Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Adam Gopnik’s Talk Therapy
2026-02-28 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Denver)
Theater Aspen presents: Adam Gopnik’s Talk Therapy
Saturday, February 28, 6:30pm | Paepcke Auditorium
An Evening with Adam Gopnik You Didn’t Know You Needed

Best known as an acclaimed writer for The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik has spent more than three decades crafting essays, memoirs, and cultural criticism. The bestselling author of Paris to the Moon and The Real Work, Gopnik now turns his sharp eye and signature wit to the stage.
Join us for an intimate, one-night-only performance of his brand-new one-man show, Talk Therapy.
In this revealing and deeply personal piece, Gopnik reflects on his early years as a young writer finding his footing in the wilds of New York City—and the mentors, friendships, and formative encounters that shaped his path.

Tickets
Standard Seating: $65
Premium Seating (Assigned) – $95
includes premium assigned seating in Paepcke Auditorium
Run Time for each performance is 70 minutes. Doors: 6:00pm | Show 6:30pm
Online sales end 5:00pm day of performance, tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
Purchase tickets and learn more here!

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Member Readings with Optional Feedback | June 18
2026-03-04 08:00 - 17:00
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Member Readings with Optional Feedback
One of the more important Meetings in our schedule – it provides the opportunity for you to support your fellow writers and/or be supported. Audience feedback on your reading is optional.
April 16 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
July 16 | Summer Soiree

Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It and conversation W/ executive producer Daniel Shaw at TACAW
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00
Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It and conversation W/ executive producer Daniel Shaw
DATE: MARCH 5, 2026
LOCATION: TACAW
TIME: 7:00 pm / DOORS @ 6:00 pm
Purchase tickets HERE
MEMBER $15 / ADVANCE $20 / DAY OF $25
SEATED SHOW / 18+ VALID PHOTO ID REQUIRED

TACAW is presenting a screening of Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It and a conversation after with executive producer Daniel Shaw.
RUN TIME: 105 MINUTES
Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance.
ABOUT DANIEL SHAW
Daniel Shaw is a journalist, musician and conservationist living in Woody Creek, Colorado with his artist and writer wife, Isa Catto. Highlights of a 40-year career include writing for dozens of page 7 publications, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Daily Variety, working as a Washington, DC bureau chief, hosting an NPR show interviewing musicians, and serving as press secretary for the Navajo Nation. As a blues, rock and country harmonica player, he’s played live and recorded with numerous acts. He currently sits on the board of Conservation International and chairs the nation’s only net-zero performing arts center in Basalt, Colorado.
Learn more and purchase tickets HERE

Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist Announced March 11
2026-03-11 10:00 - 17:00
Aspen Words will announce the shortlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on March 11.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Flash Fiction with Grant Faulkner | March 19
2026-03-19 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Flash Fiction with Grant Faulkner
Exercise your writing muscles with flash fiction. Short prose where every word counts is a great way to tighten up scenes and build the ‘voice’ of your work.
March 19 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
April 16 and May 21,

Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: PenPals A New Play by Michael Griffo
2026-03-20 16:00 - 2026-03-21 17:00
Theater Aspen presents: PenPals | A New Play by Michael Griffo
Friday, March 20, 6:30pm
Saturday, March 21, 4:30pm

Two Women. Five Decades. One Extraordinary Friendship.
The Smash Hit Comes to Aspen For A Strictly Limited Engagement! Pen Pals is the extraordinary story of two friends that unfolds over decades. Bernie and Mags live in two different countries, they’ve never met, and yet they’re best friends. Because they’ve been pen pals for over fifty years. Since they were teenagers, they’ve shared every aspect of their lives with each other. The trivial bits, the most intimate details, all the happiness, all the heartache. They’ve told each other things they wouldn’t dare tell another soul. Even though Bernie lives in New Jersey and Mags is from England, the women are closer to each other than anyone else in the world. Come witness the journey of their lifetime. In their own words.

Tickets
Standard Seating: $65
Premium Seating (Assigned) – $95
includes premium assigned seating in Paepcke Auditorium
Run Time for each performance is 90 minutes.
Online sales end 5:00pm day of performance, tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
Purchase tickets and learn more here!

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Perfect Your Pitch a.k.a. Find the Heart of Your Story | April 16
2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Perfect Your Pitch a.k.a. Find the Heart of Your Story
Identifying and being able to clearly articulate the heart of your story is key to writing and finishing your book, as well as selling it (to a publisher or the public). This workshop will help you tighten up your narrative arc to make your story more readable and more publishable.
April 16 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
May 21

Aspen Words Literary Prize Winner Announcement on April 23, 2026
2026-04-23 17:00 - 18:30
ABOUT THE PRIZE
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
2026 TIMELINE
Thursday, November 13, 2025 – Longlist announcement
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 – Shortlist announcement
Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Winner announcement & reception – April 2026 in New York City

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | May 21
2026-05-21 18:00 - 20:00
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
April 16 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
June 18 | Member Readings with Optional Feedback and July 16 | Summer Soiree

2026 Summer Words Writers Conference
2026-06-21 08:00 - 2026-06-26 17:00 | Viewline Resort Snowmass, Autograph Collection, 100 Elbert Ln, Snowmass Village, CO, 81615, United States
Summer Words Writers Conference 2026: June 21-June 26
Aspen Words is excited to welcome writers back to Snowmass Village for the 2026 Summer Words Writers Conference. We look forward to gathering once again for a week of craft, creativity, and connection.
Applications for the Emerging Writer Fellowships open December 10, 2025 and close January 12, 2026.
Juried Workshop applications open January 12, 2026 and close February 26, 2026.
We hope you will join us for another exceptional year. If you have any questions about the application process or general Summer Words inquiries, please reach out to aspenwords@aspeninstitute.org.
Learn more about the Summer Words Writers Conference here!

Aspen Words Book Ball | July 10, 2026
2026-07-10 17:30 - 21:00 | Aspen Meadows Resort Doerr-Hosier Center, 870 Meadows Rd, Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Book Ball | July 9, 2026 | The Aspen Meadows Resort
with Jonathan Franzen
We are honored to welcome bestselling author Jonathan Franzen as the keynote speaker for Book Ball 2026.
We hope you will join a vibrant and passionate community to celebrate writers and readers, and to connect through the power of stories on July 9, 2026, at Aspen Meadows.
This special evening raises vital funds to support Aspen Words programs, including the Aspen Literary Festival, Writers in the Schools, scholarships for emerging writers, and community talks with Pulitzer Prize–winning authors.
Learn more here!

Aspen Literary Festival 2026: September 25-27
2026-09-25 08:00 - 2026-09-27 17:00
The Aspen Literary Festival returns this fall.
Join us for an unforgettable (LIT)erary weekend in Aspen—filled with dynamic panels, lively parties, engaging conversations, and unexpected delights. Over three inspiring days, dozens of acclaimed authors will gather in Aspen to celebrate stories, ideas, and the power of words.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Stay up to date on all things ALF, including author announcements, ticket releases, and special events.
Visit the official festival website to learn more:https://www.aspenliteraryfestival.org/
