This year's Litfest, June 12-14, 2026, will bring together a diverse group of outstanding poets, fiction writers, nonfiction writers, and talented moderators from New York State and beyond for a day of readings, lively conversation, and connection.

Located in one of the Hudson Valley’s most vibrant and artistic cities— The Beacon LitFest aims to celebrate the literary arts, by introducing some of today’s exceptional writers to the Beacon and midHudson Valley, and growing and connecting the community of readers and writers.

Our Friday Jun 12, 6:30-8:30pm opening event is The Exquisite Art of Translation, welcoming Daisy Rockwell, Han Zhang, and Johnny Lorenz with Deborah Kapchan as moderator. The event will take place at The BEAHIVE collaborative work hub, 6 Eliza St, right off Main St. in Beacon, NY

The Saturday June 13 events, which consist of multiple programs at various venues in Beacon, will commence promptly at 10:30am for The Poet as Witness, with Dawn Lundy Martin, Natalya Sukhonos, and Wayne Koestenbaum joining us, with Ruth Danon and Andrea Talarico as moderators. This program will also be held at The BEAHIVE, 6 Eliza St, Beacon, NY right off Main St. 

We ask that all writers for the Poetry event arrive NO LATER than 10am (Preferably 9:30) for coffee :), sound checks, seating, book sale setup, etc. There will be some time to explore Beacon after the Poetry program ends at approximately12 noon. 

The Crafting Realities in NonFiction and Fiction program will begin promptly at 5:00pm and end 7:30pm. Our invited authors include Nonfiction panelists Michele Filgate, MJ Corey, and Deborah Kapchan, with moderator Brian Mahoney of Chronogram, and Fiction panelists Erin Somers, Julia Phillips, and Alexander Chee with moderator Matthew Sciarappa of Knopf. 

We ask that all participating writers for the Nonfiction/event arrive between 4-4:30pm for sound checks, seating set up, book sale arrangements, etc at St Rita's Music Room at 85 Eliza St (a wonderful, best-kept-secret location in the Kube Art Center/repurposed High School building in Beacon, two blocks from Main St). 

Throughout the day, your books will be on display and available for purchase. All writers and audience members will be invited to a book-signing reception and cocktail party 7:30-8:00pm at St Rita's, immediately following the day’s events. 

Finally, we conclude Saturday with a special VIP catered dinner featuring live music and other surprises planned by Hit House Creative. This exclusive event, to which all writers are invited, will be held 8-10pm at a private loft in Beacon Lofts 41 Mason Circle, bldg 10, #24 (let us know that day if you will need transportation-it is about a five minute drive off Main St-- off Fishkill Ave/Rte 52 in Beacon)

Sunday, June 14 will feature a series of literary writing workshops taught by professional writers and instructors Joseph Fasano (Poetry) 10:00a-12n, Michelle Filgate (Memoir/Essay) 12:00n-2p, and Jeanne Marie Fleming (Fiction) 2:00p-4p. Location on Beacon's Main St TBA.