2026 Maine Lit Fest

October 1-9, 2026

The Maine Lit Fest is a week-long, statewide celebration of books and stories produced by Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance in collaboration with a team of community partners and volunteers.

This year’s theme is “Responding to the Moment.”

Goals of the 2026 Maine Lit Fest:

1.     To connect Maine readers and writers with authors that offer vital insights into our times,

2.     To spark new understandings of the stories and experiences of Maine’s communities through multi-cultural events and conversations, and

3.     To collaborate with community partners to invite and welcome new audiences to Maine literary events.

Ways to Get Involved:

If you are interested in volunteering to support the Maine Lit Fest, please fill out this FORM, and we will be in touch. Volunteers help with a range of tasks including hanging up Maine Lit Fest posters in libraries, helping transport authors, and/or taking tickets and selling merch at events.

We offer SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES for Maine businesses of all sizes. To learn more about 2026 Maine Lit Fest sponsorship opportunities or other sponsorship options please contact MWPA Associate Director Taryn Bowe, at taryn@mainewriters.org.

If none of these packages are right, please be in touch to discuss other options.

Are you part of an organization that would like to bring a Lit Fest Event to your space and/or partner around the Maine Lit Fest in another way? We’d love to hear from you. Please fill out this FORM, and we’ll be in touch.

Featured Maine Lit Fest authors are selected based on several criteria, including artistic and literary excellence, ability to engage diverse audiences, and ability to offer strong perspectives on literature and global issues.

If you are interested in serving as a featured author/illustrator at the Maine Lit Fest, please fill out this FORM and we’ll be back in touch if we can offer you a spot.