Book Events: Fairs, Festivals, and Conferences (2023 and 2024)
Visit our Photo Gallery, Event Archives, and AALBC’s Events.
Check out the events that have already taken place on our list of events from the beginning of the year. To add an event to our this list, share the event’s information on the Press Release area of our discussion forum, or complete our form to add a Book Festival or Fair to our Calendar.
Note: As a result of the global pandemic, please check the event’s official website for the latest information.
15 Events Coming Up
National Black Writers Conference Biennial Symposium
Medgar Evers College
1650 Bedford Ave., Founders Auditorium, Brooklyn, NY 11225, Brooklyn, New York
Hosted by: Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College
Dates: Friday, March 31, 2023 to Saturday, April 1, 2023
Website: National Black Writers Conference Biennial Symposium
Phone: 718-804-8883
Email: writers@mec.cuny.edu
Description:
Poet and fiction writer Sheree Renée Thomas and best-selling novelist Jewell Parker Rhodes are this year’s NBWC honorees and both will receive the Octavia E. Butler Award. Other confirmed participating writers include poet, fiction, and nonfiction writer Jewelle Gomez, fiction writer L. Penelope; and fiction writers and memoirists Tananarive Due, Wayéetu Moore, and Dr. Reynaldo Henderson, executive director and co-founder of the Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM).
Learn more about National Black Writers Conference Biennial Symposium on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Color of Children’s Literature Conference
3009 Broadway, New York, New York 10027
Hosted by: Kweli Journal
Dates: Friday, March 31, 2023 to Sunday, April 2, 2023
Website: Color of Children’s Literature Conference
Email: events@kwelijournal.org
Description:
Kweli’s Color of Children’s Literature Conference is the nation’s first and largest conference for BIPOC creators of children’s and YA books. It is an excellent opportunity for writers and illustrators of color to learn, get inspired, and network with others in the industry. The conference honors the legacies of Walter Dean Myers, Eloise Greenfield, Floyd Cooper, and more as it celebrates and supports our unique voices, our nuanced stories, and our collective truth telling.
Learn more about Color of Children’s Literature Conference on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Word of South Festival
Cascades Park
1001 S Gadsden St, Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Dates: Friday, April 21, 2023 to Sunday, April 23, 2023
Website: Word of South Festival
Description:
Word of South, a festival of literature and music, is a unique blend of writers and musicians and an exploration of the relationship between the two disciplines. Since its beginnings in 2015, the festival has showcased nationally-recognized authors and musicians in all sorts of interesting ways. We’re especially proud of our “mu-aushups:” authors and musicians appearing together (some of whom have never met), as well as our cookbook authors, kids programming and musical performances of every genre—we’ve got gospel and HipHop, pop and bluegrass, jazz and country, Americana and R&B. Bring the whole family, and come see what’s down South!
(Back to Top)
Annapolis Book Festival
The Key School
534 Hillsmere Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403, Annapolis, Maryland
Hosted by: The Key School
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Website: Annapolis Book Festival
Phone: 410-263-9231
Description:
The Annapolis Book Festival is one of the premier community events in the region. Every year more than 3,000 people attend this free community Festival that celebrates the beauty, power, passion, and excitement of the written word. The Annapolis Book Festival brings nationally renowned authors to The Key School in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss their books and the craft of writing. The Festival also features children's activities, live music, refreshments, and new and used book sales.
Learn more about Annapolis Book Festival on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Bay Area Book Festival
In Downtown Berkeley
Dates: Saturday, May 6, 2023 to Sunday, May 7, 2023
Website: Bay Area Book Festival
Email: info@baybookfest.org
Description:
The Bay Area Book Festival is the primary project of the Foundation for the Future of Literature and Literacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in California. FFLL’s Tax ID number is 47-3955286. Its business address is 1569 Solano Ave. #635, Berkeley, CA 94707.
FFLL is governed by a Board of Directors. Members include Cherilyn Parsons (Berkeley, CA), Peter Richardson (San Francisco, CA), Mal Warwick (Berkeley, CA), Brooke Warner (Berkeley, CA), and Igor Zagatsky (Berkeley, CA).
Learn more about Bay Area Book Festival on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Montclair Literary Festival
Various
Hosted by: Succeed2gether
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time:
Website: Montclair Literary Festival
Phone: 973-746-0553
Description:
Festival Day will be a full day of in-person events, from literary fiction and non-fiction discussion panels to talks and activities for children and teens.
Learn more about Montclair Literary Festival on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Go On Girl! Book Club Author Awards Weekend
The L.A. Grand Hotel - Downtown
333 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, Los Angeles, California
Hosted by: Go On Girl! Book Club
Dates: Saturday, May 20, 2023 to Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Website: Go On Girl! Book Club Author Awards Weekend
Email: events@goongirl.org
Description:
The first Author Awards were presented in 1992 as a small event held in Brooklyn, New York to recognize those authors and publishers that made significant contributions in the writing and publication of quality books for and about people of African descent. That year we honored Gloria Naylor for Bailey’s Café and New Authors of the Year Barbara Neely for Blanche on the Lam and Barbara Summers for Nouvelle Soul. We gave a publishing award to Beacon Press for their work in publishing authors of color. We were delighted when they all showed up to accept their awards. That was the beginning of a GOG tradition. The annual Author Awards event has traveled the United States from east to west as well as outside the U.S. to Jamaica, West Indies and Toronto, Canada.
Beginning in 1993, the one-night event became a three-day weekend where chapters meet and take care of business issues and celebrate the winning authors. It's also an opportunity for members to meet and reconnect with their literary sisters from all over the country.
