The New Hampshire Book Festival’s 2026 lineup features more than 60 acclaimed authors, poets, illustrators and literary moderators who will gather for two days of conversations, book signings and family-friendly programming this fall.
The free, all-day festival will take place on Saturday, October 3 in downtown Concord. It is supported by ticketed keynote events for schoolchildren, adults and families. This year’s headliners are international bestselling author Jodi Picoult, who will deliver the festival’s Opening Keynote on October 2 at 7 p.m., and bestselling author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney, creator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, who will present the Children’s Keynote on October 2 at 10:30 a.m., and the Family Keynote on October 3 at 6:30 p.m.
The 2026 festival showcases an extraordinary range of voices from national and local literary communities representing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult novels, and graphic storytelling. Panels will be moderated by authors and literary professionals, including contributors from the Concord Monitor and NHPR.
“We’re really excited about this year’s lineup, with its wide range of authors, genres, and subjects,” said New Hampshire Book Festival co-founder Sarah McCraw Crow. “Some of this year’s authors have won multiple awards and have longtime readerships, while others are debut authors. The festival offers readers of all ages the chance to engage directly with the people behind the books they love.”
The 2026 author lineup includes:
Jodi Picoult, Jeff Kinney, M. T. Anderson, Diane Les Becquets, Rebecca Bendheim, Susan Donovan Bernhard, Winsome Bingham, Jenna Blum, Valerie Bolling, Lisa Borders, Emilie Christie Burack, Nora Shalaway Carpenter, Brinda Charry, Wyn Cooper, Lynette D’Amico, Julie Carrick Dalton, Christine Hartman Derr, Maggie Dietz, David Elliott, E.M. Elliott, Carrie Finison, Bonnie Friedman, Maria Gianferrari, Christopher Golden, T. Greenwood,
Edwin Hill, Kate Hosford, Eloisa James, Carla Kaplan, Hester Kaplan, Meg Kearney,
Lee Kelly, Andrew Krivak, Rajani LaRocca, Cait Levin, Michael Lowenthal, Nicholas Lund, Mindy McGinnis, Kate McGovern, Rena Mosteirin, Keith O’Brien, Christine Pride, Adi Rule, Rebecca Rule, Shannon Sanders, Kate Schoedinger, Elaine Sexton, Dan Simon,
Jacquelyn Stolos, SJ Taylor, Alexandra Villasante,
For more information, visit nhbookfestival.org.
About the New Hampshire Book Festival
The New Hampshire Book Festival is where stories come alive and community thrives. Held annually in downtown Concord, NH, since 2024, the festival brings together readers and authors for a vibrant two-day celebration of books, ideas, and creativity. With programming for both adults and children, the festival offers something for everyone — making it New Hampshire’s premier literary event.