Join New York City’s largest free literary festival as it returns to Brooklyn for another unforgettable celebration of books, authors, and community. The flagship Festival Day & Literary Marketplace takes place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, spanning eight indoor and outdoor stages across Brooklyn Borough Hall, Brooklyn Law School, the Center for Brooklyn History, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Columbus Park, and Korean War Veterans Park, all in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn.
This year’s lineup features fan favorites and award-winning voices including Marlon James, Joyce Carol Oates, Douglas Stuart, Namwali Serpell, and Pulitzer Prize winners Colson Whitehead, Tracy K. Smith, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Cristina Rivera Garza, and Julia Angwin, alongside dozens of other acclaimed and emerging authors. The festival also includes Children’s Day on Saturday, September 26, featuring readings, workshops, and signings with beloved children’s and middle-grade authors, plus a Virtual Festival Day and Bookend events happening across all five boroughs from September 20–28.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader or simply love being around people who are, this is a day built entirely around the joy of books. It is free, open to all, and buzzing with the kind of energy only a city full of readers can create.
