The Wisconsin Book Festival will convene in Madison during October 15–18, 2026.
Brenda Cárdenas, Wisconsin’s current Poet Laureate (2025-2027) has two speaking slots on the schedule. One event is a poetry reading and discussion on the work and life of women poets (see details below). Cardenas will be the moderator of the panel. Cárdenas is one of the poets in a poetry reading by a trio of Poets Laureate in Wisconsin (state and city) celebrating the 25th anniversary of Wisconsin having a state poet laureate.
Later in October, Cárdenas will be part of the “Wisconsin People & Ideas 2026 Fiction and Poetry Contest Winners” reading. Cárdenas judged the poetry contest, and those winners will read their poetry, and Cárdenas will also read some of her poems.
Other past state Wisconsin Poets Laureate featured in the Book Festival are: Dasha Kelly, Kimberly Blaeser, and Margaret (Peggy) Rozga. Despite the fact that Kelly, Blaeser, and Rozga are poets, they are on the Festival schedule for conversations about their recently published books—either fiction or memoir. Blaeser is also reading poetry with several others in the session titled “Languages of the Wild.”
The Wisconsin Book Festival https://www.wisconsinbookfestival.org/event-schedule is offered in partnership with the Madison Public Library and Madison Public Library Foundation.
Here is the chronological list of presentations with Wisconsin Poets Laureate (past and present):
“Still/Here: Wisconsin Women Poets on Work, Life, and The Long Haul"
October 16, 6–7 p.m., Central Library, Lower-Level Program Room
Brenda Cárdenas (current Wisconsin Poet Laureate) will moderate the panel of several women poets in poetry readings and conversation about work and life.
“Current and Former Poets Laureate In Wisconsin: A 25th Anniversary Reading”
October 16, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Central Library, Lower-Level Program Room
Three Poets Laureate from Wisconsin, including current Wisconsin (state) Poet Laureate Brenda Cárdenas, will read poems and converse with Wendy Vardaman.
“Baker’s Dozen”
October 17, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Lecture Hall
Former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly speaks about her book, Baker’s Dozen, in conversation with Angela Russell. The book is described as part mystery, part study of our shared lessons on desire, and reveals and unravels grief, family history, and the ties that bind.
“Red Ants”
October 17, 1:30–2:30 p.m., Central Library, Lower-Level Program Room
Kimberly Blaeser talks with Liam Callanan about her debut prose. The book incorporates social, historical, and supernatural elements to create a collection that is both contemporary and timeless, communal and deeply intimate. Blaeser considers the complexities of kinship and survival, exploring how the smallest moments of cruelty or tenderness can shape generations. Red Ants was long listed for the National Book Award.
“Languages of the Wild”
October17, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Central Library, Lower-Level Program Room
Three poets, including Kimberly Blaeser, read poems and engage in conversation with poet Michael Kleber-Diggs, to address wild languages of beings—the “chirring, whistling, growling, humming, buzzing, purring, barking, singing,” i.e., speaking around us in languages we do not fully understand. Indigenous languages and scientific knowledge can inform our understandings of the many wild languages.
“Action into Words: A Memoir of Activism”
October 18, 12–1 p.m., Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Lecture Hall
Another former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Margaret "Peggy" Rozga (2019–2020) talked about her memoir with Maggie Ginsberg. Rozga’s story unfolds against the backdrop of the 1960s civil rights movement. Through personal triumphs and tragedies, she found solace and strength in poetry. She has a passion for social justice and uses the beauty of everyday life to touched hearts and spark change.
“Wisconsin People & Ideas 2026 Fiction and Poetry Contest Winners”
October 21, 7–8 p.m., Central Library, Community Rooms 301 & 302
Wisconsin People & Ideas presents a reading featuring the winners of the statewide 2026 Fiction & Poetry Contests, hosted in partnership with the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters and featuring a special guest reading from current Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Brenda Cárdenas.