Literary Events in the Washington, D.C. Area
Please note: while most events are free, many require an RSVP and some do charge. See links for details. If you have an event to add, or a correction, email us at Washington.Unbound@gmail.com.
Ongoing
Busboys & Poets hosts open mics weekly at various locations. For information, visit their website: https://www.busboysandpoets.com/poetry
September 2026
9/3
The Writer’s Canter
7 pm
Virtual
Poetry Craft Chat
The Writer’s Center presents a free virtual chat about the craft of poetry with poet Diana Cao.
https://writer.org/event/diana-cao/#rsvp-now
9/8
Lost City Books
7 pm
2467 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-2003
P. Paramita discusses her novel Appetite in conversation with Ursula Villarreal-Moura.
https://lostcitybookstore.com/event/2026-09-08/appetite-p-paramita
9/10
The Inner Loop and The Writer’s Center
7 pm
(Virtual)
Hasan Dudar will be in conversation with Madeleine Moss to discuss novels versus short story collections in a virtual craft chat with The Writer's Center on September 10th.
https://writer.org/event/inner-loop-hasan-dudar/
9/12
The Writer’s Center
2 pm
4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815
Hunger Action Month Reading.
Join us at The Writer’s Center on September 12th, 2026 at 2pm for a reading of writers against hunger.
https://writer.org/event/hunger-action-month/#rsvp-now
9/13
Words Out Loud
4 pm
Modena Reserve, 10540 Metropolitan Ave., Kensington, MD 20895
Katherine Gekker and Mark Harris read. Open mic follows.
Cafe Muse and The Writer’s Center
7 pm
Virtual
Luther Jett and Julia Kolchinsky read. The evening begins at 7 PM with Michael Davis live on classical guitar. The readings begin at 7:30 PM with opening remarks by a Café Muse co-host.
https://writer.org/event/cafe-muse-literary-salon-sep-26/
9/15
The Inner Loop
7 pm
520 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Melanie D.G. Kaplan reads alongside nine local writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including our Author's Corner Spotlight Hasan Dudar at Shaw's Tavern.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1990570622316?aff=oddtdtcreator
Kramers
7 pm
1517 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Novelist Ari Phillips, author of Grow Old and Don't Die, will be in conversation with writer Michael Don. Join us for a discussion ranging from writing fiction to the Fountain of Youth.
https://www.kramers.com/events/5910820260915
9/17
The Writer’s Center
7 pm
Virtual
The Writer’s Center presents a free virtual chat about the craft of fiction with author Bret Anthony Johnston for a discussion of his new collection, Encounters with Unexpected Animals. Bret is in conversation with Varun Gauri, novelist and Board member at The Writer’s Center.
https://writer.org/event/bret-anthony-johnston/#rsvp-now
East City Books
7 pm
645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Unit 100, Washington, DC 20003
East City Bookshop welcomes Yu-Mei Balasingamchow to discuss her book, Names Have Been Changed, in conversation with Soleil Davíd.
https://withfriends.co/event/28798706/hybrid_event_names_have_been_changed_yu_mei_balasingamchow
9/19
The Writer’s Center
7 pm
4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815
The Writer’s Center welcomes writer and longtime Johns Hopkins professor Mark Farrington for a reading from his new novel Loss of Life and discussion of fiction techniques with former student and author Michelle Brafman.
https://writer.org/event/mark-farrington/#rsvp-now
9/23
Kramers
7 pm
1517 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Poets in Conversation. Poetry reading and conversation between poets Chloe Yelena Miller and Elizabeth Hazen, two DMV poets who write about motherhood, aging, and loss—as well as hope.
https://www.kramers.com/events/5866220260923
9/24
The Writer’s Center
7 pm
Virtual
Poetry Craft Chat. Poet Lore and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry. We’re joined by Aldo Amparán to discuss their new collection, The House Has Teeth. Aldo is in conversation with Emily Holland, poet and editor of Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry journal.
https://writer.org/event/aldo-amparan/#rsvp-now
The Writer’s Center
7 pm
4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815
The Writer’s Center welcomes contributors to Amsterdam Quarterly for a reading and open mic in celebration of the latest issue. Readers include Claudia Gary, Bari Lynn Hein, and AQ editor Bryan R. Monte.
https://writer.org/event/amsterdam-quarterly-2026/#rsvp-now
East City Books
7 pm
645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Unit 100, Washington, DC 20003
East City Bookshop welcomes Carly Hillman to discuss her book, The Refuge, in conversation with Mimi Montgomery.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-event-the-refuge-carly-hillman-tickets-1993158664219
9/27
The Writer’s Center
1 — 5 pm
4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815
Latine Heritage Through a Literary Lens. The Writer’s Center and Tintas DC presents a free, informative, and inspiring symposium exploring Latine heritage in literature and popular culture. The event will feature free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion with featured writers Dahlia Aguilar, Raffi “DJ Raffi” Umanzo, and María Amelia Viteri.
https://writer.org/event/latine-through-a-literary-lens/#rsvp-now
Reston Readings
5:30 pm
Reston’s Used Book Shop, 1623 Washington Plaza North, Reston, VA 20190
Caroline Bock, Melanie McCabe, and Katherine Gekker read.
https://www.restonsusedbookshop.com/
9/29
The Inner Loop and Kramers
7 pm
Kramers, 1517 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Panel event at Kramers on September 29th entitled Rebuilding Palestinian Identity with Zeina Azzam. Hasan Dudar, and Lenna Jawdat.
https://kramers.com/events/6035020260929
The Writer’s Center
7 pm
4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815
Bill Wilburn Book Release. The Writer’s Center welcomes writer Bill Wilburn for a reading from his debut novel, First Comes Winter. Bill is joined by Emily Barrosse for a discussion of his novel.