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New York, NY (January 28, 2026) – The National Book Foundation today announced its spring NBF Presents lineup of 21 events taking place in 10 states—Arizona, California, Florida, Hawai‘i, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Utah, and Wisconsin—and online from February through June 2026. NBF Presents, the umbrella for all the Foundation’s public programs, aims to connect readers of all ages across the United States with National Book Foundation–honored authors, translators, and their books through topical conversations. NBF Presents is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. This spring season includes public events to celebrate 5 Under 35, which is supported by Amazon Literary Partnership; and Science + Literature, which is supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Authors at this spring’s NBF Presents events have been honored by the National Book Foundation through the National Book Awards, 5 Under 35, and Science + Literature. They include ‘Pemi Aguda, María Dolores Águila, Rabih Alameddine, Kimberly Blaeser, Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, Omar El Akkad, Camonghne Felix, Angela Flournoy, Caleb Gayle, Megan Howell, Julia Ioffe, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, Sarah Thankam Mathews, Robin Myers, Daniel Nayeri, Anna North, Helen Phillips, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Claudia Rowe, Alexander Sammartino, Evie Shockley, Patricia Smith, Justin Torres, and Jemimah Wei, as well as five soon-to-be-announced 2026 5 Under 35 honorees. Recognized moderators include bookfluencers, professors, writers, and past National Book Foundation committee members and judges, including A. H. Jerriod Avant, Katharine Coles, Sean Hill, Akil Kumarasamy, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Traci Thomas.
The Foundation’s national public programs are co-presented with book festivals, cultural and performing arts centers, humanities councils, literary arts nonprofits, two- and four-year colleges and universities, and public libraries. This season features events curated alongside returning partners at Amherst College’s LitFest; the Association of Writers & Writing Programs; Books & Books and the Miami Book Fair; Coahoma Community College and the Coahoma County Higher Education Center; Oxford Conference for the Book; the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books; Tucson Festival of Books; and the Wisconsin Book Festival and Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. This year, events will also be curated in collaboration with new partners at GrubStreet, the University of Utah’s School of Biological Sciences and the Symposium on Science and Literature, and, for the Foundation’s first-ever in-person programming in Hawai‘i, with the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, Kaua‘i Writers’ Garden, Rice Street Business Association, and the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa Creative Writing Program and Department of English.
“Mahalo to the National Book Foundation for collaborating with our Hawai‘i State Poet Laureate program to help people connect across many differences in home, culture, and life experiences,” said Aiko Yamashiro, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities. “Literature lays the groundwork for openhearted listening. We know this exchange of stories will help to broaden our sense of ‘we’ and strengthen our relationships to ourselves and each other.”
This spring, the National Book Foundation will celebrate two of its literary prizes with special public events in New York City. On Wednesday, March 11, the National Book Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will recognize the 2026 Science + Literature–honored authors Kimberly Blaeser, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, and Anna North with a free, public Ceremony hosted by Science Friday host Flora Lichtman at The Cooper Union. The 2026 Science + Literature selected titles were announced last week in an exclusive with The Associated Press. On Tuesday, June 9th, the Foundation will celebrate the 2026 5 Under 35 honorees—who will be announced in April—at a public Ceremony at Littlefield. Both events will be livestreamed for free for readers everywhere.
Readers everywhere are also invited to tune in virtually for live, monthly interviews with the 2025 National Book Award Winners in all five categories—Young People’s Literature, Translated Literature, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction—alongside Executive Director Ruth Dickey. The 2026 Read with NBF season, which offers readers behind-the-scenes access and content around the most recent cohort of National Book Award Winners, will kick off with a special event for readers co-hosted by Dickey and Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks.
“At the National Book Foundation, we believe that everyone deserves to have extraordinary experiences with great literature,” said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “Through NBF Presents, we continue to deepen our commitment to creating opportunities—in-person and online—for timely, engaging conversations that build community through books. We are thrilled to collaborate with new and returning partners across the country to celebrate National Book Foundation–honored authors and translators, and, together, champion storytelling in all forms.”
