The New Hampshire Book Festival is thrilled to announce that bestselling author Jeff Kinney will be the festival’s 2026 Keynote for Schoolchildren. Kinney will appear at the Capitol Center for the Arts on Friday, October 2, for a special school-day event that has become a highlight of the festival program.

The keynote regularly draws more than 1,000 students, teachers, and parent chaperones from across New Hampshire, offering young readers the chance to hear directly from one of the most influential voices in children’s literature.

Kinney is the author of the wildly popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” which follows middle-schooler Greg Heffley through a series of illustrated diary-style adventures. The idea for the character first emerged in January 1998, when Kinney imagined a middle-school “weakling” documenting the awkward moments of his daily life.

An early version of the story debuted online in May 2004, with daily diary entries appearing until June 2005. The first “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book was published in 2007, launching a global phenomenon. Since then, the series has grown to 31 books and has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. Kinney lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two sons. Together, they founded and operate the independent bookstore An Unlikely Story.

“We are honored to bring such a beloved children’s author to Concord,” said Emilie Burack, co-founder of the New Hampshire Book Festival. “We can’t wait for New Hampshire’s schoolkids to see him in person.”

Tickets for the keynote event will go on sale to schools on Monday, April 20, with public ticket sales beginning April 21. Tickets include an autographed book from the author, and the festival offers transportation assistance grants to T-1 schools. Last year’s keynote featuring Tui T. Sutherland sold out, and festival organizers anticipate similar demand for Kinney’s appearance.

Founded to celebrate literacy, conversation, and community, the New Hampshire Book Festival is a free, statewide literary event held each fall in downtown Concord. The festival brings together nationally recognized authors, emerging writers, and book lovers of all ages for a day of panels, conversations, readings, book signings, and more. The annual Keynote for Schoolchildren offers students a rare opportunity to meet and learn from some of today’s most celebrated authors for young readers.

More info at: nhbookfestival.org