In case you missed it, here are a few highlights from this year's festival.
As we turn the page on October and settle into November, we're still thinking about the wonderful weekend we shared in downtown Concord. The 2026 NH Book Festival brought readers, writers, and the wider community together for two days of great conversations, new discoveries, and a whole lot of love for books.
To everyone who made it possible—our authors, moderators, vendors, exhibitors, sponsors, partners, donors, more than 100 volunteers, and festival attendees—thank you. This festival belongs to all of you, and we're grateful you were part of it.
A few moments we're still smiling about:
A picture-perfect fall weekend. October 2 & 3 brought clear skies and warm temperatures, making it a beautiful day to explore downtown Concord, meet authors, discover new books, and enjoy everything the festival had to offer.
Jeff Kinney brought Wimpy Kid fans together. World-renowned NY Times-bestselling children’s author Jeff Kinney headlined a sold-out Children’s Keynote on Friday morning, and Family Keynote on Saturday evening. Kinney kept schoolkids and families spellbound with the story of how the Wimpy Kid was born, and Kinney’s long journey to publication and bestsellerdom.
Jodi Picoult kicked off the festival in style. A sold-out Opening Keynote featured beloved, New York Times-bestselling author Jodi Picoult in conversation with NHPR's Rebecca Lavoie. They discussed Picoult's latest novel, Hollow Bones, her research process, and a remarkable career spanning 30 novels and millions of books in print. And for the many fans in attendance, the opportunity to meet Picoult and snap a photo afterward made the evening even more memorable.
Sixty authors. Sixteen free programs. Countless conversations. Authors from around the country joined us for panels, conversations, and readings about their books, the writing life, and the ideas that inspire them. The lineup included recipients of the National Book Award, Newbery Medal, LAMBDA Literary Award, and Green Earth Book Award. There was something for every kind of reader!
Main Street was buzzing! The festival is about more than what's happening onstage. Twenty pop-up tents featured vendors, partner organizations, and sponsors, while food trucks—including award-winning Gravy Train—kept festivalgoers fueled throughout the day. Concord's Main Street was alive with readers, families, and book lovers enjoying the festivities.
And a very special thank-you to our partners and corporate supporters. We're especially grateful to Ledyard Bank, our stalwart, spectacular, sagacious (look it up!) ally since day one. Their generosity and commitment have helped make this celebration of books, literacy, and community possible year after year. We couldn't do it without them.
The NH Book Festival is a community effort, powered by people who believe in the magic of books and the connections they create. Whether you attended an event, volunteered your time, supported the festival, or helped spread the word, you played a part in making this year's festival special.
Thank you for being part of it. We can't wait to turn the page and do it all again!