The Santa Fe International Literary Festival is made possible by its dedicated volunteers. In 2025, more than 200 volunteers filled over 460 shifts, contributing 1,830+ hours in support of Festival operations, authors, and guests.

Volunteers earn access to author talks based on the number of hours they commit, and many roles allow volunteers to attend sessions during their shifts. Main Stage talks are livestreamed in the Volunteer Lounge. Additional benefits include refreshments, meal tickets or catered meals for consecutive shifts, a Festival T-shirt, and special consideration from the Festival’s official bookseller, Bookworks.

Volunteer Registration

We receive more interest in volunteering than we can accommodate, so registration is structured in phases to ensure a positive guest experience and equitable access:

• March 1 – Priority access for returning volunteers (previous year)

• March 7 – Early access for returning volunteers (prior years)

• March 15 – Registration opens to new volunteers

Some shifts may be full when registration opens to new volunteers. However, with more than two months between registration and the Festival, schedule changes and cancellations are common, and additional shifts often become available.

To receive notifications when registration opens on March 15 and when new shifts are released, please complete the 2026 Volunteer Inquiry Form.