Lyrik Hunter at a previous iteration of ‘Hear Me, See Me.’ Hunter will also be performing in this year’s event. Photo courtesy of Kali Rhe Creative.
The annual Dallas Is Lit! Literary Festival, presented by The Writer’s Garret, returns Wednesday, May 6 through Saturday, May 9.
For the fourth year in a row, the four-day celebration will focus on literature and community with featured authors, community leaders, creatives, performers and book lovers, according to The Writer’s Garret website.
“We have always looked to provide a place where the literary community of Dallas can be heard,” executive director of the Writer’s Garret Aaron Glover said in a press release. “And this year we are inviting them again to attend the festival, to be a part of the conversation. We especially want to invite people who think ‘I’m not a part of the literary community, that’s not for me.’ This festival is for you. Now more than ever, it’s so important for communities to come together; Dallas Is Lit is making space for those conversations, and offering a platform to amplify those voices.”
The event kicks off Wednesday night with Hear Me, See Me: The Love That Dares, the second installment of the Correspondence Project, a three-part collaboration with LGBTQ+ history organization The Badge Of Pride.
The performance will feature “iconic texts from the LGBTQ literary canon” and the work of local queer poets from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center. Tickets start at $25-$30, but are available for 20% off with the code ARTSPATRON.
The Wild Detectives will also host a free event Wednesday, May 6 starting at 7:30 p.m. for the First Rodeo Poetry Reading Series and a Literary Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7.
Lyrik Hunter will host Tap The Mic: Dallas Is Lit Edition at Trinity Cider Brewery from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. The monthly open mic will make a special appearance as part of the festival bringing together beverages and community. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the open mic starting at 7:30 p.m. Participants can RSVP at this link.
The Bishop Arts Theatre Center will host two events on Friday, May 8, for the festival.
The Narrative Power & The Futures We Create: A Community Symposium will take place from 7-9 p.m. The event will be a community-centered gathering to elevate ideas, voices, and conversations surrounding the culture and literary ecosystem of Dallas and beyond.
The series will include short spotlight talks from a handful of Dallas-based writers, thinkers, and leaders, plus a panel that addresses how connection is key to facing the challenges and opportunities that await. Tickets for the community symposium are free, but required to attend.
Following the symposium, the Dallas Is Lit! Poetry slam will return at Late Night Lit: Vibez N Verzuz. Ten poets will take the stage starting at 10 p.m. and throw down in a two-round competition. The top 3 poets will take home $500 in cash prizes and the winner will walk away with the title of Dallas Is Lit Poetry Slam Champ 2026. This event is for 18+ with tickets available for $25.
Photo courtesy of Kali Rhe Creative.
The Dallas Is Lit! Literary Festival will conclude with two events on Saturday, May 9. The Book & Author Fair at Arts Mission Oak Cliff will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring over a dozen vendors selling books and literary-adjacent crafts. Plus, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and greet over 20 authors throughout the day.
The festival will end with The Common Language Project: Time Reading at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center, where contributors from the project will share their work. RSVP for the reading here.
