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Book Fairs & Literary Festivals
Book Fairs Near Me
Find local book fairs, author fairs, and literary festivals. Meet dozens of authors, discover new books, and connect with the reading community in your city.
Looking for your child's school book fair? Those are run by Scholastic — use their Fair Finder.
Upcoming U.S. Book Festivals
BookGather doesn't run these — they're the large public festivals, with dates checked against each festival's own website on 2026-10-16. Confirm details on the official site before you travel.
Louisiana Book Festival
Sat, Oct 31, 2026 (writing workshops Fri, Oct 30)
Downtown Baton Rouge (presented by the State Library of Louisiana) · Baton Rouge, LA
Free admission
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Baton Rouge, Oct 30–Nov 1Portland Book Festival
Nov 2–8, 2026 (main festival day Sat, Nov 7, South Park Blocks)
Downtown Portland — South Park Blocks and neighboring venues · Portland, OR
Admission: check the festival site
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Portland, Nov 6–Nov 8Twin Cities Book Festival
Sat, Nov 7, 2026, 10am–5pm
Union Depot, Saint Paul · Saint Paul, MN
Free admission
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Saint Paul, Nov 6–Nov 8Kentucky Book Festival
Sat, Nov 7, 2026
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington Green · Lexington, KY
Admission: check the festival site
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Lexington, Nov 6–Nov 8Texas Book Festival
Nov 14–15, 2026
Downtown Austin · Austin, TX
Free admission
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Austin, Nov 13–Nov 15Miami Book Fair
Nov 15–22, 2026 (Street Fair Nov 20–22)
Miami Dade College, 300 NE Second Ave. · Miami, FL
Admission: check the festival site
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Miami, Nov 20–Nov 22Savannah Book Festival
Feb 4–7, 2027 (Festival Saturday is free; headliner events are ticketed)
Savannah's Historic District · Savannah, GA
Admission: check the festival site
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Savannah, Feb 5–Feb 7New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane
Mar 11–14, 2027
Tulane University's uptown campus · New Orleans, LA
Free admission
Official site Staying over? Hotels in New Orleans, Mar 12–Mar 14Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Mar 17–21, 2027
New Orleans — venues listed on the festival site · New Orleans, LA
Admission: check the festival site
Official site Staying over? Hotels in New Orleans, Mar 19–Mar 21Gaithersburg Book Festival
Sat, May 15, 2027, 10am–6pm
Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave. · Gaithersburg, MD
Admission: check the festival site
Official site Staying over? Hotels in Gaithersburg, May 14–May 16
Author hoping to exhibit or be featured? Big festivals usually select authors months ahead — see how to get into book fairs, and list your own signings on BookGather in the meantime.
Browse Book Fairs by City
Find literary events in your area.
📚
Multiple Authors
Book fairs feature dozens or even hundreds of authors selling and signing books all in one venue.
🎉
A Full Experience
Panels, readings, giveaways, and the chance to discover authors you've never heard of before.
🛒
Buy & Get Signed
Browse books across many genres, buy what you love, and meet the author right at their table.
For early readers
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See We Can Books →Affiliate link — BookGather earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
Upcoming Author Events & Book Fairs
Listed by authors and organizers on BookGather
- Virtual Author Talk: Mark Groves Oct 27, 2026
- Friends and Family: Natalie Baszile in conversation with Tayari Jones Oct 27, 2026
- Author Talk: Peggy Levitt - Move Over, Mona Lisa Oct 27, 2026
- In Conversation with Marcus Samuelsson and Mike Jordan Oct 27, 2026
- Author Talk: Layli Long Soldier in Conversation With Heid E. Erdrich Oct 27, 2026
- Chinese Book Reading Group Oct 28, 2026
- Teen Book Talk Oct 28, 2026
- Author Talk: Nicholas Boggs — Baldwin: A Love Story Oct 28, 2026
- Author Talk: Jenny Lawson Oct 29, 2026
- A Capella Books Presents: Max Bond - The Life and Work of the People's Architect Author Talk Oct 29, 2026
- The Stories Behind the Stories: A Virtual Literary Gathering Oct 30, 2026
- Virtual Author Visit: Emily Henry Oct 30, 2026
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“My TBR pile is a load-bearing structure” and nine more. Adult $24, kids $21, printed to order.
Gifts for book lovers
Book nook kits, the reading ghost lamp, a reading pillow and more. Ships from US warehouses, free shipping over $49.
Organizing a Book Fair?
BookGather gives event organizers all the tools to manage author registration, collect table fees, and promote their book fair — all in one platform.
✓ Author registration forms
✓ Table & booth selections
✓ CSV export of all registrants
✓ Event promotion page
✓ Reader ticket sales
✓ Author roster management
Book Fair FAQ
What is a book fair?
A book fair is an event where multiple authors set up tables to sell and sign their books. They range from small community events with a handful of authors to large conventions with hundreds of participants. Readers can browse books across many genres, make purchases, and get personalized signatures.
What is the difference between a book fair and a book festival?
Book fairs tend to be more commercial — focused on buying and selling books directly from authors. Book festivals often include panels, readings, and speaker events, sometimes with publishers and industry professionals. Many events combine both aspects.
How do I find out about upcoming book fairs in my area?
BookGather is the best resource for finding book fairs organized by independent authors and small event organizers. You can also check with your local library, bookstore, and follow genre-specific Facebook groups where organizers announce events.
Can authors sell their own books at book fairs?
Yes! Book fairs are specifically designed for authors to sell directly to readers. Authors typically rent a table and bring their own books. BookGather helps organizers manage author registration and table assignments.
Are you an author looking for book fairs?
Create a free author profile to get listed, claim a table at events near you, and manage your signings in one place. Free to join — upgrade only if you want the marketing tools.
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