Schedule

The 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival is Sept. 17-26, with live author conversations every day. On Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. ET, 35 video-on-demand programs will become available to watch anytime. This year’s Festival also features interactive presentations with Library of Congress experts, a national television special and related events on PBS, NPR podcasts, and author interviews on Washington Post Live. Check out Festival Near You to discover related events from local organizations.

Welcome to the 2021 National Book Festival! News4 Today journalist Eun Yang talks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden about this year’s Festival.

Download a printable version of the complete live event schedule (PDF 895KB)

NOTE: Using the “Add to Calendar” tool places individual events in your personal calendar. It does not constitute a reservation or ticket to the event.

Friday September 17, 2021

Wednesday September 22, 2021

  • Event | lectures and symposia

    NPR Podcast: Kacen Callender on Code Switch

    Wednesday
    September 22, 2021
    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
    Online Only
    As part of a special collaboration between NPR and the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival, the Code Switch podcast will feature Kacen Callender, author of “King and the Dragonflies” (Scholastic), in conversation with Gene Demby.
    More information at npr.org External.
    Genre: Children

Sunday September 26, 2021

  • Event | lectures and symposia

    Live Q&A with Derrick Barnes

    Sunday
    September 26, 2021
    1:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
    Online Only
    Derrick Barnes, author of “I Am Every Good Thing” (Nancy Paulsen), answers your questions. Don’t forget to check out Derrick Barnes’ video where he discusses his book. Genre: Children
  • Event | lectures and symposia

    Live Q&A with Rep. Sharice Davids

    Sunday
    September 26, 2021
    2:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
    Online Only
    Rep. Sharice Davids, author of “Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman” (HarperCollins Kids), answers your questions. Don’t forget to check out Rep. Sharice Davids’ video where she discusses her book. Genre: Children
  • Event | lectures and symposia

    Live Q&A with Jerry Pinkney

    Sunday
    September 26, 2021
    3:00 pm - 3:30 pm EDT
    Online Only
    Jerry Pinkney, author of “The Little Mermaid” (Little, Brown), answers your questions. Don’t forget to check out Jerry Pinkney’s video where he discusses his book in conversation with Meg Medina. Genre: Children
  • Event | lectures and symposia

    Live Q&A with Mindy Thomas

    Sunday
    September 26, 2021
    4:00 pm - 4:30 pm EDT
    Online Only
    Mindy Thomas, co-author of “Wow in the World: The How and Wow of the Human Body: From Your Tongue to Your Toes and All the Guts in Between” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), answers your questions. Don’t forget to check out Mindy Thomas’ video where she discusses her book with co-author Guy Raz. Genre: Children
  • Event | lectures and symposia

    Live Q&A with Dan Gutman

    Sunday
    September 26, 2021
    5:00 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
    Online Only
    Dan Gutman, author of “Houdini and Me” (Holiday House), answers your questions. Don’t forget to check out Dan Gutman’s video where he discusses his book. Genre: Children