Deep Water Festival

Deep Water Festival Three days of conversation, arts and ideas held each June in Narrowsburg, NY

Deep Water Literary Festival was founded in 2018, as a weekend of ideas, performance and community engagement held in the town of Narrowsburg, on the Delaware River NY. Combining author conversations, readings, and educational outreach, with multi disciplinary arts programming, Deep Water goes beyond the standard model of a writers festival and invites the audience to engage in the world of books

beyond the page. We are dedicated to promoting the literary arts in Narrowsburg, NY and the surrounding area, with a view to building community by fostering engagement with story-telling in all its forms. Hand-in-hand is a passion to promote and support this region as a showcase for compelling arts programming, attracting internationally acclaimed authors and artists, while simultaneously creating a platform to celebrate the artists and writers who live and work in our midst. Deep Water is committed to the development, expression and promotion of literature and art that reflects the voices and concerns of underrepresented and diverse communities.

06/20/2026

Overheard at Deep Water Literary Festival 2026.

“It’s a mistake to think that the past is ever past. We wear it like a cloak.” — Nghi Vo

05/20/2026

Deep Water Literary Festival returns to Narrowsburg, June 19–21, 2026, with Time Shift: a weekend of fiction, biography, memoir, performance, installation, and argument devoted to the ways stories bend chronology, raid the archive, and make the future feel suddenly, thrillingly present.

This year’s program moves from Joyce Carol Oates, Siri Hustvedt, Francine Prose, Amal El-Mohtar, Marlon James, and George Packer to Jad Abumrad’s opening-night keynote, Fab 5 Freddy’s downtown New York, immersive works by Raphaele Shirley and Amy Yoes, and a festival-wide sense that art is often what we reach for when time itself seems to lurch off its axis.

Set across theaters, galleries, bookstores, and bars, Deep Water remains what it has always been at its best: an intimate river-town festival with the ambition, range, and voltage of something much larger.

Tickets for the Deep Water Literary Festival are on sale and and available at the link in our bio.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable afternoon with Katherine Bucknell as we explored the life and w...
09/17/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable afternoon with Katherine Bucknell as we explored the life and work of Christopher Isherwood.

From Goodbye to Berlin and the indelible Sally Bowles, to his lifelong search for love, freedom, and spiritual meaning, Isherwood’s voice still speaks urgently to our own times. Katherine’s insights illuminated not only the writer, but the man—his fears, his friendships, and his uncompromising honesty.

We’re so grateful to Katherine for sharing her knowledge, and to our community for turning out in such numbers. The room was alive with curiosity, passion, and the sense that Isherwood is still very much in the conversation. Photos by

Deep Water Literary Fest party recap! Opening Night Reverie; The festival began with a stunning performance by , blendin...
07/02/2025

Deep Water Literary Fest party recap! Opening Night Reverie; The festival began with a stunning performance by , blending acrobatics and energy into a mesmerizing spectacle. Meanwhile kept the dance floor alive all night with an electrifying set, while provided expertly crafted cocktails that kept the celebration flowing.

On the second night, the party moved to where DJ Anton delivered smooth, infectious grooves. Guests enjoyed delicious food by and sipped on fine wines from the Prescription courtesy bar—an elegant touch to a night of lively conversation and dancing.

Two nights, two distinct celebrations of literature, music, and connection. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the Deep Water Literary Fest so memorable.

Reliving the magic of Elsewhere People at the Deep Water Literary Fest! A deeply moving conversation, led by Emily Green...
06/27/2025

Reliving the magic of Elsewhere People at the Deep Water Literary Fest!
A deeply moving conversation, led by Emily Greenhouse (), grappled with the profound question: “What does it mean to belong when home is lost—or never offered?” Booker-shortlisted Madeleine Thien (The Book of Records), André Aciman (Call Me By Your Name, Roman Year), and Alejandro Heredia (Loca) shared powerful insights, framing the immigrant experience as a perpetual metamorphosis.

What a thrill to bring together Susan Choi, Geoff Dyer and Douglas Stuart for a conversation on adolescence, origins,...
06/26/2025

What a thrill to bring together Susan Choi, Geoff Dyer and Douglas Stuart for a conversation on adolescence, origins, and craft. The capacity crowd was well-rewarded. Phenomenal stuff. Photos by

We’re still glowing from Deep Water this weekend. A heartfelt THANK YOU to all who attended, brought a friend, and share...
06/26/2025

We’re still glowing from Deep Water this weekend. A heartfelt THANK YOU to all who attended, brought a friend, and shared your attention and ideas with us. Your presence is a gift! Mark your calendars: next year’s festival will take place June 19-22, 2026

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