Tens of thousands of book lovers meet hundreds of acclaimed authors over an exciting weekend in downtown Berkeley, California. The Bay Area Book Festival is one of the premier literary events in the nation!

The Festival celebrates two days of interviews, panels, keynotes, performances, participatory activities, exhibits, and a lively Outdoor Fair. It will showcase 250 acclaimed authors from the Bay Area, the nation, and the world in 100 programs that take on some of the most pressing issues of our time. The festival also features a vibrant Outdoor Fair with four stages, 200 literary exhibitors, and robust children’s and family area.

The program will satisfy fans across many interests, including literary fiction, non- fiction, speculative fiction, mysteries, memoir, poetry, food writing, children’s books, and more, with special emphases on women, Native writers, youth literature, and issues including race, incarceration, immigration, and the environment—all within an overall theme of the power of literature to create a better world. Literary sessions take place in a dozen venues throughout the downtown area and on outdoor stages.

Since it burst onto the scene in 2015, the Festival has been widely recognized for the quality of its authors, its international scope, and its commitment to social justice. “This year more than ever, the festival presents a diverse array of authors, many of whom 1
are exploring some of today’s most urgent, complex issues,” says Festival founder and executive director Cherilyn Parsons. “The festival is smart fun, the kind of pleasure that comes from intellectual adventure, collective laughter, and the joy of sharing in ideas and imagination. Magic happens when people come together around books.”

The Bay Area Book Festival will take place in downtown Berkeley.
Saturday, May 4th from 10 AM to 9:30 PM
Sunday, May 5th from 10 AM to 6:30 PM

You can find the list of authors and speakers here.

Ticket information
The outdoor book fair is free. Just show up and enjoy the weekend.
You can purchase tickets for indoor literary programs at $15 for a weekend pass.
It is also possible to purchase priority seating at specific events.
Student discounts are available and anyone under 18 gets in free.
Ticket information can be found here.

The festival schedule can be found here.
And, festival information and maps can be found at the bottom of this page.