The Santa Barbara Literary Festival

**Events may have been canceled or postponed. Please contact the venue to confirm the event.

Date & Time

Sat, May 02 All day

Sun, May 03 All day

Address (map)

State Street

Venue (website)

Downtown Santa Barbara


Launching May 2 and 3, 2026, the Santa Barbara Literary Festival is a two-day, citywide celebration of readers and writers that transforms Downtown Santa Barbara into a vibrant hub of poetry, prose, ideas, and inspiration.

Festival highlights include dynamic keynotes, panels, and workshops hosted by leading cultural institutions and businesses such as the Kimpton Canary Hotel, La Arcada, the Lobero Theatre, Karpeles Library Manuscript Museum, the CEC Hub, Crafter’s Library, and the Santa Barbara Public Library.

Adding to the excitement, site-specific pop-up events will enliven State Street storefronts and community spaces, featuring both local and visiting authors in engaging programs open to all. At the center of it all, our Festival Bookstore, sponsored by Chaucer’s Books, invites audiences to discover new voices and take the experience home.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.