Every year, The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation curates a lineup of writers, public figures, journalists, and local icons for its fall author events season—and 2026 is looking to be the biggest page-turner yet.
The schedule offers audiences numerous opportunities to engage in conversations spanning literature, history, politics, technology, and contemporary culture like Philly sports and music.
“The strength of this season is its range,” says Daniel Blank, Managing Director of Public Programs, Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. “It brings together major national voices, beloved Philadelphia figures, and acclaimed writers across genres, with conversations spanning politics, history, literature, music, sports and more. We’re proud that these authors have chosen Philadelphia and the Free Library to share their new books.”
Running from September through December, all events will take place at the Parkway Central Library (1901 Vine Street). With most programs priced at just $5 — and some offered free of charge — the series remains intentionally accessible year after year. A small number of events will also include book bundles, giving attendees an opportunity to engage with some authors directly.
September will launch the series with Erin Riley, who will discuss ‘The Mighty WMMR’ in conversation with John DeBella on Sept. 15. On Sept. 22, acclaimed classicist and translator Emily Wilson will present ‘Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea’. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will follow on Sept. 23 with ‘Go and Do Likewise’, a conversation about public service and leadership with Michael Smerconish (this event is sold out, but a rush line will be available). The month continues on Sept. 28 with Marcia Chatelain, who will discuss ‘How Bright the Path Grows.’
September’s schedule also includes the season-opening event on Sept. 9 featuring historian and ‘New Yorker’ staff writer Jill Lepore, whose event will explore a timely question: How technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping democracy and the future of government. Drawing on her 2024 New Yorker essay, inspired in part by Hannah Arendt’s ‘The Origins of Totalitarianism’, Lepore’s new work examines the growing influence of artificial intelligence on political life and human society. Dubbed ‘The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State’, the event will kick off at 7 p.m.
October will bring another rich lineup to the series with programs spanning literature, culture, journalism, music, and the arts. The month opens on Oct. 1 with Elizabeth Alexander and ‘Signals Across Vast Distances: Essays and Tales’, followed by Imbolo Mbue on Oct. 8, discussing her latest work, ‘Every Story Is a Love Story.’ On Oct. 14, Malcolm Gladwell will examine the history and consequences of America’s gun violence in ‘The American Way of Killing: The Invention of an Epidemic.’
The following evening, Oct. 15, cartoonist Roz Chast will present ‘The Two Saddest Kitchens: A Comics Conversation.’ Novelist Yiyun Li will then take the stage on Oct. 20 with ‘Music Against the Night: A Novel’, and the month will close on Oct. 27 with acclaimed countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, who will discuss his memoir, ‘Countertenor.’
November will continue the fun with a lineup that moves across memoirs, history, music, and Philadelphia sports. The month opens on Nov. 3 with Angela Nissel and ‘Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom Is Dead,’ followed by Jesse Wegman on Nov. 4 with ‘The Lost Founder.’ On Nov. 12, Anthony Tommasini will present ‘Voice of a Century,’ exploring the life and legacy of one “remarkable musical voice.”
Then, on Nov. 17, Philadelphia sports icon Ray Didinger will take the stage with ‘Look What the Kid Wrote Today: Quotes, Anecdotes and Other Musings.’
Didinger’s book takes its title from a phrase his grandfather used when “proudly displaying Didinger’s newspaper articles in his Southwest Philadelphia bar.” The collection brings together memories of some of the people and moments that shaped his career.
In the book’s chapters, Didinger recalls walking the Merion golf course with Jack Nicklaus, shooting pool with Mean Joe Greene, visiting Foxcatcher Farms with John du Pont, and spending time with Mark Wahlberg during the filming of ‘Invincible.’
The season will then continue into the last month of the year, with Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor, who will present ‘Something We Said’ on Dec. 3, bringing the fall series to a close.
A full schedule and description of each event is available online at freelibraryfoundation.org/events
MORE: Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl returns with nearly 60 stops, author events and giveaways
Keywords
Free Library of Philadelphia,
Parkway Central Library,
Philadelphia events,
books,
authors,
Ray Didinger,
Malcolm Gladwell,
Jill Lepore