About the Tucson Festival of Books
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 14-15, 2026 at the University of Arizona. Questions about the festival? Access our TFOB FAQ here.
Festival History
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)
Festival Mascot:
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.
TFOB Timeline:
Here's a look back at the Tucson Festival of Books through the years:
2025
- 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
2024
- 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
2023
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Attendance 125,000
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Indie authors who won their spots through a juried process take the stage for the first time with traditionally-published authors.
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Thomas Perry, bestselling author of thirty novels and Edgar Award winner, is chosen as Founders Award recipient.
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Festival Mascot: Raccoon
2022
- Attendance 100,000 / donation to literacy $75,000
- 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
2021
- Attendance unknown / donation to literacy $100,000
- 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
2020
- Festival Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic / donation to literacy $20,000
2019
- Attendance 140,000 / donation to literacy $230,000
- Luis Alberto Urrea, 11-time festival attendee and the Latino Literature Hall of Fame member was honored as Founders Award recipient
- Festival Mascot: Javelina
2018
- Attendance 140,000 / donation to literacy $165,000
- 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
2017
- Attendance 135,000 / donation to literacy $165,000
- 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
2016
- Attendance 135,000 / donation to literacy $195,000
- Local author J.A. Jance given Founders Award
- The “Hot Off The Press” book launch party attracts 300 supporters
- Festival Mascot: Jackrabbit
2015
- Attendance 130,000 / donation to literacy $210,000
- 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 with a stop at the Tucson Festival of Books
- Festival Mascot: Bobcat
2014
- Attendance 130,000 / donation to literacy $150,000
- University of Arizona alumnus Richard Russo receives Founders Award
- Native American Pavilion and Nuestras Raices Tent offer culturally diverse programs
- Festival Mascot: Quail
2013
- Attendance 120,000 / donation to literacy $200,000
- Literary Awards and Master’s Workshop introduced
- RL Stine becomes first Children’s Author to receive Founders Award
- Festival Mascot: Butterfly
2012
- Attendance 120,000 / donation to literacy $200,000
- Science City becomes a destination focused on STEM literacy
- Founders Award given to Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana
- Festival Mascot: Sonoran Green Toad
2011
- Attendance 100,000 / donation to literacy $200,000
- 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
2010
- Attendance 80,000 / donation to literacy $175,000
- Culinary Stage is added to offer a venue for food-related authors
- Lindley Lopez Literary Circus performs for the first time
- Festival Mascot: Hummingbird
2009
- Attendance 50,000 / donation to literacy $125,000
- The Tucson Festival of Books makes its debut on the UA campus
- Festival Mascot: Gila Monster
