Operation Literacy presents
What's free to the public at StoryCon?
Salt Palace Convention Center, Feb 27-28, 2026
120+ Author Book Signings
Order your book from Poppy books (click here) in advance and pick it up right before your scheduled signing! See the full signing schedule by clicking the button below, and join the StoryCon Mega-Signing Event 6:00-7:00 Saturday, February 28th.
100+ Exhibitor Booths
FRIDAY 8am - 5pm, SATURDAY 10am - 5pm
Roam the expo hall, packed to the gills with games, art, author booths, souvenirs, and experiences. Don't forget to visit our very own Story Explorium and take a picture with the Oathbringer Shardblade, made by one of the original Hollywood designers of the Iron Man suit!
Live Performances
Hale Centre Theatre Presents: Story Weavers - Friday at 11 AM
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Step into the imaginative world of Story Weavers, Hale Centre Theatre’s “troupe-in-a-trunk” storytelling company. This engaging 50-minute performance brings original tales to life with heart, humor, and theatrical flair, featuring vibrant characters and inventive staging designed to spark imagination and celebrate the emotional power of live storytelling. Great for tweens and children.
13th Legion of Utah: Live Armored Combat Showcase - Saturday at 10:30 AM
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How did medieval armored combat actually work? Join the 13th Legion of Utah for a live, historically grounded presentation created with writers and creators in mind. This panel combines accurate history with hands-on demonstration to explore how armor, weapons, and fighters truly moved and fought.
Hale Centre Theatre Presents: Broadway Stars & The Hale-erious Crew Showcase -
Saturday at 3 PM
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Stars, HCT’s premiere teen musical theatre ensemble, delivers high-energy numbers and heartfelt storytelling that spotlight the voices, movement, and stagecraft of the next generation of performers. Following the musical magic, The Hale-erious Crew—Hale Centre Theatre’s brand-new teen sketch comedy troupe—takes the stage with an original lineup of sharp, modern comedy sketches written and performed by teens, offering fast-paced humor in the spirit of SNL and Studio C
Main Stage Events
With the exception of keynote addresses, our Main Stage Events will be open for public viewing, including our awards ceremonies and the showcase of our winning songs and films from our teen contests! Come support your teen, your friends, your family, or your neighbor at these ceremonies!
Hale Centre Theatre Presents: Scenes from a Script Showcase - Friday at 10 AM
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Experience the magic of live theatre as Hale Centre Theatre’s professional actors bring teen-written scenes to life on the StoryCon main stage. This engaging showcase features standout submissions from the Scene From a Script Writing Contest, highlighting original, self-contained scenes rich with character, conflict, and emotional depth.
Jared Shores Presents: StoryCon Filmmaking Showcase - Friday at 1 PM
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Step into the world of visual storytelling as filmmaker and original Studio C producer Jared Shores presents the winning entry from the StoryCon Filmmaking Contest.
Shaun Barrowes Presents: StoryCon Songwriting Showcase - Friday at 2 PM
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Join Emmy-nominated composer Shaun Barrowes for a live celebration of our top teen songwriters as he presents the winning entry from the StoryCon Songwriting Contest.
Contest Winner's Celebration: Saturday at 2 PM
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Join us for the 2026 StoryCon Contest Winners’ Celebration, a fast-paced showcase of the incredible creativity found across our community. From standout scripts to award-winning films, poetry, short stories, and original songs, this celebration highlights the very best work from creators of all ages.