June 21-27, 2026, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Every summer, the Juniper Institute gathers a community of writers to explore the creative process and develop new approaches to the craft of writing.
In association with the MFA Program for Poets & Writers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Juniper Summer Writing Institute gathers a community of writers to explore the creative process and develop new approaches to the craft of writing. It’s one week of immersion into intensive writing workshops, craft sessions, Q&As, readings, and manuscript consultation in the beautiful Connecticut River Valley.
- Workshops are the heart of the Juniper Institute. Writers focus on new work and/or work-in-progress with their workshop faculty and peers.
- Craft Sessions offer writers a chance to talk with faculty and visiting poets and writers about varied topics, books, and matters of craft including techniques, themes, and forms.
- The Juniper Institute reading series brings faculty and visiting poets and writers together to read from their new and selected work. Readings are free and open to the public.
- Writing-focused social time includes morning write-ins, open mics, social hours, and post-reading receptions, which provide low-key opportunities for participants to mingle and meet new writer friends.
- You and your peers are what make Juniper great! Get your application ready for the next Juniper program!
2026 Juniper Summer Writing Institute Program Schedule
- Sunday 6/21
- 3:00pm-5:30pm – Arrival, Registration, and Rolling Orientations
- 5:30pm – Community Dinner
- 7:30pm-9:00pm – Faculty Reading and Q&A
- 9:00pm-10:00pm – Reception
- Monday 6/22
- 7:30am – Breakfast
- 9:00am – Workshop or 1:1 meetings
- 12:00pm – Lunch Break
- 1:30pm-3:00pm – Craft Sessions
- 3:30pm-5:00pm – Craft Talk with Ocean Vuong
- 5:00pm – Social
- 5:30pm – Dinner
- 7:30pm-9:00pm – Faculty Reading and Q&A
- Tuesday 6/23
- 7:30am-9:00am – Breakfast and Write-In
- 9:00am – Workshop or 1:1 meetings
- 12:00pm – Lunch Break
- 1:30pm-3:00pm – Craft Sessions
- 3:30pm – Participant Reading
- 4:30pm – Social Hour
- 5:30pm – Dinner
- 7:30pm-9:00pm – Faculty Reading and Q&A
- Wednesday 6/24
- 7:30am-9:00am – Breakfast and Write-In
- 9:00am – Workshop or Resident Check-In
- 12:00pm – Lunch Break
- 1:30pm-5:30pm – Writing Time, Optional Tours, or Optional Manuscript Consultations
- 5:30pm – Dinner
- Thursday 6/25
- 7:30am-9:00am – Breakfast and Write-In
- 9:00am – Workshop or 1:1 meetings
- 12:00pm – Lunch Break
- 1:30pm-3:00pm – Craft Sessions
- 3:30pm – Participant Reading
- 4:30pm – Social Hour
- 5:30pm – Dinner
- 7:30pm-9:00pm – Faculty Reading and Q&A
- Friday 6/26
- 7:30am-9:00am – Breakfast and Write-In
- 9:00am – Workshop or 1:1 meetings
- 12:00pm – Lunch Break
- 1:30pm-3:00pm – Craft Sessions
- 3:30pm – Social Hour
- 5:30pm – Dinner
- 7:30pm-9:00pm – Faculty Reading and Q&A
- 9:00pm-10:00pm – Reception
- Saturday 6/27
- Travel Day