Each year winning authors are selected from our reading list based upon votes from each Go On Girl! Book Club chapter for Author of the Year and New Author of the Year. They are then invited to receive their awards in person at the annual Awards Ceremony. GOG members and guests have had the honor of awarding in person to Pearl Cleage, Bebe Moore Campbell, Walter Mosely, Jill Nelson, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Diane McKinney Whetstone, Lawrence Hill, Daniel Black, Isabel Wilkerson to name a few.
This flagship event is one of the ways of expressing our deep authentic respect for Black literature and authors, reinvigorating our literary sisterhood, and providing a platform for new literary talent to emerge.
Learn more about Go On Girl! Book Club Author Awards Weekend on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Sydney Writers’ Festival
Carriageworks
Dates: Monday, May 22, 2023 to Sunday, May 28, 2023
Website: Sydney Writers’ Festival
Email: contact@zeitgeistmediagroup.com
Description:
Each year, Sydney Writers&rsquol Festival presents more than 400 events, attracting audiences of 100,000 plus for a week-long conversation of books and ideas.
Learn more about Sydney Writers’ Festival on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
The Bronx Book Festival
Fordham Plaza and Fordham University
Hosted by: The Bronx is Reading
Dates: Thursday, June 8, 2023 to Sunday, June 11, 2023
Website: The Bronx Book Festival
Email: events@thebronxisreading.com
Description:
The Bronx is Reading promotes literacy and fosters a love of reading among children, teens, and adults through its multidimensional initiatives including the annual Bronx Book Festival.
Learn more about The Bronx Book Festival on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Schomburg Center Literary Festival
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, New York
Hosted by: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: Schomburg Center Literary Festival
Phone: 2123481532
Email: Schomburglitfest@nypl.org
Description:
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of global black experiences. Our new Schomburg Center Literary Festival expands our long tradition of championing authors of African descent from across the globe and publications that celebrate Black history and culture. The day-long book festival will feature exhibitors, readings, panel discussions, workshops and more for all ages, from prose to poetry, comic books to young adult novels, fiction and non-fiction.
Learn more about Schomburg Center Literary Festival on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
National Book Club Conference
Marriott Buckhead Atlanta
3405 Lenox Road N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 303326
Hosted by: National Book Club Conference Foundation
Dates: Thursday, July 27, 2023 to Sunday, July 30, 2023
Website: National Book Club Conference
Description:
National Book Club Conference Foundation, Inc., is a literary organization founded by author Curtis Bunn that, since 2003, executes one of the premier annual literary events —referred to as “Literary Bliss” featuring African American authors and readers from around the country. Hundreds of book lovers receive unprecedented, intimate access to the talent that creates the work they enjoy and appreciate … and discover new authors with compelling books.
Learn more about National Book Club Conference on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Black Books Matter Day
MahoganyBooks - National Harbor
121 American Way, Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745
Hosted by: https://www.mahoganybooks.com/
Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Website: Black Books Matter Day
Email: customerservice@mahoganybooks.com
Description:
Though black books have always mattered, some have yet to discover the lost wisdom, rich history, and incredible creativity found them. Wee’re using #blackbooksmatterday22 & #blackbooksmatter to share the profound impact of black books.
Learn more about Black Books Matter Day on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Harlem Book Fair
163 West 125th Street (New Location)
Corner of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard
163 West 125th Street (New Location) Corner of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard, Harlem, New York
Hosted by: Max Rodriguez
Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: Harlem Book Fair
Email: hbf@qbr.com
Description:
The Harlem Book Fair is the United State’s largest African-American book fair and the nation’s flagship Black literary event. Held annually in Harlem, NY, the Harlem Book Fair features exhibition booths, panel discussions, book sales, and workshops.
The Phillis Wheatley Book Awards are presented in conjunction with this event.
Learn more about Harlem Book Fair on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University
Tulane University
6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
Hosted by: Roger Dunaway, Assistant Director of Public Relations
Date: Sunday, September 3, 2023
Time:
Website: The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University
Phone: 504-862-8240
Email: Bookfest@tulane.edu
Description:
The highly anticipated New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University returns to Tulane’s uptown campus, annually, with a three-day, in-person literary celebration featuring more than 100 national, regional and local authors, including some of the nation’s favorite bestsellers. The book festival also hosts its Family Day [Saturday, March 11] on the Berger Family Lawn. The festival is free and open to the public.
Learn more about The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Black Authors & Readers Rock
Harborside Hotel
6400 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, Oxon Hill, Maryland
Hosted by: Sharon Lucas and The Reading Divas Book Club
Dates: Friday, October 6, 2023 to Saturday, October 7, 2023
Website: Black Authors & Readers Rock
Email: sharon@sharonrlucas.com
Description:
BARR is a two day literary conference that offers readers the opportunity to meet and mingle with new, emerging and nationally recognized African American authors from all writing genres, and offers authors the opportunity to greet old friends, meet new readers and sell their works.
Though BARR’s focus is on authors of color, because they are traditionally underserved by the publishing industry, the conference is open to everyone.
BARR brings value to the community by providing attendees the opportunity to learn about the craft of writing, and other related topics, through workshops and panel discussions focused on triggering an exchange of knowledge and ideas. BARR was founded by Sharon Lucas
AALBC’s Founder and Webmaster, Troy Johnson, will be giving a workshop this year!
Learn more about Black Authors & Readers Rock on AALBC.com.(Back to Top)
Check out our coverage of past events.