Charleston Literary Festival is proud to announce the first wave of authors for its 10th anniversary Festival, to be held November 6-15 at the historic Dock Street Theatre in downtown Charleston.
This initial lineup includes twenty-one exceptional voices—Pulitzer Prize winners, debut novelists, Nobel Prize finalists, a pioneering philosopher, a celebrated chef, and New York Times Bestsellers—convening for ten days of unscripted conversations, book signings, and the literary hospitality that has established Charleston Literary Festival as one of the world’s leading literary gatherings.
Authors appearing at Charleston Literary Festival 2026 include:
- Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Demon Copperhead, in conversation on her work, the stories shaping our time, and her upcoming novel, Partita
- Virginia Evans, on The Correspondent, an internationally bestselling debut told through letters and emails
- Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, on When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…, an exploration of common knowledge
- Lily King, on Heart the Lover, exploring desire, loss, and first love
- David Armitage, Professor of History, Harvard University, on The Declaration of Independence, a landmark reexamination timed to America’s 250th anniversary
- Liaquat Ahamed, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Lords of Finance, on 1873, a sweeping reckoning with the first global financial crisis
- Nelio Biedermann, Swiss literary sensation, on Lázár, a gothic debut novel inspired by his aristocratic Hungarian lineage
- Belle Burden, on Strangers, a searing memoir of a twenty-year marriage that has become a national phenomenon.
- Jung Chang, returning to discuss Fly, Wild Swans, a tribute to her mother tracing modern China through three generations
- Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize winner, returning with Unsayable, an intimate meditation on language and life
- Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize winner for Trust, on Ply, a new novel exploring technology in the American imagination
- Roxane Gay, on her work at large including her book How to Be Heard, her guide to writing with power and purpose
- Rebecca Goldstein, on The Mattering Instinct, examining humanity’s fundamental need for meaning
- Tayari Jones, on Kin, a novel of friendship and tragedy
- Daniel Kraus, 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner, on Angel Down, a WWI novel written as a single unbroken sentence
- James Lasdun, on The Family Man, an account of the Murdaugh family and one of South Carolina’s most prominent trials
- Susan Orlean, on Joyride, a memoir celebrating curiosity and delight
- Jayne Anne Phillips, Pulitzer Prize winner, on Small Town Girls, a lyrical memoir in essays
- Claudia Rankine, on Triage, a powerful novel of friendship across decades
- Curtis Sittenfeld, New York Times bestselling author of Prep, Show Don’t Tell, Eligible, and Romantic Comedy
- Francis Fukuyama, Stanford professor and author of End of History and the Last Man and The Origins of Political Order
Charleston Literary Festival 2026 will feature more than 45 events covering ten days, bringing more than 60 authors to Dock Street Theatre. Each session is followed by book signings, with titles available through Festival partner booksellers. In an intimate setting, Pulitzer, Booker, and Nobel Prize winners engage in unscripted conversations before meeting readers—a defining element of the Festival experience that draws audiences back year after year.
“This is the most extraordinary lineup we have ever assembled—and it is only the beginning,” said Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director of Charleston Literary Festival. “Our 10th anniversary honors everything we have built over the past decade while looking ahead to what’s possible. Each of these authors has something essential to say, and there is no better stage for those conversations than Dock Street Theatre in Charleston in November.”
The Festival Insider Pass returns, offering all-access entry to 45-plus events, two exclusive literary gatherings, and ten days at Dock Street Theatre. Benefits include unlimited author sessions; two invitations to the Official Launch Party on September 10 at a private downtown location; two invitations to an exclusive gathering at a historic Charleston home; and a curated Insider gift bag with partner perks. Priced at $750 (valued at $1,500), availability is limited.
Please note: The Festival Insider Pass is not a donor level. Donor benefits include access to the Donor Lounge, reserved seating, and additional privileges. Learn more at charlestonliteraryfestival.com/support.
For tickets and more information, visit charlestonlit