The 2026 Festival of Faith & Writing will take place on April 16-18 at Calvin University's campus in Grand Rapids, MI.

The Festival officially begins at 12:30 pm on Thursday, April 16, and concludes around 6:30 pm on Saturday, April 18.

Provisional Schedule

Wednesday, April 15

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm — Registration desk open for early badge/program pickup

Thursday, April 16

9:00 am - 11:30 am — Registration desk open for badge/program pickup

9:00 am - 4:30 pm — Exhibit Hall open

10:00 - 11:00 am — Scott Erickson open house in the Center Art Gallery

11:00 am-12:00 pm — Boxed Lunch pickup (pre-order only)

12:30 pm — Opening plenary with Laurie Halse Anderson

2:30 pm — Concurrent sessions

4:00 pm — Concurrent sessions

5:30 pm — Evening plenary with Robin Wall Kimmerer

Evening activities

8:00 pm—Film screening, Leap of Faith, followed by Q & A with filmmaker Nicholas Ma
Sponsored receptions

Friday, April 17

8:00 am — Matins with Jess Ray

9:00 am - 4:30 pm — Exhibit Hall open

9:00 am — Concurrent sessions

10:30 am — Concurrent sessions

11:45 am — Concurrent sessions

12:30-2:30 pm — Lunch break (pre-ordered Boxed Lunch pickup & Lunch Circles meet)

2:30 pm — Concurrent sessions

4:00 pm — Concurrent sessions

5:30 pm — Evening plenary with Ross Gay

Evening activities

Saturday, April 18

8:00 am — Matins with Jess Ray

9:00 am - 4:30 pm — Exhibit Hall open

9:00 am — Concurrent sessions

10:30 am — Concurrent sessions

11:45 am — Concurrent sessions

12:30-2:30 pm — Lunch break (pre-ordered Boxed Lunch pickup & Lunch Circles meet)

2:30 pm — Concurrent sessions

4:00 pm — Concurrent sessions

5:30 pm — Concluding plenary with Barbara Brown Taylor

The full schedule, including concurrent sessions, will be shared as soon as it is available.

Schedule of Events