Registration
Prince Conference Center, Fireside Room
Wednesday: 5-7 PM + Thursday: 9-11:30 AM
1800 East Beltline SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Early Registration
Coming in early? Take advantage of early registration: Wednesday, April 15, from 5-7pm in the .
Arriving during the opening plenary session (Thursday, 12:30-1:30pm)?
Feel free to come straight to Van Noord arena and join us (as registration will close briefly for the opening plenary). Following that opening event, though, you’ll need to come to the to pick up your attendee name badge before attending any further events.
Stop by the information desk in the Fireside Room to pick up your name badge and program. You will need to pick up your badge before attending any Festival sessions.
Information Desk
Prince Conference Center, Fireside Room
Thursday-Saturday: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Have a Question?
All members of our hardworking student committee are wearing lilac Festival t-shirts. If you have a question or need help, look for our students! Or, stop by our Information Desk, located in the Prince Conference Center Fireside Room. Our wonderful student volunteers will be happy to assist you!
Stay Connected
To receive announcements, updates, and programming changes during the Festival:
Download the Festival Mobile App
Watch your email for the Festival Daily newsletter
Festival of Faith & Writing Mobile App
If you’d like to view the schedule digitally and haven’t already downloaded the free Festival App in Sched, go to: . After downloading, search for “2026 Festival of Faith & Writing.”
To turn on the features that allow you to customize your own Festival agenda and chat with other attendees in the App, you will need to create an account via the email invitation you received prior to the Festival.
To appear in the attendee directory, the "Public Profile and Schedule" option must be toggled on within your "My Account" tab. Once this is toggled on, you will appear in the attendee directory. You can also add a photo and bio to your profile.
To participate in the chat features within the app, the "Public Profile and Schedule" option must be toggled on within your "My Account" tab. Once this is toggled on, the chat icon will appear.
Please note: If you choose to use the App to plan your days, note that adding a session to your personal schedule does not act as an RSVP for that session. There is no option to reserve a spot in concurrent sessions.
Wi-Fi
To connect to the Festival’s Wi-Fi network, select the CalvinGuest network from the list of available wireless networks, and click on "I have an Event Code." Enter the Access Code: ffw2026 (all one word, all lowercase).
Festival Bookstores and Book Signings
New in 2026: We’ve partnered with local and independent bookstores to make it easy for you to find your favorite Festival books and have them signed by our authors! This year, all book signings will happen immediately following speaker sessions, with Festival-focused pop-up bookstores set up near the book-signing tables for each of our venues. Pop-up bookstores and book signings are in the following locations:
Chapel Narthex, Plumfield Books
Spoelhof Atrium (outside the Gezon Auditorium), We are LIT
Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby, Schuler Books
Prince Conference Center Great Hall, Booth 6, Eighth Day Books
Spoelhof Fieldhouse Lobby, Calvin Campus Store
Festival Merchandise
Attendees who pre-ordered merch can pick up their orders at the Festival Shop in the Prince Conference Center Fireside Room. Missed the pre-order? We’ll have limited quantities of merch available for sale as well.
Etiquette
Room Capacity
Due to fire code regulations, we must closely monitor room capacities during the Festival, and sessions will be closed to further entry if room capacity is reached. If you arrive and discover all seats are already full, please select another session to attend.
Cell Phones
As a courtesy to speakers and fellow Festivalgoers, please silence and put away cell phones during sessions.
Photography and Recordings
For contractual reasons, personal audio or video recording of sessions is not permitted. No flash photography, please. If you do take pictures, tag @CFFWgr to share your photos with us!
Fans
Many of our speakers are also attending the Festival. Please respect their time and privacy, using discretion when asking for autographs or selfies.
Quiet Spaces
Calvin offers many quiet areas, including the Ecosystem Preserve, the Seminary Pond, the Hekman Library, and the Center Art Gallery. Consult the campus map for specific locations.
Accessibility
Calvin University’s campus complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and we work to make the Festival comfortable and accessible for all participants. However, we recognize that not all disabilities require accommodations; some are invisible.
The Festival offers accommodations such as accessible parking and doors, American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation during the evening plenary sessions, a Loop hearing aid audio system in our larger venues, on-campus shuttles, adetailed accessibility map (available at the information desk), quiet spaces to reflect and regroup, and on-site contacts when help is needed.
We want Festivalgoers to come as they are and aim to be as inclusive as possible. If you have individual needs or have a question about accessibility, please contact a member of our staff or student committee.
Infants
If you have a future reader in tow, we have facilities to serve you. Of course, you are welcome to feed your child whenever and wherever you are most comfortable. If you prefer to nurse in private, dedicated spaces are available in these locations:
Prince Conference Center, ask for key at Festival Information Desk
Chapel, lower level, Room 204
Emergency Information
If you need emergency assistance, please contact Calvin’s Campus Safety Office at 616-526-3333. Campus Safety can help emergency service providers get to your precise location on campus more quickly than dialing 911.
The nearest urgent care clinic is Corewell Health Urgent Care, located at 2750 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616-391-6230). It is open every day from 8am–8pm.
Calvin University Smoking Policy
Smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited on all Calvin University premises, including all internal and external areas, entrances and exits. This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff, as well as all customers, contractors, vendors, clients, and visitors to Calvin’s campus.
Safer Spaces Policy
We fully support Calvin’s Safer Spaces policy, which includes and goes beyond Title IX to name all instances of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, or any other marker of identity. You can report incidents or concerns directly to CCFW staff or faculty or to Campus Safety. For our full policy, please visit our website at ccfw.calvin.edu/policies.
