Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series

Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series logo by Marina Gonzalez Mazo

The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series is an annual program that hosts local and nationally renowned writers for craft lectures and public readings. These free events showcase the talents of featured writers as they bring their work to life, offering audiences a chance to experience literature in a powerful, personal way. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to a visiting author's work, the public readings provide an unforgettable evening of storytelling and inspiration, connecting the community to the transformative power of the written word. Since its inception in the early 1970s, the series has welcomed some of the most celebrated voices in literature, including Robert Pinsky, Lucille Clifton, Scott Russell Sanders, Mark Doty, Camille Dungy, and Terry Tempest Williams. All events are free and open to the public!

Joseph Holt is Director of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series for the 2025–26 academic year.

2025-2026 Series Lineup

 

Click on the event's photo to learn more. Each photo links to a dedicated page that includes information about their public talk, as well as details about their associated book club readings and craft talks. These pages offer a closer look at the author’s work and provide additional context or resources related to their event.

Pages for upcoming events will be available as the dates approach!

 

 

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Schedule is subject to change

Please watch this space!
A reader at the Solstice Poetry Cycle event held January 2025 in the Lee Salisbury Theatre. UAF Photo by Leif Van Cise

Solstice Poetry Cycle

Jan. 16, 2026

 

 
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Support the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series:

Do you enjoy the work we do? Consider supporting the series through an online donation!

 

 

Speaker at the 2018 Dead Writers Event. UAF Photo

Dead Writers

 

Step into the eerie charm of the Dead Writers reading, a Halloween tradition hosted by the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series since 1990. MFA students and faculty bring literary legends to life with captivating readings in spooky costumes. With raffle prizes, awards for Best Costume and Performance, and a hauntingly good cause—raising funds for visiting writers—it’s an event you don’t want to miss. Check out photos and highlights from past Dead Writers nights!

 

Awaken the Spirits

Thank you to our sponsors.

We are deeply grateful to the SpringHill Suites by Marriott and the Bridgewater Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, for their generous hospitality in hosting our authors during their stay in Fairbanks. Your support and kindness are invaluable in helping us bring esteemed writers to Alaska, enriching our community and celebrating the power of storytelling. Thank you for being such an integral part of this journey.
 
Bridgewater Hotel, Fairbanks, AK.

Bridgewater Hotel logo

 
 
SpringHill Suites, Fairbanks, AK

Springhill Suites Marriott Logo

 
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Megan Bean from the UAF Office of Development for her dedication and hard work in supporting the UAF Department of English's Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series. Her invaluable efforts have been instrumental in fostering the success of this program and enhancing its impact on our community.
Contact

Director
Joseph Holt

Midnight Sun logo

 

We're happy to debut the new logo for the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series. It was designed by undergraduate student Marina Gonzalez Mazo. Thanks to a Supplies & Services Award from Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity, we will be distributing promotional material featuring the new logo during the next academic year.

 

Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series Archive