Or, more formally, “A Comprehensive List of U.S. College- and University-Sponsored or -Hosted Children’s and Young Adult Literature Conferences, Festivals, and Symposia.” (All of them that I could find, anyway).

Several years ago, I was looking for such a list, wondered why I couldn’t find one, and decided to just go ahead and make one myself.

Since then, I’ve periodically updated and reposted it — as I’m doing right now. To be notified about future updates, just sign up for my Bartography Express newsletter.

If I’ve missed any events, or included some that no longer exist, won’t you please let me know in the comments section?

Arizona
University of Arizona Tucson Festival of Books

California
University of Redlands Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival

Colorado
Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado at Denver Colorado Teen Literature Conference

I’m looking forward to sharing my newest book, We Match! (illustrated by Sharon Glick and published by Astra Young Readers), at conferences and festivals in 2026 and beyond!

Georgia
Kennesaw State University Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults
The University of Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature

Hawaii
Chaminade University of Honolulu Conference on Literature and Hawai’i’s Children (biennial)

Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Youth Literature Festival (biennial)

Maryland
Frostburg State University Spring Festival of Children’s Literature

Massachusetts
Framingham State University Swiacki Children’s Literature Festival
Simmons College Children’s Literature Summer Institute (biennial)

Minnesota
University of Minnesota Kerlan Award Ceremony
University of St. Thomas Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference (“We look forward to seeing you in 2027! Stay tuned for details. (No conference will be held in 2026.)”)

Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival

During some downtime at the 2025 Truman State University Children’s Literature Festival, I learned what Spike — the school’s bulldog mascot — does when he’s not performing. From the look he gave me, I’m not sure this was something I should be talking about. So maybe I should stick to providing information about my own conference keynotes and other author appearances.

Missouri
Missouri State University Children’s Literature Festival of the Ozarks
Truman State University Children’s Literature Festival
University of Central Missouri Children’s Literature Festival

New Jersey
Rutgers University One-on-One Plus Conference

New York
Bank Street College of Education BookFest @ Bank Street
Monroe Community College Rochester Children & Teens’ Book Festival
Stony Brook University – Southampton Southampton Children’s Literature Conference

North Carolina
Appalachian State University Children’s Literature Symposium

Ohio
The University of Findlay Mazza Museum Weekend Conference
Youngstown State University English Festival

Pennsylvania
Community College of Philadelphia African American Children’s Book Fair
Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference

Tennessee
University of Tennessee Southern Lynn McKee Erwin Conference on Children’s Literature

Texas
Sam Houston State University North Texas Teen Book Festival

Utah
Brigham Young University Books for Young Readers
Utah Valley University For the Love of Reading Conference

Virginia
The College of William and Mary Joy of Literacy and Literature Conference
Hollins University Francelia Butler Conference
Longwood University Summer Literacy Institute and Virginia Children’s Book Festival
Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference

Washington
Western Washington University Children’s Literature Conference