News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2026

Silicon Valley Reads Announces 2026 Season: 200+ Free Events That Build “Bridges to Belonging” Across Santa Clara County

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – Silicon Valley Reads is proud to unveil an expansive calendar for the 2026 season. Centered on the theme “Bridges to Belonging,” this year’s program features more than 200 free events for all ages, designed to spark connection through art, nature, technology, and literature.

The season begins on Thursday, January 15, at De Anza College in Cupertino with a free, high-energy kickoff event moderated by The Mercury News columnist Sal Pizarro in conversation with the three featured authors:

• john a. powell, The Power of Bridging

• Keeonna Harris, Mainline Mama

• Annie Hartnett, Unlikely Animals

The kickoff will be in-person and livestreamed. Register here. Attendees at the in-person event can purchase these books onsite and have them signed by the authors. They are also invited to enjoy the art exhibit, "A Sense of Belonging," at the Euphrat Museum of Art before and after the program.

There will be additional opportunities to hear from featured authors, including youth book authors Anna Sortino (Give Me a Sign), Kelly Yang (Front Desk), and Roz MacLean (Together, A Forest). There will also be a special event at Santa Clara University with Dr. Joshua Miele—researcher and author of the recommended read, Connecting Dots—who was blinded at the age of 4.

The Silicon Valley Reads programming team, a collaboration of librarians and school representatives, moved the program “beyond the page” through dynamic community engagement, helping residents find a personal bridge to their community.

The community is invited to participate in county-wide cultural projects, including:

• Paper Chains of Kindness: Drop in at select libraries and add links to a physical chain representing our connected community.

• The Community Cookbook Project: A celebration of heritage and belonging through shared recipes and culinary stories submitted online.

• “Thank You, Neighbor” Community Video: Add your gratitude in your native language by submitting your video!

The 2026 lineup features robust programming for children and teens, our next generation of bridge-builders. Highlights include interactive STEAM sessions with LEGO challenges, nature-based workshops, and high-energy dance and movement classes. The season also emphasizes inclusivity through an open house at Animal Assisted Happiness, ASL-integrated literacy programs, and multilingual storytimes.

The arts serve as a universal language of belonging. Programs that highlight this include the Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, adult watercolor workshops, and the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s production of Julius Caesar.

All Silicon Valley Reads events are free and open to the public. The season officially runs from January through March 2026. For a complete, searchable calendar of events and registration details, please visit: siliconvalleyreads.org/calendar.

Media Contact: Reid Myers, Silicon Valley Reads siliconvalleyreads@gmail.com

The Silicon Valley Reads community engagement program is presented annually by the Santa Clara County Library District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and San José Public Library in conjunction with other public libraries, community colleges and universities, and community organizations.