Texas Romance and Fantasy Book Festival Abruptly Canceled

Dreamers & Readers Festival organizers cite failure to meet venue's hotel booking requirements

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A popular romance and fantasy book festival scheduled for March in Texas has been canceled just two weeks before the event, leaving attendees and authors frustrated and out thousands of dollars in travel and event costs. Organizers of the Dreamers & Readers Festival cited their inability to meet the venue's financial requirements tied to hotel room bookings as the reason for the last-minute cancellation.

Why it matters

The sudden cancellation of the Dreamers & Readers Festival has sparked outrage in the book community, with many comparing the situation to the disastrous Fyre Festival. The lack of transparency and communication from the organizers has left attendees and authors scrambling to recoup their losses, raising questions about the planning and execution of large-scale literary events.

The details

The Dreamers & Readers Festival was set to take place from March 6-8, 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Texas. Organizers announced the cancellation this week, saying they were unable to meet the venue's financial requirements tied to hotel room bookings. Reaction on social media was swift, with some users criticizing the way the cancellation was communicated, describing it as a "horrific way to communicate this" and "wildly irresponsible and mishandled."

  • The Dreamers & Readers Festival was scheduled to take place from March 6-8, 2026.
  • Organizers announced the cancellation of the event this week, just two weeks before it was set to occur.

The players

Dreamers & Readers Festival

A popular romance and fantasy book festival that was scheduled to take place in Texas.

Gaylord Texan Resort

The venue where the Dreamers & Readers Festival was set to be held.

Elsa A.

A Japan-based content creator who had planned to attend the festival as a birthday trip, spending over $3,200 on event tickets and airline travel.

Melanie Mar

An author who paid $400 for a table at the festival, spending thousands more on books and lodging, and was frustrated by the lack of transparency from the organizers.

Leslie Hernandez

The organizer of the Dreamers & Readers Festival who announced the cancellation in an Instagram post.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“While I understand that unexpected issues can arise, the cancellation has been very hard to process, especially given the short notice and the lack of clarity around refunds.”

— Elsa A., Japan-based content creator (Newsweek)

“I'm disappointed in their lack of transparency. They announced authors very late, and even deleted comments on their Facebook page when we asked about it. It was difficult to get ahold of people. They ensured another author they were doing great with sales.”

— Melanie Mar, Author (Newsweek)

What’s next

Organizers have said additional details and FAQs will be shared to address common questions. In the meantime, attendees and creators are continuing to seek clarity around refunds, reimbursements and future events associated with Fantastique Collection.

The takeaway

The sudden cancellation of the Dreamers & Readers Festival highlights the challenges and risks associated with organizing large-scale literary events, particularly when it comes to managing venue contracts and communicating effectively with attendees and authors. This situation serves as a cautionary tale for event organizers and a reminder of the importance of transparency, planning, and customer service in the book community.