About the Tucson Festival of Books

The Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB) is a registered non-profit organization that made its debut in 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. 

Fifteen years after its founding, the festival is now a community-wide celebration of literature and one of the largest book festivals in the United States.

Offered free-of-charge, the festival exists to improve literacy rates among children and adults. Proceeds that remain after festival expenses have been paid are contributed to local literacy programs. More than $2.2 million has been raised for local literacy organizations including Reading Seed, Literacy Connects and University of Arizona Literacy Outreach Programs.

Questions about the festival? Access our TFOB FAQ here. 

Festival History

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: 

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

2023

• Attendance 125,000 

• Indie authors who won their spots through a juried process take the stage for the first time with traditionally-published authors.

• Thomas Perry, bestselling author of thirty novels and Edgar Award winner, is chosen as Founders Award recipient. 

• 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