We are excited to share a sneak peek of the 2026 Bay Area Book Festival.
Inspired by the visionary legacies of Octavia Butler and James Baldwin, this year’s theme challenges us to move beyond reacting to crisis and toward imagining what liberation, justice, and collective courage actually look like.
Over three days in downtown Berkeley, we’ll come together for:
⭑ 300+ authors ⭑ 120+ programs ⭑ 21 stages ⭑ 15 free writing workshops ♡ 25,000+ readers & neighbors + a Friday night launch headliner!
From Democracy Dialogues on today’s most pressing issues, to expanded poetry stages, two full days of YouthLit, and the return of the Bookworm Block Party at MLK Jr. Civic Center Park, this year is about showing up for one another and building something new together.
Want to join us? Join our volunteer super squad, become a friend of the festival, or apply to be an exhibitor with us.
The full schedule + tickets drop March 28.
We’re so excited and grateful to be writing this story with you all.
Lots more to come.
We’ll see you in downtown Berkeley.
Downtown Berkeley Association
2230 Shattuck Ave Ste C
Berkeley, California 94704
U.S.
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2230 Shattuck Ave Ste C
Berkeley,
California
94704