SVWC 2025

Saturday, July 19 – Monday, July 21

Sun Valley Resort

The 2025 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference will be held Saturday, July 19 through Monday, July 21 at the stunning Sun Valley Resort and Pavilion. For three days, some of the country’s—and the world’s—best writers and thinkers, including fiction and nonfiction writers, journalists, policymakers, and poets will descend upon the small town of Sun Valley, Idaho. This year, the all-star lineup will include Max Boot, Griffin Dunne, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Colum McCann, Liz Moore, Ruth Reichl, Ocean Vuong,  and many more!

THE THEME: “WORDS & WONDER”

The theme of this year’s Conference is “Words & Wonder”—a thread that will weave together the variety of voices and diverse ideas being presented in 2025. In the words of SVWC Literary Director John Burnham Schwartz, “It is our hopeful goal that, for a few magical days every summer, each of us will be filled with a state of wonder, through the medium of words—those singular elements of human genius, poetry, art, learning, and emotion.” A state of wonder is, after all, a feeling of surprise with mingled admiration, caused by something beautiful but unexpected and perhaps even unfamiliar or inexplicable. This year, explains Burnham Schwartz, “We traverse on a path to deeper knowledge of self and society, hoping we might come always through the wondrous doorways of the unexpected, the unfamiliar, and the inexplicable, towards beauty, empathy, and understanding.”

2025 PASSES – SOLD OUT

All 2025 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference passes have sold out. We recommend joining our waitlist, as we do have cancellations. If more passes become available, those on the waitlist will be notified in the order received.

If you missed out this year, not to worry—there are many other ways to join SVWC that don’t require a pass! We recommend signing up for our email newsletter to receive updates about these programs and events.

2025 WRITERS & PRESENTERS

The lineup of 2025 writers & presenters will continue an unsurpassed tradition of quality, intimacy, and inspiration that has made SVWC one of the country’s most beloved literary festivals for over 30 years. See the complete and up-to-date list for 2025.

2025 SCHEDULE & PROGRAM

The program, when finalized, can be found on our Schedule & Program page. If you are a 2025 passholder, an email will be sent to you to sign up for your breakout sessions in May.

WHAT ARE BREAKOUT SESSIONS?

For those new to the Conference, breakouts are smaller speaker presentations held in open-air tents and more intimate venues around the resort. Several simultaneous talks take place during a single time slot, so you get to choose, in advance, which breakout you’d like to attend. Because they have limited seating, they are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with donors given priority.

2025 SPECIAL SERIES PAVILION PASS

Even if you don’t have a full-access Conference pass, you still have the opportunity to come and see select talks inside the Sun Valley Pavilion. Instead of our single event tickets, this year, we have a NEW offering—the Special Series Pavilion Pass on sale June 2!

2025 LIVE WATCH PARTY

For the second year in a row, we will be hosting a Live Watch Party of SVWC 2025 content at The Argyros theater in downtown Ketchum! We will broadcast select talks from the Conference throughout the day. Passes are only $25 per day and will go on sale June 23.  More information can be found at our Live Watch Party page.

2025 READING LIST

We’ve compiled a 2025 Reading List of all the latest books by our 2025 Writers & Presenters. We highly recommend supporting our local independent bookstores, Chapter One and Iconoclast, if you’re looking to purchase. You can also purchase books at the Conference itself, in our on-site bookstore tent operated by Boise State University (100% of the profits go toward the BSU Readers & Writers Scholarship Fund).

If you aren’t in Sun Valley, you can find the entire reading list at Bookshop.org (also supporting independent bookstores from all over the world). Or, if you prefer audiobooks, visit Libro.fm for the reading list in audio form.

2025 FREE EVENTS & PROGRAMMING

There are many ways you can join in and get inspired this year, all for free! From free Pavilion lawn talks, free livestreaming, and a free Community Speaker Series, to free online audio and video recordings in our digital media library, we hope you will enjoy one (or all) of these free community offerings!

2025 FREE COMMUNITY SPEAKER SERIES

As part of our free Community Speaker Series in partnership with The Community Library, we will have free speaking events this July! For details, registration, and more information about this program, visit our Community Speaker Series page.

