Editor’s note: Annalise Grueter is a member of the Aspen Writers Network and a scholarship recipient for this year’s Aspen Summer Words.
In late September, writers and readers will again flock to the Valley. After last autumn’s inaugural Aspen Literary Festival, the weekend event will return Sept. 25-27. The 2025 debut earned enthusiastic reviews from participants including Michael Lewis, author of “The Big Short” and “Moneyball,” and bestselling fantasy author Leigh Bardugo. Tayari Jones, acclaimed author of the award-winning “An American Marriage,” said: “The Aspen Literary Festival proves that American literature is more than just alive — it thrives!”
Earlier this spring, Aspen Words announced 16 headlining authors confirmed for the festival. The names include many New York Times bestsellers and award winners. To name a few: Jennette McCurdy, Veronica Roth, Lisa See, Pulitzer Prize recipients Richard Russo and Michael Cunningham and Aspen daughter Maria Semple.
Aspen Words Executive Director Adrienne Brodeur explained the vision for the festival’s second year. “Building on the electric energy of our inaugural year,” Brodeur said, “we’re creating a festival for anyone who’s ever fallen in love with a book. [The Aspen Literary Festival] isn’t about being a literary insider — it’s about joy, belonging and celebrating community. In a culture that rewards speed and distraction, we’re making space for something slower, deeper and far more human — a weekend of real conversation, unexpected connection and lasting inspiration.”
The second annual festival is being designed with events to appeal to readers of all ages and demographics. Last year’s community events will be expanded: the festival will include youth programming all weekend for young readers to meet popular children’s authors and hear them speak. Aspen Words staff are also planning experiential events for the indoorsy and outdoorsy alike, including book signings, scenic hikes and even late-night block parties. This will include a party at the Paul JAS Center, where readers can mingle with attending authors over appetizers and drinks.
Following last year’s example, many of the author talks across town will be free with advanced registration to make them as accessible as possible. Aspen Words is integrating feedback from the first year and working on tiered passes for special events and headline panels. They plan to announce details on passes and early registration this summer.
Leading the moderating team for the festival will be Tim Ehrenberg, literary podcaster, marketer and an avid reader. Ehrenberg created the popular Tim Talks Books platform and co-hosts the “Books, Beach, & Beyond” podcast with bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand. He is the president of the Nantucket Book Foundation and supports events for both of Nantucket’s independent bookstores. He writes the “Need to Read” series in N Magazine and has been featured in national literary media.
Additional confirmed moderators will include Miwa Messer, who created, produces and hosts the Barnes & Noble podcast “Poured Over.” The show is designed for close readers who devour books and love the small details of sentences and characters. Messer and Ehrenberg will also be joined by Kate Tuttle, former president of the National Book Critics Circle. Tuttle is the editor of the books section for the Boston Globe and writes a weekly column for the paper.
All of the confirmed 2026 festival authors have books that have been or are being released this year. After her bombshell bestselling memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” former child-star McCurdy’s first fiction effort was published by Ballantine in January. “Half His Age” has been lauded as “provocative” and a “reverse Lolita” by Publishers Weekly and The New York Times Book Review, respectively.
Paris-based writer and actress Robinne Lee’s second novel, “Crash Into Me,” will be published in July. Her 2017 debut novel, “The Idea of You,” was adapted for a 2024 Amazon Prime film starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. Semple, who grew up in Aspen, has also had work adapted to the screen. Her 2012 novel “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” starred Cate Blanchett in the 2019 film version. Her most recent novel, “Go Gentle,” was just published in April and centers a protagonist who is both a Stoic philosopher and a single mother to a teenager.
Aspen Words will share more details at www.aspenliteraryfestival.org as additional authors confirm participation and the events schedule develops.