Festival
Southern Festival of Books
Free annual book festival in Nashville, first held in 1989, run by Humanities Tennessee with Vanderbilt University and held each October around Bicentennial Capitol Mall.
The Southern Festival of Books is a free book festival held in Nashville each October. It was established in 1989 as a project of Humanities Tennessee, and is now presented by Vanderbilt University as a Humanities Tennessee program. The 2026 festival, the 38th, takes place on October 17 and 18.
Sessions and signings are held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and the Tennessee State Museum.
The festival’s website posts the author list, schedule, map, and vendor list, and takes volunteer sign-ups.
Related
- PublicationChapter 16
- OrganizationThe Porch
Sources
- sofestofbooks.org
Presented by Vanderbilt University as a program of Humanities Tennessee; 38th annual festival on October 17 and 18, 2026; venues; free admission.
- humanitiestennessee.org
First festival held in 1989 by Humanities Tennessee, then the Tennessee Humanities Council.
- porchtn.org
The Porch's fall 2026 classes were held in partnership with the festival.