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Black Book Festivals
Meet other book lovers and your favorite authors at these literary festivals around the country
AARP (Cedric Stover/National Black Book Festival)
Are you into books? Then book festivals are where you want to be in 2026. They’re the perfect place to meet your favorite authors, connect with fellow literary enthusiasts, and discuss the books you love—while also discovering new titles, writers, book clubs, and more.
Are you in the middle of writing your first novel, or just toying with the idea? Festivals are a great way to connect with other writers, editors, and potential publishers—or to get inspired. Below are some book festivals around the country and near you. Plan to stop by and mingle with people who truly get you—and the books you love.
Just be sure to check the festival website for updated details, date and time confirmation.
SOUTH
Charlotte African American Book Festival — Charlotte, N.C.
Date: June 2026
About: A community-focused celebration of Black literature featuring author appearances and signings, readings, and panel discussions spanning adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and YA titles; centers emerging authors and Charlotte literary voices.
Website: eventbrite.com/e/charlotte-african-american-book-festival-tickets-1117763423489
National Book Club Conference — Atlanta, Ga.
Date: July 31–Aug 2, 2026
About: Annual reader-centric conference featuring authors’ discussions, book club strategy sessions, and panels across fiction and nonfiction; showcasing emerging and established authors. Attendees include: bestsellers have included thought leader Michael Eric Dyson; politician Andrew Young; former Essence EIC Susan Taylor; spiritualist and teacher Iyanla Vanzant; and bestselling authors Tayari Jones, Kimberla Lawson Ruby, and Sadeqa Johnson.
Website: nationalbookclubconference.com
Black Authors Festival - Atlanta, Ga.
Date: September 12, 2026
About: Held in Atlanta for the first time this year, this festival is an extension of the Sag Harbor, NY Black Authors Festival, which has attracted top Black authors for four consecutive years. Honorees will be Doreen Spencer-Dannelly, the controversial pastor Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, and Dr. Karri Bryant.
Website: blackauthorsfestival.com
Black Writers Weekend — Atlanta, Ga.
Date: July 31–Aug 2, 2026
About: An immersive celebration bringing together Black voices in literature and film, featuring workshops, readings, community panels, and programming for new and aspiring Black writers. Past attendees/speakers have included: Melanie Fiona (Grammy-winning music artist, filmmaker), Ashley Chea (author, filmmaker, and podcaster), STORM (podcaster), J.D. Myall (author and podcaster), Jessica Black (media personality), and filmmakers Tamala Baldwin and Tamra Simmons.
Website: blackwritersweekend.com
Atlanta Black Romance Book Fest — Atlanta, Ga.
Date: May 29–31, 2026
About: Festival focusing on Black romance literature with author panels, book signings, and reader community experiences. A great place for fans, authors, aspiring authors and all lovers of contemporary and romance fiction.
Website: blackromancebookfest.com
Literary Indulgence Book Festival — Jacksonville, Fla.
Date: June (Annual)
Courtesy the Literary Indulgence Book Festival
About: Newer boutique-style festival focused on local and regional emerging authors in fiction and nonfiction. Created for book lovers and writers with panel talks and community events, including children’s and adult programming.
Website: literaryindulgence.com
JAX Urban Book Festival — Jacksonville, Fla.
Date: January (Annual)
About: Literary event held as part of Jacksonville’s Dreamweek, celebrating community urban literary voices, workshops, and storytelling through both fiction, non-fiction and memoir. Also celebrating Jacksonville’s vibrant arts community.
Website: jaxurbanbookfest.com
SOUTHWEST
National Black Book Festival — Houston, Texas
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Date: October 22 - 24, 2026
Cedric Stover/National Black Book Festival
About: One of the most prominent Black literary festivals in the South, offering panel discussions, workshops, and author signings for adult, YA, and children’s literature, with a strong representation of cultural nonfiction and fiction. Past attendees have been NY Times bestsellers Tia Williams and Mary Monroe.
Website: nationalblackbookfestival.com
Austin African American Book Festival — Austin, Texas
Date: June
About: Long-standing celebration of Black literature and culture featuring panel conversations, book discussions, and community-focused programming across adult, YA, and children’s books. Past attendees have included Walter Mosley.
Website: aaabookfest.org
San Antonio African American Book Festival — San Antonio, Texas
Date: February (Annual)
About: Regional book festival spotlighting African American authors and storytellers in fiction, history, and cultural nonfiction with author talks, signings, and community literacy programming. Past attendees have included NABJ award winner Lisa Braxton, ghostwriter Caleb Alexander, Amazon best-seller Letysha Montgomery, and horror writer R.J. Garcia.
