Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival

The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival is an annual celebration of the written word, founded in 1986 to honor the legacy of playwright Tennessee Williams, who considered New Orleans his spiritual home. The Festival presents a five-day program of literary panels, theatrical performances, master classes, and social events, with a particular emphasis on poetry, fiction, and drama. Its core mission is to foster a vibrant literary community, support emerging writers, and preserve the cultural heritage of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Central to this mission are its annual writing contests, including the SAS Poetry Contest, which offer writers at all stages of their careers a platform for recognition and publication.