THE PREMIER CONFERENCE FOR THRILLER ENTHUSIASTS

THE PREMIER CONFERENCE FOR <span>THRILLER</span> ENTHUSIASTS

May 5th - 9th 2026, NYC

WELCOME TO THRILLERFEST!

Welcome to ThrillerFest XXI, our twenty-first anniversary event, which will take place May 5 to May 9, 2026 at the New York Hilton Midtown, with a bonus event on Monday, May 4: FBI and ATF Day.

We’re excited to present a blockbuster line-up this year, featuring:

2026 ThrillerMaster Lisa Scottoline

2026 ThrillerMaster Harlan Coben

2026 Silver Bullet Award Recipient: To Be Announced

2026 Spotlight Guest Rachel Howzell Hall

2026 Spotlight Guest Luis Alberto Urrea

2026 Thriller Legend Barbara Peters

2026 Thriller Fan Jordan Moblo

2026 Thriller Volunteer of the Year James L’Etoile

 

REGISTER HERE (Coming soon)

2026 Lineup

The ThrillerFest week is designed by authors, for authors. We have something for everyone, whether you’re an aspiring author, a fan, an industry professional, or an ITW author.

  • FBI and ATF Day  Monday, May 4, 2026 – Join us for an intensive day of learning from FBI and ATF agents who will share information in their area of expertise. This insider’s view of the FBI will allow you to write an authentic portrayal of any FBI experts and agents in your novels. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to go behind the scenes.
  • Master Class 1.0  Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – We kick off ThrillerFest week with Master Class for authors at all levels. Take your project to the next level with a small, full-day class taught by a bestselling author, including a critique of ten manuscript pages. Space is limited.
  • CraftFest  Wednesday, May 6, 2026 and Thursday, May 7, 2026 – Hone your craft during hour-long lectures by experts and authors. Includes the Wednesday evening cocktail party and Wednesday’s CraftFest Lunch, with a to-be-announced VIP interview.
  • QueryFest  By appointment only, Wednesday, May 6, 2026 through Friday, May 8, 2026 – Get advice and careful critiques of your query or first manuscript pages during 15-minute, one-on-one meetings with leading agents and editors.
  • NEW! ConnectFest  By appointment only, Friday, May 8, 2026 and Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Do you have one burning question about your book, your writing life, promotion, or your path to publication? Are you trying to make a decision or choose a path or simply wish you could get advice and savvy answers from someone who knows their stuff? Sign up for our brand new ConnectFest, and you will receive a one-on-one session with a top-notch author, agent, or editor in the ITW community. It may be the most valuable 15 minutes you’ve ever spent. *This is not a pitch or query review event; please sign up for PitchFest or QueryFest if you’re looking for those opportunities. Blurb or critique requests are not allowed, and experts will not review manuscripts in advance.
  • NEW! Master Class 2.0  Thursday, May 7, 2026 – If you are an active ITW member and have published at least one novel of at least 80K words, consider joining our brand-new Master Class 2.0. Eager to meet the challenges of a growing career – to raise the bar, up your game, and grow in technique, imagination, and skill, maybe even change genres? In these four-hour limited-size intensive sessions, your 10-page manuscript will be analyzed and critiqued by one of the most experienced writing coaches in our community. Space is limited.
  • PitchFest  Thursday May 7, 2026, 2pm to 5pm – Pitch your completed manuscript to top agents and editors in this “speed dating” event. 2025’s PitchFest had over 60 agents and editors.
  • ThrillerFest  Friday, May 8, 2026 and Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Meet bestselling thriller authors and other industry experts starting with the Opening Night Cocktail Party on Thursday evening, and continuing with panels, interviews, and signings on Friday and Saturday. Includes the Friday Night Cocktail Party, and the Debut Author Breakfast on Saturday morning.
  • The Thriller Awards Banquet  Saturday, May 9, 2026, evening – Socialize, feast, and cheer the presentation of the industry’s top honors, the Thriller Awards. Includes the Pre-Banquet Cocktail Party and the ThrillerMaster After Party.

This is the 21st anniversary of the very first ThrillerFest in 2005, and we can’t wait for our 2026 event. We encourage all thriller enthusiasts to join the ITW family.

We have something for everyone, including writers at every stage of their careers, readers, and fans.

Register here to join us in 2026.

 

REGISTER HERE (Coming soon!)

BECOME A SPONSOR

Support Thrillerfest

BECOME A SPONSOR

We thank our Scholarship sponsors for their generous donation to our 2025 Scholarship Program

Audio Sorceress, Bruce Johnson, Susana Kuehne, Vicki Montet.

If you’re interested in sponsoring a scholarship for the 2026 event, please email Executive Director, ThrillerFest, Samantha Skal at samantha@thrillerwriters.org.

Volunteer with Us

Volunteers are an integral part of the ThrillerFest experience. We couldn’t do it without you. It’s also a great way to meet people and get involved in ITW. If you would like to assist us, please be sure to check “yes” to “Volunteer” during registration.

(Please note: volunteers must be registered for ThrillerFest).

Spread the Word

Please drop by the ThrillerFest Facebook page then “like” us, and help spread the word. You can also follow ITW on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Meet our Staff

Your ThrillerFest team is looking forward to a fun and memorable year. We’re excited to celebrate the following staff members:

Ruth Church as Deputy Director ThrillerFest / Master Class 1.0, Tracey Devlyn as QueryFest Assistant Director, Sara DiVello as Social Media Director, Tori Eldridge as Debut Author Coordinator, Todd Gerber as Awards Coordinator, Dwayne Goetzel as Onsite Security Director, Chris Graham as Technology Coordinator, Katie Griffiths as Social Media Coordinator, Kimberley Howe as ITW Executive Director, Dennis Kennett as Registrar, Shirley Kennett as Assistant Registrar, Jennifer Kreischer as Banquet Coordinator, Susan Lee as PitchFest Director, James L’Etoile as QueryFest Director, Sam Octavius as Operations Director, Terry Rodgers as Assistant Registrar, Kerry Savage as ITW Communications Director/Volunteer Coordinator, Elena Hartwell Taylor and Carter Wilson as Debut Author Assistant Coordinators, and Samantha Skal as Executive Director, ThrillerFest.

For Press queries, please submit this form.

For questions regarding ThrillerFest, please contact ThrillerFest’s Executive Director,

Samantha Skal: samantha@thrillerwriters.org

For questions regarding ITW, please contact ITW’s Executive Director,

Kimberley Howe: KimberleyHowe@thrillerwriters.org

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