Nine days of literary programming will take over New York City this month as the Brooklyn Book Festival’s 2026 Bookend events bring author talks, readings, workshops and community gatherings to all five boroughs from Sept. 20-28.
The Bookend program includes free and low-cost events at bookstores, libraries, cultural spaces and other neighborhood venues, with additional virtual programming.
In Brooklyn, highlights include a Sept. 20 back-to-school celebration in Bed-Stuy featuring author and illustrator James Yang, a Crown Heights reading night on Sept. 23, a conversation celebrating women-owned Black bookstores on Sept. 24 and a panel on the future of literary criticism on Sept. 25.
The 16th annual Brooklyn Indie Party will also take place Sept. 25 at Greenlight Bookstore.
The citywide programming gives Brooklyn readers opportunities to connect with writers and literary organizations close to home while showcasing the borough’s role as the centerpiece of one of New York’s largest literary celebrations.
The events also extend the festival beyond its flagship day, creating opportunities for readers, families and aspiring writers to participate throughout the week.
The lineup spans a wide range of subjects and formats, from children's programming and poetry to comics, nonfiction, political writing and conversations about identity, migration and belonging.
Events also feature established and emerging writers, including Art Spiegelman, Cynthia Nixon, Questlove, Chet’la Sebree, Denne Michele Norris and Hannah V. Sawyerr.
Bookend events lead into the festival’s main weekend, with Virtual Festival Day scheduled for Sept. 20 and Children’s Day returning to Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza on Sept. 26.
The flagship Festival Day and Literary Marketplace will follow Sept. 27 in Downtown Brooklyn, featuring hundreds of authors, more than 50 panels and about 200 publishers. Most Bookend events are free, though some have admission fees or require registration.
