Our events, classes, and seminars bring the community together to hear, learn, and discuss the most compelling issues and ideas of our day. We hope you will join us in our community space and bookstore at 716 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR, online, and at partnering venues across Portland and Oregon.
Literary Arts is pleased to present George Saunders as the first speaker of the 2026-27 Portland Arts & Lectures series. Please note: a subscription to the entire 2026-27 Portland Arts & Lectures series is required to attend this event. Click here to subscribe.
Literary Arts is pleased to present New York Times bestselling author Patti Smith for An Evening of Songs & Stories, featuring a live performance and conversation about her new memoir, Bread of Angels. About the book: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A radiant new memoir from artist and writer Patti Smith, author of the National Book Award winner Just Kids A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, NPR, THE
Verselandia! is the annual youth poetry slam championship presented by Literary Arts. It is the Grand Slam for the winners from individual school slams hosted by public high school librarians across the Portland region. Finalist poets compete for five great prizes. Members of the public are invited to cheer on the youth poets as they
Patrick Radden Keefe appears at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on April 23, 2026, as part of the Portland Arts & Lectures series.
Literary Arts is proud to present the culminating event of Multnomah County Library’s Everybody Reads program on March 12, 2026, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Justice Jackson will be joined in conversation by author Renée Watson. BAG POLICY FOR THIS EVENT: Guests may bring clear plastic bags only, not
Imani Perry appears at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on February 12, 2026, as part of the Portland Arts & Lectures series.
Colm Tóibín appears at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on January 15, 2025 as part of the Portland Arts & Lectures series.
This December, The Moth’s anticipated Mainstage season comes to Portland in partnership with Literary Arts. When’s the last time you did something… daring? This Fall, The Moth Mainstage is coming to Portland for one unforgettable evening. Five storytellers will explore the theme of “DARING,” with true and personal stories told live and without notes.
Percival Everett appears on November 12, 2025 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall as part of the Portland Arts & Lectures series.
Literary Arts is thrilled to present Stacey Abrams at the 2025 Portland Book Festival. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. SPECIAL EVENT TICKETS REQUIRED Join us for a very special event with Stacey Abrams, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur and political leader, author
Literary Arts is thrilled to present Rebecca Yarros at the 2025 Portland Book Festival. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. SPECIAL EVENT TICKETS REQUIRED Join us for a very special event with Rebecca Yarros, the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling
Literary Arts is honored to present ‘A Conversation with Kamala Harris,’ November 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, for the only Pacific Northwest stop on her 107 DAYS book tour. During this special event, Harris will share what she saw, what she learned, and what it will take to
Literary Arts is thrilled to present Timothy Snyder, bestselling author of On Tyranny. Literary Arts’ Executive Director Andrew Proctor will be in conversation with Snyder about his latest work, On Freedom at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Timothy Snyder has been called “the leading interpreter of our dark times.” As a historian, he has given us startling reinterpretations of political
Literary Arts is pleased to present Elizabeth Gilbert as the first speaker of the 2025-26 Portland Arts & Lectures series. Click here to view the full lineup. Please note: a subscription to the entire 2025-26 Portland Arts & Lectures series is required to attend this event. Subscriptions are now SOLD OUT at all levels.
Masha Gessen joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
Verselandia! is the annual youth poetry slam championship presented by Literary Arts. It is the Grand Slam for the winners from individual school slams hosted by public high school librarians
Emily Wilson joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Timothy Egan joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Literary Arts and The Moth are bringing a new lineup of storytellers to Portland. The Mainstage is the quintessential Moth experience, a two-act show—featuring a musical act—where the storytellers and a notable host share true personal stories, without notes
Abraham Verghese joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Powers discusses his new novel, Playground, with Andrew Proctor, executive director of Literary Arts. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. Click here for ticketing information. About Playground: Longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize A magisterial new novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco discusses her picture book, Show Up and Vote, with OPB journalist Prakruti Bhatt. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. Click here for ticketing information. Options include $5 reserved ticket (no book), $20 reserved ticket (book included), or $30 family ticket (1
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT Please be aware that third-party sellers often re-sell tickets to our events. Unless you purchased your tickets directly through Literary Arts or Portland'5, we cannot guarantee these tickets will work for entry. Literary Arts is honored to present #1 New York Times bestselling author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, in conversation
Literary Arts is honored to present #1 New York Times bestselling author, Pushkin Industries co-founder, and Revisionist History podcast host, Malcolm Gladwell, in conversation about his new book, Revenge of the Tipping Point.
Amy Tan joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
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