Our friends at Chatham University’s MFA in Creative Writing program present a reading by poet Frank X Walker—former Poet Laureate of Kentucky, founder of Affrilachian Poets, and 2025 winner of the PEN/Voelker Award for his new collection, Load in Nine Times.

The event is both in-person (the Welker Room, Laughlin Music Hall, on Chatham’s Shadyside campus) and online via this livestream link.

Sir Andrew Motion, past UK Poet Laureate and acclaimed John Keats biographer, will visit Pittsburgh for a reading of his own work alongside the poetry of Keats. The reading will take place at Carnegie Lecture Hall of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland (4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213). Books will be provided for sale and signing. Doors open 1:30pm for a 2:00pm reading. A recording of this event is available here.

The University of Pittsburgh Press is hosting a series of free public panels on Saturday, September 13th, at the University of Pittsburgh, featuring Terrance Hayes, Billy Collins, and other great Pittsburgh-affiliated poets.

This event will be emceed by former Pitt Poetry Series co-editor Terrance Hayes (IPF ‘08, ‘24) and will feature readings, remembrances, and a discussion with some of luminaries of American poetry and the Pitt Poetry Series under editorship of the late Ed Ochester (IPF ‘76): Billy Collins (IPF ‘02), Jan Beatty (IPF ‘99), Lynn Emanuel (IPF ‘89, ‘91, ‘00), Ross Gay, Quan Barry, Denise Duhamel, Paisley Rekdal, and Aaron Smith.

The International Poetry Forum is honored to welcome back Grammy Award-winning folk legend Judy Collins to celebrate her new poetry collection, Sometimes It’s Heaven: Poems of Love, Loss, and Redemption, at the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books. Update: Sold Out! A recording of the event is available here.

Srikanth Reddy, acclaimed poet, University of Chicago professor, and poetry editor for The Paris Review, will be visiting Pittsburgh to perform his work at the International Poetry Forum. A recording of this event is available here.

Kimiko Hahn, Ruth Lilly Prize-winner and Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets, will be visiting Pittsburgh to read and discuss the influence of haiku poet Matsuo Bashō on her work. This free event is co-hosted by Carlow University’s MFA in Creative Writing Program and Carlow University’s Madwomen in the Attic Writing Workshops. Update: Sold Out! A recording of this event is available here.

Emily Wilson, celebrated translator of The Iliad (2023) and The Odyssey (2018), will be visiting Pittsburgh to recite a selection of her work at the International Poetry Forum. Update: 1000+ people in attendance! A recording of this event is available here.

Terrance Hayes, National Book Award winner and International Poetry Forum alum, will be visiting Pittsburgh to offer the inaugural reading of the International Poetry Forum’s relaunch season. Update: Sold Out! A recording of this event is available here.

Samuel Hazo, founder of the International Poetry Forum and inaugural State Poet of Pennsylvania, will be offering a free public reading alongside poet Robert Bernard Hass to celebrate the relaunch of the Forum. Update: Sold Out! A recording of this event is available here.