2026 Chicago Event Tentative Schedule
WILD AND WINDY 2026 CHICAGO BOOK EVENT
THURSDAY EVENTS
4PM: HOTEL ROOM CHECK-IN OPENS. IF YOU BOOKED UNDER THE ROOM BLOCK, BE SURE YOU GET YOUR COMMERMORATIVE KEYCARD
5PM-6PM: VENDOR SETUP-Lower Level. (EVENT STAFF WILL BRING LANYARDS AND REGISTRATION PACKETS TO VENDORS THAT ARE SELLING DURING EARLY REGISTRATION)
5PM-8PM: ATTENDEE EARLY REGISTRATION - Division. Pickup your event totes and lanyards. Lanyards must be worn at all times to enter event areas. Wristbands for those who registered for a Passionflix J.R. Ward or Kristen Proby panel can be picked up. There will also be green star stickers for those who are friendship trading and hug/no hug stickers available as well as silver markers for adding your name to your badge.
6PM-10PM: LOWER LEVEL. ALL VENDORS OPEN FOR SHOPPING
6PM-9PM: SARA CATE MEET AND GREET FEATURING The Rule of Three. Pre-order from The Last Chapter Book Shop and you will get your books signed/personalized. Your preorder will include an exclusive NSFW vellum. Location: DIRECTORS A/B, lower level.
8PM-9PM: ATTENDEE ORIENTATION by your hosts Nicole Huffman and Michelle Mankin. Likely we’ll giveaway some swag. Definitely going to give tips. Location: MICHIGAN BALLROOM.
9PM-10PM: ANNOTATION KIT AND BOOK JOURNALING DEMONSTRATION by Dark Midnight Design Co. in MICHIGAN BALLROOM.
6PM-10PM: AUTHOR SET-UP. 2 FREE DRINK TICKETS PER AUTHOR for use during setup time at the Grand Ballroom bar. GRAND BALLROOM and LASALLE. Author registration will be outside of each ballroom. Inside each ballroom a salty and sweet snack reception and a bar will be available.
FRIDAY EVENTS
D A Y T I M E
SIGNING SESSION
8AM-10AM: AUTHOR ADDITIONAL SET-UP TIME
8AM-10AM: ATTENDEES CAN PICKUP PREORDERED PREPURCHASED ITEMS FROM VENDORS WHO ARE OFFERING THIS OPTION - Lower Level. If unsure if your vendor is open contact them directly.
9AM: VIPS (GOLD) CAN REGISTER in front of the doors to the Grand Ballroom. Lineup is in the breezeway beside this ballroom. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
10AM-11AM: EXCLUSIVE VIPs ONLY EARLY ENTRY HOUR to see the authors.
10-11AM: GA’S (PINK) CAN REGISTER AND LINE-UP in the breezeway beside the Grand Ballroom. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
11AM: PINK LEVEL CAN ENTER to see the authors.
2PM: FRIDAY SIGNING SESSION ENDS
N I G H T T I M E
5PM-6PM: VENDOR SET UP. Lower Level.
6PM-10PM: VENDOR SHOPPING. Lower level. Open to all ticket holders.
6PM-7PM: VIPs ONLY. EXCLUSIVE VIP PANEL PROGRAMMING. Dual concurrent locations. Michigan Ballroom and the Amphitheater. VIPs are welcome to choose either panel during this hour. However, keep in mind that if one room reaches capacity, you will have to choose the other one. Panelists and topics can be found in the attendee packet. Your VIP lanyard is necessary to enter these panels.
7PM-10PM: PANEL PROGRAMMING FRIDAY SESSIONS Open to all Ticket Holders. Dual concurrent locations. Michigan Ballroom and the Amphitheater. Panelists and topics can be found in your attendee packet. First come, first serve for each panel. Panels are 45 minutes long, depending on popularity the room might be cleared between panels.
7PM-10PM: VIPs ONLY. KAMA SUTRA VIP BINGO (Madison Ballroom) listed as “bingo” on the door. Be warned. It’s totally inappropriate. Paperback prizes.
