The 28th Annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts returns this fall with authors, filmmakers, artists, food and conversations designed to bring people together.
For nearly three decades, the Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts has brought compelling voices and fresh ideas to Indianapolis. This fall, the tradition continues with a 2026 lineup that stretches well beyond the bookshelf.
From October 25 through November 17, the festival brings together acclaimed authors, filmmakers, artists, performers and culinary talent for a series of events exploring everything from history and identity to pets, food, resilience and the rituals that connect us.
And with individual tickets starting at just $10 for many events, several programs offered free and a $54 Festival Pass providing admission to every event, there are plenty of ways to experience the festival.
The festival opens Sunday, October 25, with Vecinos: A Latino and Jewish Celebration, a free community gathering celebrating the connections between Indianapolis’ Latino and Jewish communities.
Through music, dance, art, food and conversation, the afternoon offers an opportunity to celebrate two communities, their cultures and the relationships growing between them.
Two nights later, the festival turns to historical fiction with author Jean-Yves Pitoun and Three Partisans. Inspired by his father’s experiences in the French Resistance, the novel follows three unlikely heroes navigating danger, loyalty, friendship and love during World War II.
On October 29, bestselling author and former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz joins Rabbi Brett Krichiver and Cantor Aviva Marer at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation for the fourth annual Justice and Judaism Fireside Chat.
Drawing from her writing and experiences, Hurwitz will explore Jewish identity, spirituality and the challenges of confronting antisemitism in the modern world.
The exploration of Jewish culture continues November 1 with something especially visual.
Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and artist Siona Benjamin celebrate the launch of their new book, Solly and the Elephant, with The Jews of India: A Tapestry of Story and Art. An accompanying gallery reception helps bring the history and traditions of India’s B’nei Israel community to life through both words and images.
Fiction takes center stage November 5 with Jacqueline Friedland’s Breathing Under Water, the festival’s 2026 Community Reads selection and the first book featured in the JCC’s Well-Read Book Club.
The novel follows two women confronting very different family, financial and personal struggles whose lives intersect through a teenager with autism. It’s a story about resilience, unexpected connections and what can happen when the person you think needs saving changes your own life.
On November 7, bestselling author Bruce Feiler examines connection from another angle in A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World — and How It Can Save Us.
Feiler explores the rituals that shape families and communities, why people continue to create new ones and how those shared experiences can provide a sense of belonging in an increasingly disconnected world.
The festival takes a lighter turn November 8 when veterinarian Dr. Barak Benaryeh pulls back the curtain on what really happens inside the exam room.
His book, The Vet Will See You Now: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know (But Doesn’t), combines stories from his 35-year veterinary career with practical advice for pet owners.
Part memoir and part pet-care guide, the evening promises plenty of surprising stories, useful information and a few things your dog or cat probably hoped the veterinarian would keep confidential.
Books aren’t the only way the festival tells a great story.
On November 10, award-winning filmmaker Elena Neuman presents Looking Up, the true story of Eitan Armon and his pursuit of climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan while experiencing progressive vision loss.
The documentary explores determination, resilience and the decision to keep moving toward an ambitious goal even as life changes the path ahead.
Then, on November 12, the festival joins forces with Heartland Film at the Indianapolis Art Center for a curated collection of award-winning short films from the 2026 Indy Shorts Film Festival.
Two festivals. One evening. And a chance to experience several remarkable stories in a single sitting.
History takes the stage November 15 with writer Deborah Haber and a multimedia presentation of Moses Man: Finding Home.
The musical is based on the true story of Haber’s parents, Holocaust survivors who fled Vienna during Hitler’s annexation and spent nine years traveling across Europe before eventually finding refuge in America.
Their story looks backward while also opening a conversation about displacement, refugees and the enduring search for a place to call home.
The festival closes November 17 with an event meant to be experienced with more than your eyes and ears.
Bestselling cookbook author Adeena Sussman brings the flavors of Tel Aviv to Indianapolis with Zariz: 100 Easy, Breezy, Tel Aviv-y Recipes.
Part cooking demonstration, part tasting and part conversation, the evening explores vibrant Israeli and Jewish food traditions while giving guests a taste of Sussman’s newest recipes.
It’s a fitting finale for a festival built around sharing stories, experiences and ideas: gathering around a table.
That may be the best way to approach the 2026 Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts.
You don’t have to be someone who attends every author talk. You don’t have to be a film buff, an art expert, a history scholar or an accomplished home cook.
You just have to be curious.
Come for a book that catches your attention. Come for a film. Come for the food. Come to learn something about another culture, hear a story you’ve never heard or simply spend an evening with people who are interested in the world around them.
The 28th Annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts runs October 25 through November 17. Individual tickets are now on sale, with several events free to attend. A $54 Festival Pass includes admission to every festival event.
Explore the lineup, pick your favorites or make a season of it.
The Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts is made possible with funding from the Irwin and Ann Katz Cultural Arts and Education Endowment Fund and our major festival sponsors including The Herbert Simon Family Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, and Katz Sapper & Miller.
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