The full list of confirmed spring NBF Presents events can be found below with additional details and registration information coming soon. For the most up-to-date NBF Presents events calendar, please visit the Foundation’s website. Events are free unless otherwise noted but tickets are limited, and readers are encouraged to RSVP directly at the Foundation or partner website as directed to secure a spot.
Friday, February 13, 2:00pm EST
Virtual
Read with NBF and The Stacks: New Year, New Reading Goals
Join National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey and The Stacks creator and host Traci Thomas to kick off the 2026 season of Read the NBF! Ruth and Traci will chat about the newest cohort of National Book Award Winners, take you behind-the-scenes at Team Book, and map out their 2026 reading goals—and learn about yours. Register here.
Thursday, February 19, 8:00pm EST
In-Person | Coral Gables, FL
Books & Books and Miami Book Fair
Miami Book Fair & NBF Presents: An Evening with the 2025 5 Under 35 Honorees
Join us for a special Miami showcase with the 2025 5 Under 35 honorees, which features readings and conversation with exceptional debut fiction authors: Stacie Shannon Denetsosie (The Missing Morningstar and Other Stories), Megan Howell (Softie), Alexander Sammartino (Last Acts), and Jemimah Wei (The Original Daughter). Moderated by Natalie Green, Director of Programs & Partnerships at the National Book Foundation. Presented in partnership with Books & Books and the Miami Book Fair. Register here.
Friday, February 27, 2:00pm EST
Virtual
Read with NBF: The Teacher of Nomad Land
Join us live for an exclusive conversation with Daniel Nayeri, Winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, alongside National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey. In February, Read with NBF dives into Daniel’s middle-grade novel The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story. Daniel will take us behind-the-scenes of his writing and research process, and chat with Ruth about working on both sides of publishing, why everyone should read young people’s literature, and the impact of the National Book Awards. Daniel will answer questions from the audience, and then readers will have a chance to debrief with Ruth and fellow Read with NBF community members. Register here.
Sunday, March 1, 12:00pm EST
In-Person & Recorded | Amherst, MA
Amherst College
LitFest and NBF Presents: Poetry Propels Us
The National Book Foundation returns to Amherst College’s annual LitFest alongside National Book Award–honored authors Lena Khalaf Tuffaha (Something About Living, 2024 Poetry Winner) and Evie Shockley (suddenly we, 2023 Poetry Finalist). The authors will share readings and discuss poetry’s power to connect us, to bear witness, and to move us to action. Moderated by Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. This program is supported by Amherst College and The Common, and presented in partnership with the Emily Dickinson Museum.
Friday, March 6, 12:10pm EST
In-Person & Livestreamed | Baltimore, MD
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
NBF Presents: Genre Bending
Who gets to choose a book’s genre—the writer, the publisher, or the reader? Join National Book Award–honored authors ‘Pemi Aguda (Ghostroots, 2024 Fiction Finalist) and Helen Phillips (The Need, 2019 Fiction Longlist) on storytelling that traverses horror, sci-fi, mythology, and back. The writers will read from their work and join in conversation about the prescience and persistence of genre in contemporary literature, awards recognition, and the stories connecting with today’s readers. Moderated by Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. Presented in partnership with the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) and livestreamed on AWP’s virtual conference platform.
Wednesday, March 11, 6:30pm EDT
In-Person & Livestreamed | New York, NY
The Cooper Union
2026 Science + Literature Ceremony
Join the National Book Foundation and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for the 2026 Science + Literature Ceremony—celebrating the three remarkable 2026 Science + Literature selected titles in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry: Bog Queen, Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature, and Ancient Light. The program is free and open to the public, and will feature readings and conversation with selected authors Anna North, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, and Kimberly Blaeser. Hosted by Flora Lichtman, host of Science Friday. Presented in partnership with The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Register here.
Saturday, March 14, 11:30am MST
In-Person | Tucson, AZ
Tucson Festival of Books
NBF Presents: Truth-Seeking and Telling
The National Book Foundation celebrates its 2025 National Book Award honorees at the Tucson Festival of Books! Join 2025 Nonfiction honorees Caleb Gayle (Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State, Longlister), Julia Ioffe(Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy, Finalist), and Claudia Rowe (Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care, Finalist) for readings and conversation about how a background in journalism informs their approach to book-length, human-driven storytelling. Moderated by Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. This program is supported by the Tucson Festival of Books.
