Sponsorship Overview
Make an Impact at #AWP26!
The AWP Conference & Bookfair is the largest literary gathering in North America, and #AWP25 in Los Angeles drew over 10,000 writers, publishers, educators, and literary professionals. Attendees and exhibitors alike reported high satisfaction, with 93% saying they'd recommend the event to a colleague.
Join us in Baltimore, March 4‐7, 2026, for #AWP26‐four days of vibrant programming, a 600+ exhibitor bookfair, and the unmatched charm of a city rich in literary history. Sponsorship is your opportunity to stand out, connect with a passionate national audience, and align your brand with one of the most dynamic events in the literary world.
Why Sponsor #AWP26?
Open Doors to Career Development
Give your students, faculty, and staff direct access to panels, networking, and real‐world industry experience‐fueling professional growth in a nationally recognized literary space.
Be Seen Where It Matters
A high‐traffic bookfair space puts your organization at the heart of the action. Meet prospective students, authors, partners, and peers‐while aligning your brand with the literary community's top institutions.
Advertise with Precision and Reach
Extend your impact through targeted advertising on AWP's digital channels, print publications, and on‐site signage‐before, during, and after the conference.
Unlock Premium Sponsor Benefits
Gain early access to travel information and discounts, VIP event invitations; including the Keynote Reception, preferred space for sponsor receptions, and premium bookfair placement‐only available to sponsors.
Be Part of the Literary Energy
Engage with a passionate national community of writers and educators. From meaningful conversations to exclusive events, #AWP26 delivers connection, inspiration, and recognition for your organization.
#AWP26 Sponsorship Levels
Premier Sponsor: $30,000
SOLD OUT- sponsor logo placement: on-site signage, tote bag, conference home page and sponsor page, daily conference emails, social media, live stream screen credits for all featured events
- 20' x 20' custom island bookfair space (with custom logo marker) near bookfair entry
- sponsor credit for #AWP26 Keynote Address and opportunity to introduce the keynote speaker (recent keynote speakers include Roxane Gay, Jericho Brown, Min Jin Lee, Toi Derricotte, Colson Whitehead, and George Saunders)
- one seventy-five-minute information session scheduled during the conference to promote programs, products, or services (basic A/V package included)
- fifty registration waivers
- twenty-five VIP Keynote Reception invitations
- one dedicated mailing to prior to conference
- sponsored article in TWC + four newsletter button ads prior to conference
- option to host an onsite reception at the conference hotel with a minimum food & beverage spend of $500
Presenting Sponsor: $25,000
TWO available- sponsor logo placement: on-site signage, tote bag, conference home page and sponsor page, daily conference emails, social media, live stream screen credits for all featured events
- a 10' x 20' bookfair space (two corner booths) with custom logo marker
- Sponsorship of registration area or bookfair on on-site signage
- one seventy-five-minute information session scheduled during the conference to promote programs, products, or services (basic A/V package included)
- forty registration waivers
- twenty VIP Keynote Reception invitations
- one dedicated mailing to prior to conference
- option to host an onsite reception at the conference hotel with a minimum food & beverage spend of $500
Major Sponsor: $15,000
FIVE available- sponsor logo placement: tote bag, conference home page and sponsor page, daily conference emails, social media, live stream screen credits for featured events
- a 10' x 10' corner booth on Bookfair Boulevard
- thirty-five registration waivers
- fifteen VIP Keynote Reception invitations
- one dedicated mailing prior to conference
- option to host an onsite reception at the conference hotel with a minimum food & beverage spend of $500
Benefactor Sponsor: $10,000
- sponsor listing placement: tote bag, conference home page and sponsor page, daily conference emails, social media, live stream screen credits for featured events
- a 10' x 10' booth in sponsor section (corner placement on a first-come, first-served basis)
- twenty-five registration waivers
- ten VIP Keynote Reception invitations
- banner ad in attendee know-before-you-go email
- option to host an onsite reception at the conference hotel with a minimum food & beverage spend of $500
Patron Sponsor: $5,500
- sponsor listing placement: conference home page, sponsor page, and social media
- one bookfair table in the sponsor section
- twenty registration waivers
- four VIP Keynote Reception invitations
- banner ad in presenter or exhibitor know-before-you-go email
- option to host an onsite reception at the conference hotel with a minimum food & beverage spend of $500
Sustainer Sponsor: $3,000
- sponsor listing placement: conference home page, sponsor page, and social media
- one bookfair table in the sponsor section
- eight registration waivers
- one VIP Keynote Reception invitation
- option to host an onsite reception at the conference hotel with a minimum food & beverage spend of $500
AWP HBCU & TCU Fellowship Programs (two available):
Through the AWP HBCU and TCU Fellowship Programs, we seek to uplift the work HBCU and TCU faculty are doing to support and establish creative writing programs at their institutions, as well as to provide HBCU and TCU students the opportunity to connect with peers from across the country. The AWP HBCU & TCU Fellowship Programs are seeking sponsorship of its annual receptions and annual lectures.
AWP Conference Community Scholarship:
The AWP Conference Community Scholarship aims to increase access to the annual conference and bookfair for those who identify as people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and/or low income in the region local to the conference host city. Sponsorship will help AWP send a number of underserved writers in the Baltimore area to the conference free of charge.
Conference accessibility initiatives:
AWP is committed to making all reasonable arrangements that will allow conference attendees to participate in conference events. AWP complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and we work to make the conference comfortable and accessible for all participants. Accessibility initiatives seeking sponsor support are (1) complimentary wheelchairs and scooters for attendee use, (2) ASL interpretation, and (3) live-captioning services.
Sponsors at any level can also upgrade or add on the following benefits:
- Add one bookfair booth ($975)
- Add one bookfair table ($675)
- Upgrade table to a booth ($300)