Website: saaabookfestival.mailchimpsites.com/ or facebook.com/saaabookfest/
WEST
The Sac BlkLit Book Fest - Sacramento, Calif
Date: September (Annual)
Full Effect Films/Underground Books BikLit Book Fest
About: A one-day celebration of Black literature, culture, and community in Sacramento at Underground Books and The Guild Theater. Bringing together Black authors, readers, and publishing professionals for engaging panels, author conversations, and book signings.
Website: sthope.org/sac-blklit-book-fest
Leimert Park Village Book Fair - Los Angeles, Calif
Date: February (Annual)
About: Held in historic Leimert Park, an African American cultural hub, it is the largest Black book fair on the West Coast. A cultural event for authors and aspiring writers with community events, focused on local and national authors with discussions, readings, exhibits, entertainment and more. Attendees have included actor Courtney B. Vance, Dr. Robin L. Smith, actress Jenifer Lewis, author/actor Tabitha Brown, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Nikole Hannah-Jones, and more.
Website: leimertparkbookfair.org
MIDWEST
African American Family Book Expo & Read-in - Detroit, Mich.
Date: February (Annual)
About: Celebrating Black history, it is one of the largest independent Black book fairs. The event features author meet & greets, signings, and books from over 40 authors, both children’s and adult content. This year’s featured author is Detroit’s own Dr. Tones Welch, the real-life inspiration behind the acclaimed BET+ Black crime drama, BMF. She is considered the first lady of BMF.
Website: DetroitBookCity.store
Great Midwest Book Fest — Milwaukee, Wis.
Date: June (Annual)
About: Regional Midwest literary celebration featuring author panels, readings, and community engagement across adult and children’s literature with local and regional voices.
Website: greatmidwestbookfestivals.com
NORTHEAST
Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival — Oak Bluffs, Mass.
Date: August 15, 2026
About: Celebrating Black literary excellence on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard in the historically Black community of Oak Bluffs with keynote presentations, panel discussions, and top author conversations. It is held during the popular Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. Past highlights include Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee and activist Tamika D. Mallory.
Website: mvbbf.com
Black Authors Festival — Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Date: August 1, 2026
About: Boutique festival showcasing Black authors connected to the historic East End Black community of Sag Harbor. Featuring fiction and nonfiction works, author conversations and signings. Past attendees have been television personalities Sunny Hostin and Don Lemon. Honored this year will be: journalists Michelle Miller and Shannon La Nier; poet/cultural educator, P.K. Kersey; motivational speaker Tyrus Hinton; and creative entrepreneur Jamie Arty, among others.
Website: blackauthorsfestival.com
Schomburg Center Literary Festival — New York, N.Y. (Harlem)
Date: June (Annual)
About: Daylong celebration of diverse literature, including fiction, poetry, comics, and YA programming, with readings and panels that highlight emerging authors and Black and Afro-diasporic voices. Past attendees include poet Mahogany L. Browne and journalist Linda Villarosa.
Website: schomburgcenterlitfest.org
Harlem Book Fair — New York, N.Y. (Harlem)
Date: August 29, 2026
About: The nation’s premier Black book fair featuring panel discussions, author talks, and book signings across adult, YA, and children’s genres; past participants include cultural voices such as Walter Mosley and Terry McMillan.
Website: harlembookfair.com
Brooklyn Book Festival — Brooklyn, N.Y.
Date: September (Annual)
About: A 9-day major literary festival with a vast lineup of national and international authors across fiction, nonfiction, YA, children’s books, comics, and graphic novels; recent participants include Pulitzer Prize winners Lynn Nottage, bestselling authors like Nnedi Okorafor, S.A. Cosby, and cultural commentators like Chris Hayes.
Website: brooklynbookfestival.org
African American Children’s Book Fair — Philadelphia, Pa.
Date: February 7, 2026
About: One of the nation’s oldest and largest children’s book fairs focused on Black authors and illustrators for children and teens; features workshops, story times, and book signings.
Website: theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org
Chocolate City Literature Festival — Washington, D.C.
Date: April 25, 2026
About: Two-day festival celebrating Black literature with author talks, panel discussions, and community events; spans adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books with a lively cultural atmosphere.
Website: chocolatecitylitfest.com
International Black Writers Festival — Washington, D.C.
Date: Sept 2026
About: Howard University hosted a multi-day festival celebrating African diaspora writers with panel discussions and scholarly conversations spanning adult and creative nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Past participants have been best-selling authors Ta-Nehisi Coates, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Walter Mosley, Jacqueline Woodson, and Beverly Jennings.
Website: Howard.edu
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