IMPORTANT DATES

2025 CONFERENCE: Saturday, July 19 — Monday, July 21, 2025

CONFERENCE PASSES ON SALE: February 25, 2025

GUEST NAMES DUE: April 30, 2025

PROGRAM ONLINE: May 2025

BREAKOUT SIGN-UPS OPEN: May 2025

FREE LAWN TALK SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: May 2024

PASS CANCELLATION CUT-OFF: May 15, 2025

SPECIAL SERIES PAVILION PASSES ON SALE: June 2, 2025

LIVE WATCH PARTY TICKETS ON SALE: June 23, 2025

BREAKOUT SIGN-UPS CLOSE: June 2025

LIVESTREAMING AVAILABLE: July 19-21, 2025

REGISTRATION OPENS: July 19, 2025 (9:00am)

2025 CONTENT AVAILABLE ONLINE: August / September 2025

DONOR PRIORITY PRE-SALE: October 1, 2025 — January 31, 2026

2025 WRITER IN THE WORLD PRIZE

Stay tuned for this year’s Writer in the World announcement, with a very special surprise speaker! Learn more at our Writer in the World page.

LATEST UPDATES

For all the latest news and updates, be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter, check out our Latest Updates blog, and follow us on social media!

SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

At the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, we believe it’s important to protect the natural beauty of the place we call home. For generations, Sun Valley’s breathtaking landscape has been a source of inspiration for writers, and we want to do our part preserving the pristine and untouched splendor of this place for future generations. By implementing thoughtful changes in our journey towards sustainability—reducing waste, sourcing responsibly, and lowering our footprint—we are ensuring that the SVWC experience remains just as beautiful, engaging, and meaningful as the stories that bring us together. As SVWC friend and alum Barry Lopez writes, “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” Learn more about our sustainability efforts and how you can help.

SECURITY & SAFETY

SVWC is committed to the safety and well-being of those in attendance–writers, attendees, staff, volunteers, and the community. For more information, visit our Safety & Security Protocols page.

FAQ

IT’S MY FIRST TIME AT THE CONFERENCE. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION? 

We recommend you check out our First-Timers’ Guide and join us for New Attendee Orientation. You can also check out these helpful links for more information:

• What to Expect
• Plan Your Trip — Travel & Stay
• Sun Valley Info & Things to Do

And, as always, feel free to reach out with questions!

I HAVE PURCHASED GUEST PASSES. HOW DO I SEND IN MY GUEST NAMES? 
If you still have a guest pass that is not assigned to anyone, please email that information (first name, last name, and email) to [email protected] by April 30 so they can receive important information and breakout sign-up links.

WHEN WILL THE PROGRAM BE FINALIZED?
The program will be finalized and posted to our Schedule & Program page in early May.

WHAT ARE BREAKOUTS AND WHEN / HOW DO WE SIGN UP?

Breakouts are smaller speaker presentations held in open-air tents and more intimate venues around the resort. Several simultaneous talks take place during a single time slot, so you get to choose, in advance, which breakout you’d like to attend. Because they have limited seating, they are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with donors given priority.

Sign-ups for breakout sessions will open in May. You will be email a personalized link to make your selections at that time.

WILL MORE PASSES BECOME AVAILABLE?
If passes sell out, additional passes may become available to those on our waitlist. You can sign up here, and if additional passes become available for purchase, we will contact those on the list in the order received.

MY PLANS HAVE CHANGES. WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
If you contact us to cancel your pass purchase before May 15, we can issue a refund minus a $35 fee per pass. After that date, we are unable to issue refunds. However, you are welcome to transfer a pass to another person; just contact us with the new name and email.

WHAT TIME DO EVENTS BEGIN AND END EACH DAY? 
Registration opens 9am on Saturday, July 19. More information will be announced alongside our Schedule & Program.

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What’s missing from this page that you’d like to know about? Email [email protected] with comments and suggestions.

“This was my first SVWC, and it was superb. Overall, this was the most intellectually stimulating weekend that I can recall. I may have missed the first 29 SVWCs—I won’t miss another.”

– David Hensler, SVWC 2024 Attendee

The SVWC Experience

PLEASE NOTE:

• By attending any Writers’ Conference event, you agree to our photography terms: “During the course of the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, we will be filming, photographing, and recording the overall experience, including all sessions and any Q&A that is included. This is primarily for our marketing and distribution of content. Please be aware that by attending the Conference you consent to allow the Conference to use your likeness and voice in recordings, films, and tapes in our marketing materials and all media, now and in the future, waive any rights with respect to such use, and release the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference from any liability pertaining to such use.”
• Events may be livestreamed.
• Passes are required of all participants for attendance. Please respect the attendees and supporters of our nonprofit event—anyone without a pass will be asked by security to leave the site. You may visit our website or our Information Desk in the Bookstore Tent to learn more about other options for enjoying SVWC content.
• The views, opinions, and positions expressed by SVWC speakers and attendees at the Conference are the speakers’ and attendees’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of SVWC, its founders, board members, staff, or volunteers.