Sunday, March 15, 11:30am MST
In-Person | Tucson, AZ
Tucson Festival of Books
NBF Presents: Historical Corrections
To continue the celebration of 2025 National Book Award–honored authors at the Tucson Festival of Books, join 2025 honorees María Dolores Águila (A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez, Young People’s Literature Longlister), Caleb Gayle (Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State, Nonfiction Longlister), and Daniel Nayeri (The Teacher of Nomadland: A World War II Story, Young People’s Literature Winner) for readings and a cross-genres conversation on revealing untold stories and how they make history accessible to readers of all ages. Moderated by Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. This program is supported by the Tucson Festival of Books.
Friday, March 20, 2:00pm EDT
Virtual
Read with NBF: We Are Green And Trembling
Join us live for an exclusive conversation with author Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and translator Robin Myers, Winners of the 2025 National Book Award for Translated Literature, alongside National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey. In March, Read with NBF dives into We Are Green And Trembling, a “queer baroque satire” translated from the Spanish. Gabriela and Robin will take us behind-the-scenes of their writing and translating processes, and chat with Ruth about collaboration, why everyone should read translated literature, and the impact of the National Book Awards. Gabriela and Robin will answer questions from the audience, and then readers will have a chance to debrief with Ruth and fellow Read with NBF community members. Register here.
Wednesday, March 25, 11:15am CDT
In-Person | Clarksdale, MS
Coahoma Community College & Coahoma County Higher Education Center
NBF Presents: Writing Towards Tomorrow
National Book Award–honored poet, essayist, and memoirist Camonghne Felix (Build Yourself a Boat, 2019 Poetry Longlister; and most recently, Let the Poets Govern: A Declaration of Freedom) and novelist Sarah Thankam Mathews (All This Could Be Different, 2022 Fiction Finalist) use storytelling to imagine a more expansive and equitable future. Join the authors for readings and conversation about the possibilities of writing as a tool for change and for community building, no matter the genre. Moderated by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, bestselling author, professor, and a firefly guide for Mississippi State Parks. Presented in partnership with Coahoma Community College and the Coahoma County Higher Education Center. Register here.
Thursday, March 26, 11:30am CDT
In-Person | Oxford, MS
Oxford Conference for the Book
NBF Presents: Balancing Acts
Where do we draw the line between ourselves and our writing? Join National Book Award–honored authors Camonghne Felix (Build Yourself a Boat, 2019 Longlister; and most recently, Let the Poets Govern: A Declaration of Freedom) and novelist Sarah Thankam Mathews (All This Could Be Different, 2022 Fiction Finalist) for readings and conversation about balancing the political, the personal, and the fictional in one’s creative projects and writing processes. Moderated by A. H. Jerriod Avant, author of Muscadine and Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi. Presented in partnership with the 32nd Oxford Conference for the Book. Register here.
Thursday, April 9, 7:00pm CDT
In-Person & Recorded | Madison, WI
Wisconsin Book Festival
Science + Literature: The Science of Hope
Ancient Light by Kimberly Blaeser, a 2026 Science + Literature selected title, collects poems that trace the many crises Indigenous communities navigate—from centuries of violence to the COVID-19 pandemic—alongside the ancestral knowledge that allows for a reclamation of language, of land, and of healing. Join Blaeser for a reading and conversation on the relationship between poetry, science, and the world around us. Moderated by Sean Hill, poet, professor, and 2026 Science + Literature selection committee member. Presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival and Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Register here.
Wednesday, April 15, 7:00pm EDT
In-Person & Livestreamed | Boston, MA
GrubStreet
Science + Literature: Historical & Modern Mysteries
2026 Science + Literature–selected title Bog Queen by Anna North alternates between the perspectives of a forensic anthropologist, a 2,000-year-old druid, and a chorus of moss. Join North for a reading and conversation on the research behind her newest novel, and the impact of human ambition in art and science. Moderated by Akil Kumarasamy, author of the novel Meet Us by the Roaring Sea and 2026 Science + Literature selection committee member. Presented in partnership with Grubstreet. Register here.
