In a recent post I listed ten upcoming 2026 writers conferences that could benefit author-publishers, but in this post I want to focus on book festivals by region because book festivals are more reader-focused and listing them by region may inspire you to attend one near you.
I also chose to focus this list mostly on larger book festivals in easily accessible locations, and nearby where some of you may live. Many of them are even in desirable destinations! Maybe you could plan a vacation around them to get more bang for your travel buck, or maybe there’s one within driving distance, or even in your own back yard that you weren’t aware of?
Why Attend a Book Festival?
There are many benefits to attending book festivals and writers conferences and I wrote about those in this post. But, because book festivals are more focused on readers and fans, you can have a good time while you’re learning from successful authors. If you pay attention to what the popular presenting authors and exhibitors are doing and how they’re doing it, you can get some ideas for when you present or rent an exhibitor booth at a festival. Yes, I encourage you to do this because it’s a huge opportunity to come face to face with new readers and that kind of intimate interaction can build your audience and sell more books!
Presenting, or exhibiting at a book festival is a major goal for many authors because they know it’s a powerful marketing opportunity. Monkey C Media included participating in festivals and conferences in our post titled, “6 Book Marketing Ideas for 2026 You May Not Have Tried Yet” for a reason.
Finding Book Festivals by Region May Increase Your Chance of Actually Going
Many of these are happening very soon so you may have missed the boat on participating in some book festivals for this year. But you can still attend and plan to present or be an exhibitor next year. Others you may just want to go to if you happen to be in the area to get a feel for them. Most are free to attend, but they all give author-publishers a chance to network, connect with potential readers and act as a tool for audience growth. There are even some more niche ones focused on specific genres.
If they’re happening in your area you may as well check them out! Or maybe there’s one in a city you’ll be visiting this year? Or in a city you’ve always wanted to take a trip to? Try to think of these festivals in terms of opportunities to participate, whether this year or in the future.
Book Festivals in the West Coast Region
If you live in California, or plan on traveling there, you’re in luck. There are some fantastic book festivals happening there and few in other popular destinations in the west coast region.
The LA Times Festival of Books is a free annual event held every April (this year it’s the 18th and 19th) at the University of Southern California. It’s also the largest literary festival in the country! It draws an audience of over 150,000 people and includes literary panels, book signings and hundreds of exhibitors. It’s a goldmine for book lovers and authors alike.
The Bay Area Book Festival happens in downtown Berkeley each year and it brings together between 250-350 authors and as many as 150,000 readers to celebrate community, literature and reading. The programming is mostly free and it includes workshops, author panels and talks. It also hosts the “Book Worm Block Party”, which focuses on themes like free speech and social justice, among others.
LitQuake is a Bay area two week festival that hosts a variety of authors and literary events from a “Lit Crawl” to activism against book bans, and kid-focused activities. It generally happens in October and it aims to keep literacy, literature and storytelling central to the culture of the Bay area.
The Portland Book Festival happens every year in November. Events include a massive book fair, pop-up readings, panels and other activities and it hosts over 100 authors. The programming is kid-friendly and diverse and the aim is to connect authors directly with their audience. Author submissions are still open as of the date of this post!
I, of course, have to mention the festival I co-founded! The San Diego Writer’s Festival happens every spring at the Coronado Public Library in Coronado. It’s a free community event bringing together storytellers and readers to celebrate the power of the written word. It’s a family-friendly event filled with entertainment, speakers, panels and workshops. This year it’s happening on March 28th and the keynote speaker will be best-selling author Jodi Picoult.
Book Festivals in the Northern East Coast Region
I chose to divide the east coast into two different areas in this list of book festivals by region, mostly because so many happen in these coastal states and there are a lot of states on the east coast. Not to mention the subjectivity of what is and isn’t the South. I chose the dividing line as North Carolina. So anything in North Carolina or north of there is the NE coast. Anything south of that is in the SE coast section. There’s also a Midwest and South category for southern states that don’t border any coastline.
The Suffolk, Virginia Authors Festival is a free one day event that takes place annually in March. This book festival has plenty of meet and greet and author signing opportunities! The aim is to connect local and national authors with their readers. It’s focused on engagement and it’s tailored to readers and book enthusiasts. It’s exactly the type of event any author hoping to connect with new readers would benefit from participating in!
The name alone tells you this is a niche festival! This Washington DC based fest happens annually in June. Authors of sci-fi, fantasy, the paranormal and their fans come together to connect and engage through author panels, book signings and themed activities. If you write in these genres, your ideal reader may be there waiting to find you and your books.
Another genre-focused festival where you’ll encounter fans because it’s specifically for writers and readers of historical fiction and narrative nonfiction. The History Book Festival hosts both emerging and well-known authors of the genres. The vast majority of the events are free and public and it takes place in Lewes, Delaware every September.
The Brooklyn Book Festival is “a community-focused celebration that blends indie publishers, famous authors, and local talent in a bustling, accessible environment”. It takes place in Brooklyn, NY and this free event spans a week in September and culminates in their “Festival Day and Literary Marketplace”.
