2026 Nebraska Celebration of Books

The 2026 Nebraska Celebration of Books will take place on November 14 on the second floor of the UNL Union and Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center. Free and open to the public! This year's Book Awards Celebration will be a combined event with the Nebraska Book Festival, called "The Nebraska Celebration of Books" which aims to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors. The event will feature several Nebraska authors, and presentation of the Nebraska Center for the Book's Nebraska Book Awards, Mildred Bennett Award and Jane Geske Award. The 2026 Nebraska Book Awards will honor authors and publishers of books with a Nebraska connection published in 2025. Submissions are open Feb 15-May 31, 2026. The Jane Geske Award will be presented to honor an organization that exemplifies exceptional contributions to literacy, books, reading, libraries, or literature in Nebraska. The annual Jane Geske Award commemorates Geske's passion for books, and was established in recognition of her contributions to the well-being of the libraries of Nebraska. Jane Pope Geske was a founding member of the Nebraska Center for the Book, former director of the Nebraska Library Commission, and a long-time leader in Nebraska library and literary activities. Nominations for the Geske Award are open through August 15, 2026. The Mildred Bennett Award recognizes an individual who made significant contributions to the fostering of the literary tradition in Nebraska. This annual award reminds us all of the literary and intellectual traditions that enrich our lives and mold our world. Nominations for the Bennett Award are open through August 15, 2026. This year marks the 22nd year of the One Book One Nebraska program. The announcement of the 2027 One Book One Nebraska book choice will conclude the festivities. Philosophy The festival is held to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors and to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. By gathering together contemporary writing talent of our state and surrounding areas, the festival provides an opportunity for participants to cultivate an understanding of our history, culture and community. Program Schedule Updated as of September 1, 2026, the schedule of programing is open to change. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH - TRIVIA NIGHT - The Sitch - 1140 O St, Lincoln, NE 5:30 p.m. - Literary Trivia Night -- Join us for a pre-festival event featuring Nebraska book and literary trivia. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH - 2026 EVENTS & FEATURED AUTHORS - University of Nebraska Union & Jackie Gaughn Multicultural Center (1400 R Street) - All sessions 45 minutes 10:00 a.m. - 3:00pm - Vendor Market – Multicultural Center - Unity Room -- Booksellers, publishers, authors, nonprofits, and commercial vendors will be selling their goods or giving out information all day at the festival. 10:00 a.m. - Nebraska Book Award Author Roundtable - Multicultural Center - Ubuntu Room -- A selection of authors and illustrators who received a 2026 Nebraska Book Award will be discussing their winning books and answering questions. Featured authors: Non-Fiction and Poetry Winners. 11:00 a.m. - Making Nebraska Home Author Panel - Multicultural Center - Ubuntu Room -- Panel of editors and essayists from The Lives of Immigrants and Refugees: Tales of Migration, Hope, Grief, and Finding Home in Nebraska from the University of Nebraska Press. Noon - 1:00 p.m. -  Nebraska Center for the Book Annual Meeting - Heritage Suite -- . Noon - 1:00 p.m. -  Quiet Book Club – Multicultural Center - Mandala Lounge -- Bring your own book, or buy a new one, and come read in the company of strangers for a quiet book club at the festival. All readers welcome. Noon - 12:45 p.m. -  Self-Publishing Panel – Multicultural Center - Ubuntu Room -- 1:00 p.m. - Nebraska Book Award Author Roundtable - Multicultural Center - Ubuntu Room -- A selection of authors and illustrators who received a 2026 Nebraska Book Award will be discussing their winning books and answering questions. Featured authors: Fiction, Children & Teen, and Cover/Design/Illustration Winners. 2:00 p.m. - One Book One Nebraska Author Talk – Swanson Auditorium -- Karen Russell, author of The Antidote: A Novel , the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection. Russell will be joined by guest speaker Judi gaiashkibos, Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. 3:15 p.m. - Awards Open House & Author Signings - Heritage Suite -- Prior to the awards presentations, this event will feature author signings and books available for purchase for the Nebraska Book Award winners and One Book One Nebraska selections. Refreshments provided by the University of Nebraska Press. 4:00 p.m. - Awards Presentations and OBON Announcement - Swanson Auditorium -- 2026 Nebraska Book Awards presentations, each author may speak up to 5 minutes as they receive their 2026 awards. Jane Geske and Mildred Bennett Award presentations and the announcement of the 2027 One Book One Nebraska Selection will close the evening.