7PM-10PM: FUN IN THE SUN VIP PARTY - Lower Level. Director’s Parlor, A & B Luau theme. Featuring Author Sponsors: J.L. Beck, Nikki Sloane, Willow Winters, and Penelope Black. Brandy Hynes appearing until 830 and Lauren Biel with her trusty pen might swing by. You can bring books from home to be signed. Also, Narrators: Avery Caris, AudioBee Productions, and Tor Thom. This is an additional opportunity for VIP ticket holders to meet these authors and narrators, buy their merchandise or books, and get signatures. If you would like to bring items from home for these authors/narrators to sign, you may bring them. No preorder pickup except during the Friday and Saturday signing sessions.
VIPs can also play party games, luau and xxx themed) run by volunteers and flockers. Swag pack prizes. There will also be a scavenger hunt with several prizes for winners, and a bookish, luau themed T-shirt contest (prize is a VIP ticket to Wild and Windy Chicago 2027!). There will be a special Fun in the Sun themed swag gift for each VIP in your tote, and VIPs will have a Fun in the Sun photobooth with a commemorative frame, a DJ, and a cash bar with a signature drink, Blue Rum Punch.
SATURDAY EVENTS
D A Y T I M E
SIGNING SESSION
10AM-2PM. Division. J.R. Ward will be signing during the Saturday signing session. She will sign anything you bring from home and stay later if needed.
9AM: VIPS CAN REGISTER in front of the Grand Ballroom and line up beside it. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
10AM-11AM: EXCLUSIVE VIPs ONLY EARLY ENTRY HOUR to see the authors in the GRAND BALLROOM and in the Lakeshore Ballroom.
10AM-11AM: GA’S PINK LEVEL CAN REGISTER & LINE-UP in the breezeway beside the Grand Ballroom. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
10AM-2PM THESE VENDORS ARE OPEN FOR SHOPPING IN THE LOWER LEVEL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY:
A Love Unlaced
Cobbler Lane Designs
Dark & Disturbed
Dark Midnight Design Co.
Dogwood + Daisy
Sinful Obsessions
11AM: PINK LEVEL CAN ENTER the Grand Ballroom and/or Lakeshore Ballroom.
2PM: SIGNING SESSION 2 ENDS
N I G H T T I M E
4-6PM: LET’S TALK ABOUT SPICY BOOKS. NARRATORS WILL READ SPICY SCENES. Michigan
5-7PM: Westin and WW Core Volunteer crew prep the Grand Ballroom for the Pajama Party.
6-7PM: LASALLE. J.R. WARD WILL BE MODERATING HER BDB PANEL ALONG WITH HER SPECIAL GUESTS ACTORS: Alexander Cubis (Rhage) and Audrey Hare (Mary) in Season 2 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood on Passionflix.
7-8PM LASALLE. KRISTEN PROBY WILL BE MODERATING HER COME AWAY WITH ME PANEL ALONG WITH HER SPECIAL GUESTS ACTORS: Jake B. Miller (Luke) AND Natalie Pelletier (Natalie)from the Passionflix film Come Away with Me. LIMITED SEATING FOR EACH PASSIONFLIX PANEL.
6-8PM: KAMA SUTRA BINGO. All ticket holders welcome while space lasts. AMPITHEATER
7-10PM: DIVISION. PHOTO OP WITH J.R. WARD AND BDB ACTORS UNTIL 9PM. 8-10PM DIVISION. PHOTO OP WITH KRISTEN PROBY AND COME AWAY WITH ME ACTORS
8-10ishPM: PJ PARTY. Open to all attendees. Grand Ballroom and Breezeway. DJ, desserts, Photo ops, Photobooth, swag, and dancing. Last chance to mix, mingle, and get your journals signed by friends. Signature drink is a Chocolate Martini that will be offered at the cash bar.
SUNDAY
10AM-12PM AFTER EVENT MIXER. The Last Chapter Book Shop. 2013 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618. Shop and support local bookstore owner Amanda Anderson.