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!

SEE ALL 2025 WRITERS & PRESENTERS

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

All 2025 Conference passes will go on sale February 25. Every year, they sell out quickly—often in minutes. We recommend signing up for our email newsletter for important updates and pass sale information.

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 PAVILION SINGLE EVENT TICKETS

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. These single event tickets are available to purchase online. Find more information at our Single Event Tickets page.

2025 LIVE WATCH PARTY

For the second year, we will livestream exclusive content from the 2025 Conference straight to The Argyros theater, including several talks that are not available for at-home livestreaming, lawn talks, or single event tickets. We will also have books available for purchase, SVWC gift items, special guest appearances, drinks, music, and more. Join us for this fun and festive celebration in downtown Ketchum! When available, 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

PASSES ON SALE: February 25, 2025

SINGLE EVENT TICKETS ON SALE: April 2025

GUEST NAMES DUE: April 30, 2025

PROGRAM ONLINE: May 2025

BREAKOUT SIGN-UPS OPEN: May 2025

LIVE WATCH PARTY TICKETS ON SALE: May 2025

BREAKOUT SIGN-UPS CLOSE: June 2025

FREE LAWN TALK SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: June 2025

LIVESTREAMING REGISTRATION OPENS: July 2025

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

2025 CONTENT AVAILABLE ONLINE: August 2025

DONOR PRIORITY PRE-SALE: October 1, 2024 — January 31, 2025

SECURITY, SAFETY & COVID-19

SVWC is committed to the safety and well-being of those in attendance–writers, attendees, staff, volunteers, and the community. For more information (including our COVID-19 Policy), visit our Safety & Security Protocols page.

2025 WRITER IN THE WORLD PRIZE

Stay tuned for this year’s Writer in the World announcement coming in May 2025, 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 and follow our Latest Updates blog!

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:

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.

WHAT IS YOUR COVID-19 POLICY THIS YEAR?

We are closely monitoring any COVID developments. At this time, we do not expect to require proof of vaccination for attendance at SVWC 2025. Whenever possible, presentations and meals and signings will be held in open-air venues. Masks will be encouraged, but not required. Please keep in mind, our policy is subject to change. To learn more and for updated information, visit our COVID-19 Safety Protocols page.

—

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