Winter Words
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Winter Words 2025 Speaker Series
The 28th season lineup includes authors Ayad Akhtar, Kevin Fedarko and Lauren Groff.
Events will take place from January 29 to February 12, 2025 at both Paepcke Auditorium in Aspen, CO and TACAW in Basalt, CO.
28th Season Lineup
Purchase passes & tickets soon
FAQ & Event Facts
GENERAL
More information coming soon!
More information coming soon!
More information coming soon!
More information coming soon!
All virtual event registrants will receive a personal link and passcode to access the Winter Words author talks. Look for an email from Aspen Words: aspenwords@aspeninstitute.org
Please visit our health and safety standards page here.
Membership Questions
All $100+ members receive 20% off Winter Words and Summer Words book titles at Explore Booksellers in Aspen and BookBinders in Basalt, our local independent bookstores.
Members at the $2500+ level receive free access to all Winter Words events. You will receive a separate email with details.
Students and Educators
Yes! Please contact Ivy.Chalmers@aspeninstitute.org to receive a promotional code to register free of charge.
Yes! We would love to work with you to create a lesson plan focused around any of the Winter Words books and events. Please contact Ivy.Chalmers@aspeninstitute.org for more information.
In-Person and Virtual Season Passes
With the in-person season pass, guests gain access to all four Winter Words events (individual tickets are $30/event). Seating at all in-person venues is general admission, please plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early to guarantee a seat.
With a virtual season pass, guests gain livestream access to all three Winter Words events (not for individual sale). You will receive the access link the day prior and 1-hour before each event.
Complete the registration with your personal contact and billing information. Then send an email to Haley.Rieveschl@aspeninstitute.org to provide the gift recipient’s First Name/Last Name and email address so that the gift recipient receives a notification and event access.
Individual tickets as well as in-person and virtual access series passes are available for purchase online at aspenwords.org. Tickets and passes can be purchased in-person at the Aspen Word office (110 E. Hallam #116) lunchtime box office every Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. as well as at Explore Booksellers (221 E. Main St.) during normal business hours 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Sunday.
All Winter Words events start at 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET
In-person events take place at Paepcke Auditorium in Aspen and TACAW in Basalt, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. A book signing follows each discussion and Explore Booksellers have books for purchase at the event.
The livestreams for each events will begin in accordance with the live event. All ticket holders will be provided access details from Aspen Words the day prior and a reminder 1 hour prior.
Aspen Words members enjoy 20% off all Winter Words books at Explore Booksellers (221 East Main St.) in Aspen and BookBinders (760 East Valley Road, C-122) in Basalt!
ASPEN WORDS BOX OFFICE
aspenwords.org | 970-925-3122
Tickets and passes are available online 24/7.
Purchase tickets and pass in-person at the Aspen Words office (110 E. Hallam St., Aspen) during our Wednesday lunchtime box office from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. or at Explore Booksellers (221 East Main St., Aspen) during regular business hours (11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Sunday).
We are proud to offer FREE tickets to students ages 14-24, and teachers.
We believe that engaged youth and academic professionals vitalize our literary community by offering fresh perspectives and taking bold risks. Contact Madeline.Lipton@aspeninstitute.org with questions or to reserve a free ticket.
This offer is subject to space availability at events. Winter Words programs are not scripted and may contain adult content and explicit language. We ask all guests review the Aspen Institute Community Agreement here.
VENUE
PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
POLICIES
BOOK SALES & AUTHOR SIGNINGS
Explore Booksellers will have books for sale at each Winter Words event. Featured authors will be available for a book signing following their talk. Bring your book or buy one onsite and don’t miss this rare opportunity to have your book inscribed by some of today’s most inspiring and talked about authors.
Past Seasons
- Isabel Wilkerson (in conversation with Elizabeth Alexander)
- Curtis Sittenfeld (in conversation with Charlotte Clymer)
- Ayad Akhtar HOMELAND ELEGIES (in conversation with Ron Charles)
- Robert Kolker (in conversation with Rebecca Skloot)
- The Art of Food Writing featuring Padma Lakshmi (“LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT WE ATE”), Ronni Lundy (“VICTUALS: AN APPALACHIAN JOURNEY, WITH RECIPES”) and Toni Tipton-Martin (“JUBILEE: RECIPES FROM TWO CENTURIES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN COOKING”).
- Billy Collins (in Conversation with Pádraig Ó Tuama)
- Juan Felipe Herrera
- Alison Bechdel + Beth Malone
- Adam Jhonson
- Geraldine Brooks + Tony Horwitz
- Sandra Cisneros
SEASON RECAP: Blog posts, Video, Photos
- Kevin Powers + Tobias Wolf
- Téa Obreht
- Gretel Ehrlich
- Karen Russell + Elissa Schappell
- Cheryl Strayed