The Boston Book Festival is a one day event in the city’s Copley Square near the Boston Public Library. There are workshops and panel discussions with local and independent authors alongside notable speakers and writers of all types. It’s a family-friendly event with food trucks, exhibitors and live musical entertainment.
Midwest and South Region Book Festivals
This region is vast but some may be in closer proximity to where you are or where you want to go, so check out these book festivals to see if they offer something you don’t want to miss.
As you may have guessed from the name, this festival celebrates the life work of Tennessee Williams along with contemporary southern literature. It’s focused on writing and hosts literally panels and workshops but the atmosphere says “party”. It takes place in the French Quarter of this vibrant city every year in March and features food, contests, and live music. Sounds fun, right?
Another festival often (but not always) held in New Orleans is the BLK INk Book Festival. This festival is a community-focused event happening in June, celebrating Black literature and culture (including indie authors/author-publishers). It focuses on an array of diverse genres from fiction to poetry and hosts interactive panels, showcases, and discussions. It seeks to bring together authors and readers in a festive and inclusive atmosphere.
This free outdoor festival in Chicago happens in September and has been in operation for more than forty years! It brings together over 100,000 book lovers and features over 150 exhibitors. It hosts panel discussions and other events all celebrating the rich history and literary tradition of the Printers Row neighborhood.
This seems to be a smaller festival, fitting for a smaller town like Topeka, Kansas, but you never know what you may find there! The Kansas Book Festival happens yearly in September and hosts 50 plus authors from a variety of genres. Attendees can access and engage in panels and book signings, and readings at this family-friendly event. If you’re a citizen of Kansas or a nearby state, maybe you’ll want to check it out!
This November festival happens in Lexington, Kentucky and is sponsored by Kentucky Humanities. It hosts over 140 national and local authors and features panel discussions and book signings to bring authors and readers face to face.This is another free event that highlights local culture and promotes literacy in a family-friendly environment!
Southern East Coast Region Book Festivals
The southern east coast region hosts more book festivals than you might imagine. I only included four of them here, but Florida alone has a surprising amount of book festivals you may be interested in researching!
This book festival is happening this weekend( 2/5-2/8 2026), so it may be too late to even attend this year, but you can still bookmark it as a future possibility. The Savannah Book Festival is a four day annual event in Savannah, Georgia focused on a wide array of genres. It’s on the smaller side, hosting about 40-50 nationally recognized and debut authors, but there’s opportunity for engagement between authors and readers via book signings, Q&As, and discussions. It offers both free and ticketed events.
The Dahlonega Literary Festival is held annually in March in Dahlonega, Georgia. It bills itself as a “small-town celebration of books, readers, and authors”. It’s focused on Southern literature and storytelling and seeks to connect readers and authors through intimate panels, signings and discussions. If this sounds right up your alley and you’re nearby, go see if it’s a future opportunity for you to connect with your readers!
This Fernandina Beach, Florida book festival is all about author and reader engagement. Because it happens this month, on 2/28/26, you’ll have to wait until next year to present, or maybe even to attend. But the event features an author gala and social party, along with a weekend of panels and workshops. Proceeds are donated to educational causes such as student short story contest scholarships and book distribution efforts.
The Sunshine State Book Festival takes place yearly in Gainesville, Florida and celebrates literacy by bringing together over 100 regional and local authors across a variety of genres. Attendees can access authors and engage through panels, workshops and book signings. It’s a free community-focused event, sponsored by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville.
Some Book Festivals in the Southwest Region
This arid region of the country is known for its rugged landscapes and unique culture. It’s a vast expanse with a relatively low population, and a great area to visit if you have never been. Maybe it’s time for a book festival-based vacation? Or if you live in the region, at least one of these is likely in close proximity!
This festival takes place annually in March and it’s another huge literary festival! The Tucson Festival of Books is a free two-day event that draws over 130,000 attendees and features over 300 authors across various genres. There are book signings, author panels, and exhibitors, along with entertainment, food and activities. It takes place on the campus of the University of Arizona.
Taking place annually in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, this event happens in March. It brings together world-renowned authors, poets, and journalists. The focus is on timely topics such as environmentalism and social justice. Though it hosts primarily well-known and prize-winning authors who participate in panel discussions and give readings, it still offers a valuable experience. Because even if you can’t be a presenter here, you can learn a lot and grow your readership through networking if this is a space your audience exists in!
The Texas Book Festival takes place every year in November in Austin, Texas. It’s free and sponsored by a non-profit that supports libraries and schools. It brings together over 40,000 readers and 250 plus authors face-to-face to participate in panel discussions, book signings and other events throughout the weekend. They also host over 80 exhibitors including independent authors, publishers and booksellers, as well as other local vendors.
I compiled this whole list of book festivals by region to encourage my readers to find a festival in their area to attend. The closer an event is to you, the more it’s likely you might give it a shot!
I also wanted this to be a list of festivals that are focused on bringing readers and authors together, so you could see the opportunities in these types of events. So, what do you think?
Will you attend a book festival this year? Will you take it as an opportunity to learn and maybe apply to participate in some way in the future? I hope so!