Sunday, April 19, Time TBA
In-Person | Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
NBF Presents: What Comes Next
Join National Book Award–honored authors Angela Flournoy (The Wilderness, 2025 Fiction Longlister; The Turner House, 2015 Fiction Finalist and 5 Under 35 honoree) and Justin Torres (Blackouts, 2023 Fiction Winner; We the Animals, 2012 5 Under 35 honoree) for readings and conversation on a decade of work—and friendship—between their breakout debuts and run-away second novels, and their relationship to writing in and outside of Los Angeles. Moderated by Natalie Green, Director of Programs & Partnerships at the National Book Foundation. Presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Wednesday, April 22, 7:00pm MDT
In-Person | Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah
Science + Literature: Curiosity, Connection & Coexistence
Mycologist Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian blends science writing and memoir in her debut work of nonfiction Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature, a 2026 Science + Literature selected title. Join Kaishian for a reading and conversation about the often overlooked creatures and fungi that helped her understand the natural world, her connection to a career in science, and her own identity as a queer, neurodivergent person. Moderated by Katharine Coles, poet, Distinguished Professor, and co-Director of the Utah Symposium in Science and Literature. Presented in partnership with the School of Biological Sciences and the Symposium on Science and Literature at the University of Utah. Register here.
Friday, April 24, 3:00pm EDT
Virtual
Read with NBF: The Intentions of Thunder
Join us live for an exclusive conversation with Patricia Smith, Winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry, alongside National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey. In April, Read with NBF dives into The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems, a culmination and celebration of three decades of Patricia’s work. Patricia will take us behind-the-scenes of collecting past work alongside new poems, and chat with Ruth about writing community, why everyone should read poetry, and the impact of the National Book Awards. Patricia will answer questions from the audience, and then readers will have a chance to debrief with Ruth and fellow Read with NBF community members. Register here.
Thursday, April 30–Friday, May 1, Time TBA
In-Person | O‘ahu & Kaua‘i, HI
Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities
Join us for two events—on O‘ahu & Kaua‘i—featuring National Book Award–honored author Ingrid Rojas Contreras (The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir, 2022 Nonfiction Finalist). Presented in partnership with the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, Kaua‘i Writers’ Garden, Rice Street Business Association, and the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa Creative Writing Program and Department of English. Additional event details coming soon.
Friday, May 29, 2:00pm EDT
Virtual
Read with NBF: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Join us live for an exclusive conversation with Omar El Akkad, Winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Nonfiction, alongside National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey. In May, Read with NBF dives into One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, a moral grappling of US complicity in the destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian people. Omar will take us behind-the-scenes of his approach in interweaving his own story amidst this historical moment, and chat with Ruth about writing influences, why everyone should read nonfiction, and the impact of the National Book Awards. Omar will answer questions from the audience, and then readers will have a chance to debrief with Ruth and fellow Read with NBF community members. Register here.
Tuesday, June 9, 7:00pm EDT
In-person & Livestreamed | Brooklyn, NY
Littlefield & Books Are Magic
2026 5 Under 35 Ceremony
We’ll reveal the 2026 5 Under 35 honorees this spring—five authors under the age of 35 who have crafted exceptional debut works of fiction. Save the date to celebrate the to-be-announced writers, who will be introduced by their selectors—five literary luminaries previously honored by the National Book Foundation. Books will be available on site thanks to Books Are Magic. This is a 21+ event, and tickets will be available for sale on Littlefield’s website. The National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 program is supported by Amazon Literary Partnership.
Friday, June 26, 11:00am EDT
Virtual
Read with NBF: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
Join us live for an exclusive conversation with Rabih Alameddine, Winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction, alongside National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey. In June, the Read with NBF season concludes with Rabih’s The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother). Rabih will take us behind-the-scenes of writing mother-son relationships with humor and heart, and chat with Ruth about Lebanon’s storytelling traditions, why everyone should read fiction, and the impact of the National Book Awards. Rabih will answer questions from the audience, and then readers will have a chance to debrief with Ruth and fellow Read with NBF community members. Register here.
For event locations and additional details, please visit www.nationalbook.org or the websites of any of our partners.
