Book Fairs, Festivals & Conferences

The Black Authors Festival @Sag Harbor is a nationally celebrated in-person event, recognized by USA Today as one of the Top Best New Festivals in the Nation.

In August 2025, the Town of East Hampton officially declared the month as Black Authors Festival Month, honoring the festival’s mission to celebrate Black literacy, combat the banning of books—particularly those written by or about Black voices—and advocate for stronger legislation to protect the freedom to read.

Nestled on the scenic East End of Long Island, in the historic village of Sag Harbor, the festival stands at the crossroads of heritage and progress. Sag Harbor holds a profound place in Black American history—long revered as a year-round haven for Black writers and a cherished summer retreat for generations of families.

Against this backdrop, the festival brings together renowned and emerging Black authors from across the nation to:

• Celebrate literary excellence.
• Amplify underrepresented voices.
• Strengthen the cultural importance of literacy within the Black community.
• Foster meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange.

The Black Authors Festival @Sag Harbor is more than an event—it is a movement to uplift stories, safeguard history, and inspire future generations.

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.

The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in New York City, presenting an array of national and international literary stars and emerging authors. One of America’s premier book festivals, this hip, smart diverse gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages to enjoy authors and the festival’s lively literary marketplace.

The Brooklyn Book Festival is really more than a week of events which culminates on “Festival Day.”

The Albany Book Festival, established in 2018, draws thousands of book lovers from across the Capital Region and beyond to an intellectually stimulating and dynamic daylong event on the University at Albany uptown campus that promotes literacy and fosters a love of reading among all ages.

This annual fall festival features bestselling authors, panel discussions, book-signing sessions, online workshops for aspiring writers, and areas dedicated to young-adult and children's books. Regional authors and poets join in open mic sessions. Dozens of authors, bookstores, publishers, and literary organizations will be featured online.

Started in 2004, The African American Literary Award show is the brainchild of Yvette Hayward. The show celebrates and uplifts Black literature.

The Mosaic Literary Conference fosters a collaborative space for individuals interested in literature, education, and the arts. MLC plays a crucial role in promoting creative thinking and knowledge sharing within the community. By inviting educators, community and arts organizations, as well as the general public, the conference facilitates a diverse and inclusive exchange of ideas.

In 2025, honoring Tony Medina and Rita Williams-Garcia for their contributions to Black Young Adult & Middle Grade Literature.

The Biennial Symposium is typically for one day only and that normally takes place on the last Saturday in March in the odd years (2019, 2021, 2023, etc.). The Biennial Symposium date(s) may be influenced by the Easter / Spring break.

2020 is the 60th Year

This book fair is officially sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. The consumer can rely upon the experience and professionalism of participating dealers and the authenticity of the items available for purchase. All books, manuscripts and related material have been carefully examined for completeness and bibliographic accuracy.

More than 50 Black writers, publishing executives, and literary activists will gather to discuss the triumphs and challenges facing Black writers today. Students, scholars, writers, readers, and literature enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.

The four-day Conference is every even year, i.e. 2022, 2024, and so on. Typically, the four-day gathering takes place during the last full weekend in March.