Mission: The Tucson Festival of Books is a premier, free-to-attend, family-friendly celebration of literature that engages our community. We present notable recently published authors from all genres to discuss big ideas and express creativity freely.
Vision: Through an annual festival and associated programs, we support, elevate, and amplify literacy so that words and imagination come to life for readers of all ages. We inspire our community to fund and utilize Southern Arizona literacy services to improve literacy rates.
The next Tucson Festival of Books will be held March 13-14, 2027 at the University of Arizona. Questions about the festival? Access our TFOB FAQ here.
The Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB) is a registered non-profit organization that made its debut March 14-15, 2009 on the campus of The University of Arizona. The inaugural festival featured 450 authors and presenters and welcomed 50,000 regional visitors, all made possible with generous support from our sponsors and the energetic goodwill of 800 volunteers. The Tucson Festival of Books is fortunate to have the support of two of the city’s leading institutions among its co-founders, The University of Arizona and The Arizona Daily Star: community-focused organizations who help to further the mission of TFOB.
The festival is now a community-wide celebration of literature and one of the largest book festivals in the United States.
Five founders established the festival as a non-profit organization dedicated to funding literacy advancement in Southern Arizona:
Bill Viner (President)
Frank Farias and John H. Humenik (Vice Presidents)
Bruce Beach (Treasurer)
Brenda Viner (Secretary)
Since 2009 the Tucson Festival of Books has introduced a unique desert animal design to represent the festival. All designs were created by illustrator and graphic designer Chiara Bautista.
Attendance: 140,000
Williams Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of the Cork O’Connor mystery series and winner of numerous awards, including the Barry Award and Friends of American Writers Prize, is chosen as Founders Award recipient.
Festival Macot: Jaguar
$250,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 130,000
Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire novels and winner of the Western Writers of America Spur and other awards, chosen as Founders Award recipient.
Festival Macot: Mexican Free-tailed Bat
$150,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 130,000
T. Jefferson Parker, bestselling author of twenty six novels and Edgar Award winner, is chosen as Founders Award recipient.
Festival Mascot: Coatimundi
$120,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 125,000
Thomas Perry, bestselling author of thirty novels and Edgar Award winner, is chosen as Founders Award recipient.
Indie authors who won their spots through a juried process take the stage for the first time with traditionally-published authors.
Festival Mascot: Raccoon
$100,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 100,000
Returning during the pandemic, the festival hosts a masked, safe, and successful in-person event.
Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, is chosen as Founders Award recipient.
Festival Mascot: Prairie Dogs
$75,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance unknown
The first ever virtual Tucson Festival of Books is presented entirely online with great success!
Lisa See, is chosen as Founders Award recipient for 2020 AND 2021.
Festival Mascot: Owl
$100,000 given to literacy organizations
Festival Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
$20,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 140,000
Luis Alberto Urrea, 11-time festival attendee and the Latino Literature Hall of Fame member was honored as Founders Award recipient
Festival Mascot: Javelina
$230,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 140,000
Billy Collins, former United States Poet Laureate was honored as Founders Award recipient
The festival celebrates its tenth year with a free concert open to the public featuring The Rock Bottom Remainders
Festival Mascot: Coyote
$165,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 135,000
TC Boyle, faculty member at the University of Southern California honored as Founders Award recipient
Juan Felipe Herrera, the first Hispanic US Poet Laureate, welcomes UA Graduate TC Tolbert as Tucson’s new Poet Laureate.
Festival Mascot: Roadrunner
$165,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 135,000
Local author J.A. Jance given Founders Award
The “Hot Off The Press” book launch party attracts 300 supporters
Festival Mascot: Jackrabbit
$195,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 130,000
The Rock Bottom Remainders - Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Sam Barry, Greg Isles, Ridley Pearson, Amy Tan and Scott Turow - perform a benefit concert and are recognized with the Founders Award
The Nation Magazine celebrates its 150th Anniversary at the Tucson Festival of Books
Festival Mascot: Bobcat
$210,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 130,000
University of Arizona alumnus Richard Russo receives Founders Award
Native American Pavilion and Nuestras Raices Tent offer culturally diverse programs
Festival Mascot: Quail
$150,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 120,000
Literary Awards and Master’s Workshop introduced
RL Stine becomes first Children’s Author to receive Founders Award
Festival Mascot: Butterfly
$200,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 120,000
Science City becomes a destination focused on STEM literacy
Founders Award given to Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana
Festival Mascot: Sonoran Green Toad
$200,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 100,000
Inaugural Founders Award – Elmore Leonard honored
Science Pavilion is added to Festival and expands footprint of event to the east side of Cherry Avenue
Festival Mascot: Tarantula
$200,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 80,000
Culinary Stage is added to offer a venue for food-related authors
Lindley Lopez Literary Circus performs for the first time
Festival Mascot: Hummingbird
$175,000 given to literacy organizations
Attendance: 50,000
The Tucson Festival of Books makes its debut on the UA campus
$125,000 given to literacy organizations
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