“Every part of the conference was nothing short of amazing. And I’m not just saying that. I lost count of how many time my jaw dropped during a reading and I said “wow” at the close, how many times I was moved to tears. This was the finest creative educational experience I’ve ever had, and I can’t believe how lucky I was to have it.”
Lauren Myers-Hinkle
Evanston, IL
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference
2026 Dates and Applications
Dates:
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference - August 12 to 22, 2026
Applications:
December 1, 2025 to March 15, 2026
We’re excited to announce a special extended application deadline this year to help celebrate the Centennial! Applications will be accepted December 1 through March 15.
With a distinguished literary and intellectual tradition dating back to its founding in 1926, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference will bring emerging writers together to work with a diverse and talented faculty. Our Centennial celebration started last summer will continue through the year and culminate in special events planned for summer 2026. We hope you’ll be able to join us.
For ten days in August, Participants and Fellows will experience the opportunity of working under the guidance of notable writers, including MacArthur Fellows, U.S. Poets Laureate, and recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.
Our rural and scenic setting amid the Green Mountains on Middlebury’s Bread Loaf campus provides an ideal environment for discussing manuscripts, sharing insights, getting to know agents and editors, and becoming acquainted with the next generation of significant writers.
Overview
Workshops are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days.
- Groups are limited to ten writers to facilitate discussion.
- Participants meet individually with their faculty mentors.
- Faculty offer lectures on literary writing and classes on specific aspects of craft.
- You can attend daily readings by the faculty, participants, and guests.
- All participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and/or publishers.
The 2026 Session
This year’s conference will take place from Wednesday, August 12 to Saturday, August 22. Find out more about dates and fees.
In addition to their literary accomplishments, writers on faculty have been specifically chosen for their skill at guiding developing writers. Find out more about faculty and guests.
Financial Aid
Thanks to the generous support of Middlebury College and to an endowment fund established by past Bread Loafers and other donors, financial aid is available for both published and unpublished writers. Financial need has no bearing on decisions, except as noted. See Financial Aid Information.
Apply
Applications are accepted between December 1 and March 15. Notification letters will be sent via Submittable in late May. See Application Information.
What Past Participants Say:
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“I think I might have erased ten years off my life by attending Bread Loaf. I returned home feeling lighter, fuller, richer, and so, so grateful to be alive with these wondrous minds in the world. Community feels more important than ever right now. I can’t believe I got to break bread with so many tender hearts and minds for ten days. What a privilege to be a Bread Loaf participant during these dark days. Thank you for this lovely reminder of humanity’s greatness in art, in conversation, and in supporting one another. I will make sure to bring a little bit of Bread Loaf with me wherever I go next.”
Katie Quach
Toronto, ON -
“I found it rewarding to bring my whole self to interactions and to learn from others regardless of difference. It was one of the best things about being at Bread Loaf: no two writers were alike, so many different voices and perspectives, but all more or less shared a serious commitment to making every interaction special and valuable. Amazing mix of SUPPORT from Loafer to Loafer, with occasional productive CHALLENGE-culture between Loafers (by that i mean fierce dedication to valuing different experiences of literature — the best kind of arguing/debate).”
Dan D’Angelo
Washington, DC -
“Bread Loaf is a truly special conference. It was a gift and a privilege to be with so many kindred spirits—reading, listening, talking, and sharing ideas about writing. I can’t think of a better way to have spent my time. I loved the experience, and I know what I learned and shared will continue to inspire my work for months to come.”
Kaveh Bassiri
Tulsa, OK