Southern Festival of Books

05/07/2026

The Southern Festival of Books is a program of Humanities Tennessee!

🌸 The future we build begins with you. 🌸

This spring, we’re dreaming bigger — and we need you with us.

From May 7 – June 18, Humanities Tennessee is raising $25,000 to help build a more curious, connected, and civil Tennessee.

Why? Because the conversations we start today shape our communities for years to come. Whether it’s through literature, history, or public dialogue, your support makes space for understanding instead of division.

Here’s how you can help:
🔹 Donate at https://linktr.ee/HumanitiesTennessee
🔹 Share this post to spread the word
🔹 Follow along as we share stories of impact all spring long

Let’s grow a kinder, wiser Tennessee — together. 🌱

04/18/2026

It'll be here before you know it!

04/04/2026

Has anyone ever noticed the Easter egg in this Southern Festival of Books logo?

(Hint: Look closely at the tree's roots!)

02/02/2026

We're thrilled Nfocus Magazine named Authors in the Round their Writer's Best Party Picks for "Best Dinner Table Discussion!" We love the conversations that happen when readers and writers gather.

If you've been to an AIR dinner, who did you get to sit with? What did y'all talk about?

01/23/2026

Since people are throwing it back to 2016, we thought we'd share a few photos from the 28th annual Southern Festival of Books. Join us this October for the 38th annual Festival!

01/15/2026

Save the date! This fall, Humanities Tennessee and Vanderbilt University will once again partner to present the 38th annual Southern Festival of Books. More than 175 authors and 25,000 guests are expected at the family-friendly weekend festival, which will be held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Tennessee State Museum, and Tennessee State Library and Archives on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18.

12/19/2025

DID YOU KNOW that your license plate could help secure and provide grants / programs for the arts across the state of TN? The TN Specialty License Plate Program was created in the 1980s to provide a dedicated revenue source for arts and cultural activities across our state.

This Program along with the Tennessee Arts Commission and Tennesseans for the Arts (TFTA) actively support local arts organizations just like ours! Now you can show your support by stopping by your county clerk’s office and purchasing your plate today. Go now to www.TN4Arts.org to learn more.

12/17/2025

Tennessee resident authors with 2025 publications, this opportunity is for you:

Submissions for the 2026 Tennessee Book Award are open and will run through February 17, 2026. Eligible books must have a 2025 copyright date and be traditionally published, and the author must be a current Tennessee resident. See the Humanities Tennessee website for full details and a submission form: https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/core-program-overview/tennessee-book-award/

11/13/2025

We want to hear about your Festival favorites! What author panels did you love? Which Unbannable Book caught your eye? Tell us in the comments.

📸by Jason Bihler

11/05/2025

Wishing you could revisit some of the 2025 Festival sessions? You're in luck! C-SPAN BookTV filmed the Obion Room sessions, and they are available on their website.

You'll find recordings of Brenda Colladay & Craig Shelburne discussing100 Years of Grand Ole Opry; Mary Bridges discussing Dollars & Dominion; Martha Barnette & Stefan Fatsis discussing Friends with Words and Unabridged; Kristina Gaddy & Mark Stielper discussing Go Back & Fetch It and The Complete Johnny Cash; Tom Piazza discussing Living in the Present with John Prine; Liz Pelly and Ben Ratliff discussing Mood Machine and Run the Song; Andrew Greer discussing More Than a President - Sundays with Jimmy Carter; and Cheryl McKissack Daniel discussing The Black Family Who Built America.

The videos are on the Book TV website, and you can locate them by selecting Book Fairs & Festivals and then choosing "Southern Festival of Books" in the dropdown menu: https://www.c-span.org/bookTv/?bookfairs

📸by Jason Bihler

10/24/2025

In addition to being an exciting event, this occasion is also a fundraiser for Humanities Tennessee, the organization behind the Southern Festival of Books. We're grateful for the continued support of this community!

Next Wednesday Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben will be discussing their new book with Ann Patchett in a fundraiser for Humanities Tennessee. The VIP tickets are sold out, but there are still a few regular tickets left. Don't wait, get yours today! https://www.nashvillesymphony.org/21194