Join the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (SVWC) this summer for an unforgettable celebration of ideas, storytelling, and deep dialogue. From July 18–20, readers and writers from around the world will gather at the Sun Valley Resort & Pavilion to engage with today’s most compelling literary voices—including iconic documentarian Ken Burns, honored as SVWC’s 2026 Writer in the World Prize recipient; Harvard historian Jill Lepore; and acclaimed British nature writer Robert Macfarlane.

Inspired by the rivers and streams that wind through the Wood River Valley, the theme for SVWC 2026 is “Currents of Change.” SVWC Literary Director John Burnham Schwartz explains, “As we approach our nation’s 250^th anniversary, this theme invites us to explore important questions: What forces shape our writers’ work? What changes have shaped, and are shaping, our country and world? And what role does literature play in helping us navigate them? Join us as we consider how stories both reflect and drive the political, social, and technological currents of our time, helping us understand both where we’ve been… and where we’re headed.”

The 2026 lineup brings together an extraordinary range of voices working at the intersection of culture, history, and science. Writers include Susan Choi, whose fiction explores identity and moral complexity; Kiran Desai, the Booker Prize–winning author known for her incisive examinations of globalization and belonging; Susan Orlean, celebrated for her genre-defying narrative journalism; Atul Gawande, whose work bridges medicine, ethics, and public life; Beth Macy, acclaimed for her reporting on social justice and the opioid crisis; Michael Pollan, a leading voice on food, health, and the environment; and Amor Towles, beloved for his elegant, immersive novels exploring ambition, history, and human connection. Additional writers and presenters will be announced in the coming months as the program continues to grow.

Donor support allows SVWC, an Idaho-based nonprofit, to bring leading writers and thinkers to Sun Valley each summer—transforming a small rural community into a vibrant literary hub. That support also funds scholarships for local students and educators, expands outreach in local schools, provides fellowships for aspiring young writers from around the country, and ensures that members of the Wood River Valley community can engage with the Conference through accessible, inclusive programming.

In 2026, SVWC remains deeply committed to this mission—supporting educational programs and community outreach while offering a wide range of free events and reduced-cost programming. These include free lawn talks on the Sun Valley Pavilion lawn, free livestreaming from anywhere in the world, free library talks in partnership with The Community Library, discounted series passes to select Pavilion Talks, and an ADA-accessible Live Watch Party at The Argyros theater in downtown Ketchum.

For more than 30 years, the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference has challenged and inspired audiences through thoughtful conversation and exceptional programming. In 2026, SVWC continues its tradition of quality, intimacy, and intellectual playfulness—connecting readers and writers through a shared love of literature and reaffirming its place as one of the country’s most beloved literary gatherings.

Passes will be on sale Tuesday, February 24 at 10 A.M. Mountain Time at the SVWC website.

Photo credit: Ray Gadd