2026 National Book Festival
The 2026 National Book Festival will be held in the nation's capital at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.). The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online, and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the festival.
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Experience the Festival
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Register Now
Sign up for free tickets to the 2026 National Book Festival
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Author Lineup Announced
Explore the 2026 Festival lineup featuring authors, storytellers, poets, illustrators and more, organized by genre.
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Poster Gallery
View and download the festival poster.
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Festival Information
Everything you need to know about getting the most from your day at the National Book Festival.
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Exhibit at the 2026 National Book Festival
Learn more about becoming an exhibitor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is it? When is it? How do I get there? Here are the answers to your questions.
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Safety Tips
Festival safety essentials and information
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Support
Sign up to volunteer or learn about other ways of supporting the festival
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Family-Friendly Activities
Learn more about our interactive programs for kids and families.
Featured Authors and Speakers
Highlights from Past Festivals
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“Listening to the Law” with Justice Amy Coney Barrett
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Celebrating the U.S. Poets Laureate: Joy Harjo, Ada Limón and Tracy K. Smith
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Jill Lepore on the History of the Constitution
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Geena Davis Makes Space with Her Picture Book
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R.L. Stine’s Latest Chilling Stories
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What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You More Awkward: Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia
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Relative Strangers, Strange Relatives: Novels by Susan Choi and Katie Kitamura
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Horror in Hostile Worlds: Agustina Bazterrica and Stephen Graham Jones