Sierra Poetry Festival Marks 10th Anniversary with Nationally Acclaimed Poets and Expansive Interdisciplinary Programming

What: Sierra Poetry Festival
When: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Doors Open: 8:30AM | Concludes: 6:00PM
Where: The Center for the Arts, 314 W Main St, Grass Valley
Who: Hosted by Nevada County Arts Council
Admission: $20-$45 | Free for Students, Military, Veterans, and Gold Star Families

Info & Tickets: www.sierrapoetryfestival.org

Grass Valley, CA—February 23, 2026: Sierra Poetry Festival returns to The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley on Saturday, April 18, 2026, celebrating its tenth anniversary with one of its most distinguished lineups to date.

Presented by Nevada County Arts Council, the festival has grown over the past decade into a nationally recognized gathering that brings leading poets from across California and the United States into conversation with regional voices, students, and the wider community.

This year’s keynote event features former United States Poet Laureate Robert Hass and Guggenheim Fellow Brenda Hillman, two of the most influential figures in contemporary American poetry. Hass, a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, is widely celebrated for his lyrical engagement with landscape, memory, and public life. Hillman, known for her formally innovative and politically attentive work, has long been regarded as one of the country’s most original poetic voices.

They are joined by a nationally distinguished roster reflecting the range and vitality of contemporary American poetry. Featured readers include Major Jackson, award-winning poet and former Poetry Editor of the Harvard Review; Tongo Eisen-Martin, San Francisco Poet Laureate and a leading voice in political and performance poetry; Tess Taylor, whose work explores history and lineage; and José Hernández Díaz, known for his vivid, surreal lyricism. They appear alongside Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, co-founder of Undocupoets; Oswaldo Vargas; and Laurel Chen, bringing together voices that span regions, generations, and aesthetic traditions.

Additional presenters represent a wide range of aesthetic traditions, regions, and generations, underscoring the festival’s commitment to literary excellence and diverse perspectives.

The 2026 festival theme, Blue Mountains Walking, draws inspiration from the writing of Pulitzer prize-winning poet Gary Snyder. It gestures toward a view of landscape not as backdrop, but as living presence—a reminder that the natural world, like language itself, is dynamic and participatory. As the festival marks a decade since its inaugural theme, Soul of Place, this year’s focus reflects both continuity and movement: an acknowledgment of deep roots and evolving responsibility.

While Sierra Poetry Festival mainstage readings anchor the day, attendees can participate in generative breakout sessions, facilitated conversations, and interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate music, film, and performance. A robust youth segment continues the festival’s longstanding investment in young writers, offering opportunities for students to share their work alongside established poets.

Throughout late March and April, the accompanying SPF Fringe Festival activates venues across Nevada County with pop-up readings, open mics, ekphrastic events, and the now-anticipated Nevada City Poetry Crawl. The festival website is updated daily with new program details, workshop descriptions, and special collaborations as they are confirmed.

Over ten years, Sierra Poetry Festival has grown from a regional experiment into a gathering that attracts nationally recognized poets while remaining grounded in the landscapes and communities of the Sierra Nevada. Organizers expect this anniversary year to be its most vibrant yet.

Sierra Poetry Festival takes place Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at The Center for the Arts, 314 West Main Street, Grass Valley. Tickets range from $20 to $45. Admission is free for students of all ages, active military, veterans, and Gold Star families with valid identification.

For tickets, full presenter listings, and regularly updated program information, visit www.sierrapoetryfestival.org. For more information about Nevada County Arts Council, visit www.nevadacountyarts.org.

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