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The 18th annual Iowa City Book Festival will be held Oct. 18-25, 2026, at locations throughout downtown and beyond. It will showcase a dynamic mix of original events and collaborative programs with partner organizations, all celebrating the power of the written word and the exchange of ideas. Most events are free and all are open to the public.

For a full schedule of Book Festival events and speakers, visit the festival website at https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/icbf/.

Portions of the Iowa City Book Festival also coincide with FilmScene’s Refocus Film Festival (Oct. 22-25). For more information about ticketing and scheduled screenings, visit https://refocusfilmfestival.org/.

The Iowa City Book Festival is organized by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, a nonprofit 501(c)3 that manages the Iowa City area’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. The City of Literature works to advance its mission of celebrating and supporting literature on a local, regional, national, and international level, connecting readers and writers through the power of story.