Christopher Merrill has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization. The prize, established in 2011, honors an […]
Christopher Merrill named 2026 Paul Engle Prize winner
Winners named in Glory of the Senses student essay contest
Cedar Falls student wins top prize of one year of free tuition at the University of Iowa; runners up from Ankeny, Dyersville, and Iowa City win scholarships The Iowa City […]
IOWA CITY FALL FESTIVALS
IOWA CITY FALL FESTIVALS 2026: Experience the literary, visual, and performing arts with this vibrant lineup of festivals as they unfold throughout downtown. Encounter something unexpected, explore new ideas, connect […]
Local qualifying slam for Slamovision ’26 set for Sept. 3
Slam poets from around Iowa are invited to participate in a special slam on Sept. 3 that will pick Iowa City’s entrant for an international slam competition. Slamovision is a […]
PBS’s Reading Road Trip visits Iowa on latest stop
PBS’s Reading Road Trip heads to the Hawkeye State—explore Black Hawk’s legacy, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and today’s bestselling voices on American Stories, A Reading Road Trip Wednesday, March 11 […]
Iowa City student named new Iowa Student Poet Ambassador
Literary leaders from across the state have selected Josie Nabhan-Warren, a junior at West High School in Iowa City, as the 2026–27 Iowa Student Poet Ambassador (ISPA), the highest honor […]
UI College of Education holds student short story and poetry contest
The University of Iowa College of Education’s Teaching and Learning Department and the Iowa Reading Association have teamed up for the Second Annual Southeastern Iowa Short Story and Poetry Writing […]
One Book Two Book: student writers and family fun
The Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization’s annual One Book Two Book Children’s Literature Festival will recognize the creative excellence of 29 area students as it offers a day […]
MusicIC Festival returns with ‘The Black Angel’ April 30-May 2
MusicIC, Iowa City’s premiere chamber music festival exploring the connections between music and literature, presents THE BLACK ANGEL: Music, Myth, and Memory, a three-day festival examining how composers across centuries […]
Social media campaign highlights 2030 Strategic Development Goals
As the do annually, several UNESCO Cities of Literature will raise awareness about the United Nations’ 2030 Strategic Development Goals with the social media campaign, #17BooksFor17SDGs. Each day, between Dec. […]
