Griot & Grey Owl: 2026 Black Southern Writer’s Conference

The Griot & Grey Owl Conference brings together Black writers, poets, scholars, and cultural workers whose stories are deeply rooted in Southern soil. Each year’s theme invites attendees to explore complex topics—ranging from identity and place to memory and justice through literature, performance, and communal dialogue.

Attendees experience a weekend of dynamic programming including workshops, keynote addresses, live performances, book talks, and community conversations. Whether you’re a writer, artist, scholar, or supporter of the arts, this space is built for engagement, reflection, and joy.

The conference will take place throughout Hub RTP, the 100-acre downtown district within Research Triangle Park, with programming and activations across several of the district’s signature spaces. Frontier RTP will serve as the primary location for conference events, with additional activations taking place at Boxyard RTP and the Hub RTP Experience Center.