southern Idaho to explore the science of reading and evidence-based literacy instruction—equipping them with the tools and knowledge to help every child become a confident reader. Through our partnership, we donated copies of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans to participating teachers, fostering a shared love of reading while strengthening literacy efforts in schools throughout Idaho.

06/15/2026

Do you know about all the ways you can join without a full pass? We have developed even more community programs and expanded our free events to make SVWC as inclusive as possible!

Free Events & Community Programming
1. FREE Pavilion Lawn Talks
2. FREE Community Speaker Series (registration is full—livestreaming available)
3. FREE Livestreaming
4. FREE Digital Media Library
5. FREE for Students, Teachers & Library Staff
6. Pavilion Passes ($50-$100—tickets still available)
7. Live Watch Party at The Argyros ($25 per day—on sale June 23)

Learn more at svwc.com/free. We also recommend signing up for our email newsletter at svwc.com/subscribe to receive important updates about these programs and events.

06/12/2026

We're getting geared up for ... from July 18-20, we've got an incredible lineup of literary arts! Don't miss our free speakers at The Community Library, free lawn talks (picnics encouraged), free livestreaming from the comfort of your own home, and free online content in our digital media library. We've also got a Live Watch Party happening in downtown Ketchum + and Pavilion Passes to select talks inside the Sun Valley Pavilion. Subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing at svwc.com/subscribe.

THE 2026 LINE-UP:
Liaquat Ahamed
Rick Atkinson
Theo Baker
Sarabeth Berman
Ken Burns
Susan Choi
Amy Bowers Cordalis
Kiran Desai
Virginia Evans
Atul Gawande
David Gelles
Peter Godwin
Jill Lepore
Ada Limón
Julia Lovell
Robert Macfarlane
Beth Macy
Sebastian Mallaby
Julian Brave NoiseCat
Susan Orlean
Abby Phillip
Michael Pollan
Shelley Read
Simon Rich
David Sanger
Gary Shteyngart
Derek Thompson
Amor Towles
Barbara Wansbrough
Ilyon Woo

Photos: .pierce

06/11/2026

New podcast episode just landed! Ruth Reichl, one of our best-known and most well-loved food writers, is the author of five memoirs, including Tender at the Bone and Save Me the Plums. But she is also a captivating novelist, and, as you might imagine, her fiction is full of sensory pleasures. In Reichl’s “The Paris Novel”, the protagonist Stella is left with an unusual inheritance from her mother: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading simply, “Go to Paris.” But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a traumatic childhood has confined her to the strict routines of her comfort zone. In a conversation with fellow food writer Aleksandra Crapanzano, recorded live at the 2025 Writers' Conference, Reichl speaks about her novel that celebrates the city they both adore, and the many reasons for living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home. .reichl

Listen now: https://svwc.com/media/podcast/ruth-reichl-the-paris-novel-2

To listen to other talks from the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, subscribe now on iTunes, Spotify, or listen directly on our website.

06/10/2026

If it feels like everyone is talking about "The Correspondent" right now, you're not imagining it.

Virginia Evans's debut novel has become an international bestseller, selling in more than 25 countries and winning over readers with its unforgettable heroine: a sharp-tongued, letter-writing septuagenarian whose wit, wisdom, and hidden heartbreak have made her one of the year's most beloved literary characters. Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, this book was also shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. This July, Evans joins us at to talk about her remarkable debut, the whirlwind journey from first novel to global sensation, and what comes next. .l.evans

Stay tuned for all the ways to see this author. Our full passes to the Writers' Conference have sold out, but we still have our free Community Speaker Series, free lawn talks, free livestreaming, and tickets to our Live Watch Party and Pavilion talks. Subscribe to receive updates about these events at svwc.com/subscribe.

📸 : © Austin Joffe

06/09/2026

Congratulations to SVWC alum John Lithgow on winning his third Tony Award! 🎭

Lithgow took home the 2026 Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his acclaimed portrayal of Roald Dahl in Giant, adding another remarkable achievement to an already extraordinary career.

A beloved guest who has joined us three times—including most recently in 2021—we're thrilled to celebrate this well-deserved honor.

Congratulations, John! 👏✨

📸: Steve Dondero / Steve Smith Photography

06/08/2026

Need to add some new books to your nightstand? Pick up your reading list at Iconoclast Books or Ketchum Bookstore and support our local independent booksellers while you’re at it.

You’ll also find a bookstore on-site during the Conference, operated by Boise State University, with all proceeds benefiting student scholarships.

Happy reading—we’ll see you in July.

📸: .pierce

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

http://www.svwc.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sun Valley Writers' Conference posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Sun Valley Writers' Conference:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Organization
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Ketchum?