The Dominican Writers Conference
Reclaiming Our Palabras
May 1–2, 2026 | John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC
After five years, the Dominican Writers Conference returns to New York City—bigger, bolder, and more intentional than ever.
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In 2026, the conference is proudly dedicated to Julia Alvarez, a literary force whose work continues to shape how Dominican stories are written, understood, and remembered across generations. Through her novels, essays, and poetry, Alvarez has created space for Dominican voices within American literature while remaining deeply rooted in history, language, and identity. Her work has not only influenced the literary canon, but has also given countless writers permission to see themselves on the page.
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Hosted by the Dominican Writers Association, the conference first launched in 2019 as a historic gathering for Dominican-American writers. That inaugural event became a turning point for many attendees; writers found mentors, formed lasting writing communities, gained the confidence to finish manuscripts, and, for some, secured agents and publishing opportunities. More importantly, participants left with a sense of belonging.
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This year’s conference builds on that legacy while honoring the path Julia Alvarez helped make possible. Over two days, writers will gather for workshops, panels, keynote conversations, and manuscript reviews with editors and agents—engaging deeply with craft, publishing, language, identity, and creative sustainability.
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REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Grounded in the theme Reclaiming Our Palabras, the conference reflects the very questions Alvarez’s work has long explored: Who gets to tell our stories? In what language? And for whom? Through bilingual programming and culturally rooted conversations, the conference creates space for writers to engage these questions with clarity, intention, and community.
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The Dominican Writers Conference is a professional development opportunity, a return to community, and a living continuation of the literary legacy that Julia Alvarez helped define. It is both a celebration and a call forward—an invitation for writers to claim their voices and shape what comes next.
2019 Dominicanish Conference
Testimony from the 2019 Dominicanish Conference
The conference was AMAZING. The community assembled, the love and positivity, the focus of self-care/love/joy was so deeply appreciated. It was definitely the warmest conference I have ever attended. I left motived and inspired to continue this career path. I loved the advocacy in the room, the awareness many people had. I also loved that the workshops I attended benefitted both seasoned writers and new writers.
2019 Conference attendee
This conference was beyond inspiring and reassuring that the emotions I feel and my aspirations and dreams are valid. It reminded me that as a young Afro-Dominican woman I am allowed to want to chase writing as a dream instead of a hobby.
2019 Conference attendee
I deeply appreciate the sense of community that the conference fostered as well as the resources that were made available. Many of my colleagues were in attendance and it was a pleasure to catch up with them in a welcoming environment.
2019 Conference attendee
As a human that is just owning the title of a writer, to have had the opportunity to meet and share the space with others just like me was extremely inspiring and motivating. It also served me as a reminder that we do matter and our voices need to be heard. Not just for the white man but most importantly for our own communities and families. Dominicans aren’t just drug dealers, chapiadoras, housekeepers, “homatenda”, bodega owners/ workers, or ”riferos” there’s is a lot more to us!!!
2019 Conference attendee
