2025’s 10 Must-Visit Literary Festivals Across the U.S.

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National Book Festival — Washington, D.C.

Picture this: thousands of book lovers converging on the nation’s capital for what might be the most star-studded literary gathering in America. The 2025 National Book Festival will be held in the nation’s capital at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. This year marks the 25th anniversary celebration of this incredible event, making it extra special for anyone who’s been following the festival’s journey. The event is free and open to the public. You’ll find yourself rubbing shoulders with literary giants while kids giggle at storytelling sessions just a few feet away. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival. The best part? You don’t need to stress about missing your favorite author’s talk because they’ll have it available online later.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books — Los Angeles, California

It is the largest book festival in the United States, drawing approximately 150,000 attendees annually. Think of it as the literary equivalent of Coachella, but instead of music stages, you’ve got author panels scattered across USC’s campus. The festival began in 1996 and is held on the penultimate weekend of April, hosted by the University of Southern California. Book lovers will once again descend onto USC’s University Park Campus April 26-27 for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, now celebrating its 30th year. What makes this festival absolutely magical is the cooking stage – yes, you read that right. Attendees will hear from favorite authors, watch live cooking demonstrations, browse book stalls and be serenaded by the USC Trojan Marching Band. It’s like someone decided to throw the ultimate literary block party and invited everyone in Southern California.

Tucson Festival of Books — Tucson, Arizona

Here’s where things get really interesting – this festival pulls some seriously impressive numbers for a desert town. Despite challenges in recent years, including a virtual format amid the pandemic in 2021, the festival continues to thrive, drawing over 130,000 visitors in 2024, according to longtime volunteer Bill Finley. The 2025 festival, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., promises an array of engaging activities spread across the University of Arizona campus. Admission to the Tucson Festival of Books is free, making it accessible to all. What sets Tucson apart is their “Science City” – imagine a place where literature meets laboratory experiments. Science City: This interactive area is where science and literature converge, featuring hands-on activities and demonstrations. Fifteen years after its founding, the festival is now a community-wide celebration of literature and one of the largest book festivals in the United States. Offered free-of-charge, the festival exists to improve literacy rates among children and adults.

Texas Book Festival — Austin, Texas

Austin doesn’t just do music festivals – they’ve mastered the art of literary celebrations too. This Austin festival has been around since 1996, after being founded by First Lady of Texas Mary Bush. It has hosted a stream of big names over the years including Margaret Attwood, Salman Rushdie and Robert Caro, and no doubt this year’s line-up will be suitably star-studded. The November 8-9, 2025 dates couldn’t be more perfect – Austin’s weather is absolutely gorgeous in the fall, and you’ll get that perfect blend of literary discussions and live music that makes this city so special. Talks and book signings take place across numerous venues around the city, and in true Austin style you can expect plenty of great food, family activities and live music. It’s basically like South by Southwest, but for people who prefer plot twists to guitar solos.

Savannah Book Festival — Savannah, Georgia

There’s something almost mystical about discussing literature in one of America’s most beautiful historic cities. Dates: February 6-9 2025. Previous Guests & Headliners: John Grisham, Colson Whitehead, Jodi Picoult, Diana Gabaldon. Picture yourself wandering through Spanish moss-draped squares between author sessions, maybe grabbing some world-famous Savannah pralines while debating the merits of your latest read. Festival Saturday is free and open to everyone. Headliner events might have a small fee. The festival organizers have this brilliant approach where they make literature accessible to everyone while still featuring the biggest names in publishing. Any book signings require the book to be purchased at the festival. It’s a small detail, but it shows how they support both authors and local booksellers.

Printers Row Lit Fest — Chicago, Illinois

Chicago knows how to throw a party, and their literary festival proves it. Chicago’s annual book fair attracts over 100,000 visitors each year, offering two days of talks, workshops and shopping opportunities. Held on the historic Printers Row – once the bookmaking hub of Chicago – and the surrounding area, it always draws in big names September 7-8, 2025. Every year, Printers Row Lit Fest, one of the three largest and oldest literary festivals in the United States, promises to be a vibrant gathering of authors, readers, book sellers, publishers and lit… What makes this festival absolutely unique is its location – you’re literally standing where Chicago’s publishing industry was born. The outdoor carnival-style setup means you can browse publisher booths while street performers entertain nearby crowds. It’s like a literary street fair where everyone’s invited to join the conversation about books.

Bay Area Book Festival — Berkeley, California

One of America’s largest literary events is the Bay Area Book Festival, which takes place across two days in downtown Berkeley, California. The key focus is to celebrate a wide spectrum of voices, exploring themes of justice and diversity. Each year between 250 and 300 authors take part in venues across the area, plus a free Outdoor Fair takes over Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park, filled with stalls and activities for children. May 4-5, 2025 brings together the Bay Area’s incredible literary community in ways that few festivals can match. Berkeley’s progressive spirit shines through every panel discussion and workshop. Bay Area Book Festival. May 31-June 1, 2025; Berkeley. This is where you’ll find conversations that don’t just entertain – they challenge you to think differently about the world around you.

Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival — New Orleans, Louisiana

If you’ve ever wanted to experience literature with a side of jazz and jambalaya, this is your festival. The fourth weekend in March 2025 transforms New Orleans into a literary wonderland that would make Tennessee Williams himself proud. New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane. March 27-29, 2025; New Orleans. Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival. This isn’t just about reading – it’s about experiencing stories in the city that inspired countless tales of passion, mystery, and Southern gothic drama. The famous Stella & Stanley Shouting Contest alone is worth the trip, where festival-goers recreate that iconic “Streetcar Named Desire” scene while the French Quarter echoes with literary enthusiasm. Walking tours let you explore the very streets that influenced Williams’ greatest works, making literature come alive in ways that classroom discussions never could.

Litquake — San Francisco, California

San Francisco’s Litquake proves that literary festivals don’t have to be stuffy academic affairs. Mid-October 2025 brings two weeks of readings, workshops, film events, and the absolutely legendary Lit Crawl. Imagine a pub crawl, but instead of just drinking, you’re hopping between bookstores, cafes, and unconventional venues where authors perform their work. Reading tends to be a solitary activity – but literary festivals bring book lovers together. Some of the world’s most renowned events take place in the US, offering the chance to meet both local and international writers, take part in workshops, discover new reads and much more. Over 100 events featuring 600+ authors means you’ll never run out of something fascinating to attend, and most events are free. San Francisco’s creative energy permeates every corner of this festival, making it feel more like an artistic revolution than a traditional book fair.

Nantucket Book Festival — Nantucket, Massachusetts

Sometimes the most intimate literary experiences happen in the most unexpected places. June 12-15, 2025 transforms this charming island into a reader’s paradise where award-winning authors gather for what feels more like an exclusive literary salon than a massive festival. Whether you’re a reader, writer or publisher, there’s so much to enjoy and learn at literary festivals. The relaxed summer atmosphere creates perfect conditions for meaningful conversations between authors and readers – you might find yourself chatting with your favorite novelist over lobster rolls or discussing poetry while watching the sunset over Nantucket Sound. The island setting naturally limits crowd sizes, creating an atmosphere where every interaction feels personal and every reading feels like it was planned just for you. It’s the kind of festival where literary connections are made that last long after the ferry ride home.

What’s your next literary adventure going to be?

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