Howard Days 2026 marks four milestones at once — Robert E. Howard’s 120th birthday, the 40th anniversary of Howard Days, the 30th anniversary of The Whole Wide World, and 20 years of the REH Foundation. Cross Plains is ready. June 11 through 13.
Most people who love Conan the Barbarian, Kull the Conqueror, Solomon Kane, or any number of the genre-defining heroes of pulp fiction have no idea their creator was a kid from a small West Texas town who never left. Robert E. Howard was born in Peaster in 1906, grew up in Cross Plains, and spent his entire life there — writing some of the most imaginative and influential fiction in American literary history from a small house in a small town in Callahan County.
Every June, fans, scholars, authors, collectors, and curious first-timers make a pilgrimage to that town. This year is a milestone like no other.
Howard Days 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of Howard’s birth, the 40th anniversary of Howard Days itself, the 30th anniversary of The Whole Wide World film, and 20 years of the Robert E. Howard Foundation. Howard Days returns to Cross Plains on June 12 and 13, 2026 — and this year expands to include a Thursday opening on June 11 — as readers, scholars, collectors, and fans gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Robert E. Howard.
Who Was Robert E. Howard?
Robert E. Howard was born January 22, 1906, and spent most of his short life in Cross Plains, Texas. Working largely in isolation in the Hill Country of West Texas, he produced an astonishing body of work for pulp fiction magazines — most notably Weird Tales — that includes the creation of Conan the Barbarian, one of the most enduring fictional characters of the 20th century.
Howard wrote with a ferocity and imagination that set him apart from his contemporaries and influenced everyone who came after him — from J.R.R. Tolkien to George R.R. Martin to the entire sword-and-sorcery genre. He was a friend and pen pal of H.P. Lovecraft. He died in 1936 at 30 years old, having published over 300 stories, poems, and essays.
The house in Cross Plains where he wrote most of that work still stands. The Robert E. Howard House — now more than a century old — requires ongoing restoration and preservation, and the REH Foundation takes donations for badly needed restoration work.
Howard Days — 40 Years of the World’s Best Fan Gathering
In 1986, a small group led by Rusty Burke traveled to Cross Plains to honor Howard’s legacy. That gathering became the foundation of what is now an international celebration.
Since 1986, people have been coming from all around the world to Howard Days to celebrate the life and writings of Robert E. Howard. It is a two-day gathering of fans, scholars, writers, artists, historians, and enthusiasts, all gathered together in fellowship to celebrate and discuss the life, work, and legacy of the incomparable American Original. Howard Days is a two-day extravaganza of tours, panels, auctions, banquets, speeches, signings, readings, dealers, rare Howard collectibles, and — most importantly — great Howardian fellowship.
For fans of Howard, it is a unique get-together unlike any other fan convention. In a sense, it’s more like a friendly family reunion.
The 40th Anniversary Guest of Honor is Rusty Burke himself — the man who started it all in 1986. Special Guest is Bill Cavalier, known as “Indy,” who has created Howard Days poster art for years.
What Happens at Howard Days
Howard Days 2026 will celebrate Bob Howard’s 120th birthday with cake at the Friday Hot Dog Lunch, and the 60th anniversary of the seminal Lancer book Conan the Adventurer will be on display on Howard’s tombstone.
Thursday, June 11 opens informally — the Robert E. Howard Museum is open from 2 to 4 p.m., the Gift Shop is open all day, and the grounds and Pavilion are available to everyone. A writing workshop runs at Cottonwood Downtown Cafe, 240 Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, June 12 brings the full official program — morning donuts and coffee, the traditional Hot Dog Lunch with birthday cake for Bob’s 120th, afternoon panels and presentations, tours of the Howard House, and the Friday Night Celebration Banquet at the Cross Plains Community Center. A Tex-Mex dinner catered by Mexico City Cafe is also available Friday evening.
Saturday, June 13 continues with panels, book dealers, rare collectibles, author signings, and the full community of Howard fans gathered on the museum grounds for what organizers consistently call the best two days in Howard fandom.
Plan Your Trip
Cross Plains sits between Abilene and Brownwood, about three hours west of Dallas and two and a half hours from Fort Worth on US-183. Howard Days is hosted at the historic Robert E. Howard House and Museum and throughout the town of Cross Plains.
Attendance is free — pre-registration is only required if you want a guaranteed seat at the Friday banquet, at $35 per person. Register through PayPal or Venmo at [email protected], or mail a check to Project Pride, P.O. Box 534, Cross Plains, TX 76443.
Event Details
Event: Robert E. Howard Days 2026 — 40th Anniversary Dates: Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13, 2026 Location: Robert E. Howard House and Museum, Cross Plains, TX 76443
Thursday, June 11: Museum opens 2–4 p.m. / Writing workshop at Cottonwood Downtown Cafe, 240 Main St., 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Friday, June 12: Donuts and coffee / Hot Dog Lunch and birthday cake / Panels and tours / Celebration Banquet at Cross Plains Community Center / Tex-Mex dinner by Mexico City Cafe Saturday, June 13: Panels, dealers, signings, and fellowship on the museum grounds
Banquet pre-registration: $35 — PayPal or Venmo at [email protected] or mail check to Project Pride, P.O. Box 534, Cross Plains, TX 76443 Attendance: Free — registration not required for general attendance
Guest of Honor: Rusty Burke, founder of Howard Days Special Guest: Bill Cavalier (“Indy”)
Website: howarddays.com
REH Foundation: rehfoundation.org
Facebook: Robert E. Howard Days
Contact: [email protected]
