WIT 2025: Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Festival Share on Twitter (opens in a new tab) on Facebook (opens in a new tab) on Linkedin (opens in a new tab) via email Thank you for being part of the 2025 WIT Literary Festival! Whether you joined us in the Berkshires or from afar via livestream, we are grateful for your presence. We hope the conversations sparked new ideas, deepened your perspectives, and left you feeling as inspired as we are. Guided by this year’s theme, The Power of Words: Authors & Activism, our speakers invited us to wrestle with abiding questions: Who are we? What do we believe? In what kind of country do we want to live? Their artistic brilliance, intellectual passion, and civic engagement helped illuminate the ways words can shape culture and spark change. Missed a session or want to revisit a favorite moment? Watch the recordings here. If you are not already on our mailing list, click here to sign up to receive updates and stay connected with WIT. 2025 WIT Literary Festival Speakers M. Gessen and Michael S. Roth in conversation with Alia MalekThe future is not preordained. James Lawler and Tim Weiner in conversation with Garrett M. GraffIntelligence fails because it is human. Catherine Coleman Flowers and Peter Hotez in conversation with Jeremy S. FaustListening is a form of activism. Torrey Peters and Chase Strangio in conversation with Andrea Long Chu We have always taken care of each other. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Sanaz Toossi in conversation with Vinson CunninghamEvery play opens a new door. Hanif Abdurraqib and Imani Perry in conversation with Shana L. RedmondA world where the song is still going on. David W. Blight and Deval Patrick in conversation with Imani PerryMy voice, my pen, my vote. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and Marilynne Robinson in conversation with Paul ElieTo make inroads on the vast terrain of what cannot be said. From the Authors “My dream is always to have an experience where an audience member turns to another audience member and is like, ‘What did we just go through?’ And then begin to talk.” Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Sponsor & Support the Festival Your support helps bring these conversations to life. The WIT Literary Festival is powered by community. Whether you’re interested in joining us as a sponsor, purchasing a program ad, or contributing as a donor, your support makes the Festival possible. Sponsorship Opportunities To explore sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Festival, please contact: Bernard Schwartz, Executive Producer, Literary Programsbschwartz@authorsguildfoundation.org Program Ads Be part of a vibrant cultural moment—advertise in the WIT Literary Festival program and reach a community that celebrates books, writers, and readers. Program ad sales for the 2025 Festival have now closed. Please check back here for additional information about advertising opportunities for the 2026 Festival. Make a Donation Every gift helps sustain the WIT Literary Festival, making possible engaging author sessions, livestream access, and equitable participation for readers and writers everywhere. Make a donation today. 2025 WIT Literary Festival Committee Hunter K. Runnette, Committee Chair Marie Arana · Karyn Bendit · Richard Thompson Ford · Taryn Leavitt · Ann Lombard · Maria Nation · Jeryl Oristaglio · Laura Pedersen · Letty Cottin Pogrebin · Allison Smith · Wendy Strothman · Rachel Vail · Kelley Vickery · Tyler Whisnand The Authors Guild Foundation The Authors Guild Foundation, the educational and charitable arm of the Authors Guild, offers free programming to teach working writers about the business of writing and organizes events that highlight the importance of a rich, diverse American literary culture. Learn More About the Authors Guild Foundation
