Aspen Literary Festival
September 25-27th, 2026
PRODUCED BY
General Admission Registration: FREE
General Admission provides first-come, first-served access to free author conversations at the Pitkin County Library and Aspen Community Church, festival headquarters tent at the Red Brick Center for the Arts, the Explore Books pop-up bookstore, and more.
Advance registration is encouraged so attendees can receive important festival updates and announcements. Because seating is limited, General Admission does not guarantee entry to every free event.
General Admission does not include Wheeler Main Stage events, which require an individual ticket ($45) or a Friends of the Festival pass.
Registration will remain open until the festival begins—so share the news with friends, family, and fellow readers.
Friends of the Festival Pass: $750
Enjoy the complete festival experience while supporting Aspen Words’ mission to encourage writers, inspire readers and connect people through stories. The pass includes:
One ticket to all main stage events at the Wheeler Opera House
Priority reserved seating at the Wheeler Opera House
Three lunch vouchers for food trucks at festival headquarters.
Admission to After Words: The Party, a celebration with festival authors at the Paul JAS Center on Saturday, September 26.
Wheeler Main Stage Event Tickets: $45
All main stage events will be at the Wheeler Opera House (320 E Hyman Ave.) and require a purchased individual ticket or a Friends of the Festival Pass to attend.
Main stage ticket holders are encouraged to complete free General Admission registration which provides first-come, first-served access to the festival's free programming and helps organizers plan for attendance.
Limited tickets available
Seating is first-come, first-served
Aspen Literary Festival Next Gen
— events geared toward young readers and families
New in 2026, Aspen Literary Festival Next Gen is a series of free programs for young readers and families. Young people accompanied by an adult chaperone can meet bestselling authors, discover new books and take part in engaging literary conversations and creative activities. Presented in partnership with Pitkin County Library and schools throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, Next Gen brings a diverse range of enriching literary programs to local families, creating meaningful opportunities for young people to read, write and grow.
Featured authors of young people’s literature at the 2026 festival include: Matt de la Peña (“Home,” “Last Stop on Market Street”), Kelly Yang (the “Font Desk” series), twin authors Paul A. Reynolds (“The Sydney and Simon” series) and Peter H. Reynolds (“The Dot”).
Adult chaperones can follow the Free General Admission registration pathway to register young readers.
Next Gen is made possible through the generous support of Arny and Anne Porath.
Writing Workshop led by Christina Baker Kline
The Stories We Inherit: Turning memory and lived experience into fiction — led by New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline, Saturday, September 26 (9:00-10:30 a.m.) at Explore Books in Aspen (221 E Main St).
Every writer carries a private archive: family stories, charged memories, recurring images, rumors, secrets, and places we cannot quite leave behind. In this generative workshop, participants will identify the material with the greatest imaginative heat and begin shaping it into fiction, memoir or hybrid prose. The workshop will explore choosing the right moment, building vivid scenes, compressing time, sharpening stakes and transforming lived experiences into writing that feels crafted, surprising, and alive.
The workshop is open to writers of all levels working in fiction, memoir and creative nonfiction.
Registration is $150 and may be purchased through the General Admission registration pathway.
Space is limited.
After Words: The Party taking place Saturday, September 26 (6:00-8:00 p.m.) at the new Paul JAS Center in Aspen (422 E. Cooper Ave.). Celebrate the festival with an unforgettable evening of food, cocktails, wine, music, and a literary variety show featuring festival authors. Proceeds from the event help keep the Aspen Literary Festival accessible and open to all!
Admission is included with the Friends of the Festival pass.
Individual party tickets are $300 and may be purchased through the General Admission registration pathway
After Words: The Party
Cancellation Policy
General registration is free and therefore non-refundable. We appreciate you letting us know if you can’t make it by emailing events@aspeninstitute.org.
Friend of the Festival passes and Wheeler main stage event tickets are final sale and non-refundable. Passes are transferable before September 1, 2026. To request a substitution, please email us at events@aspeninstitute.org.
