The National Book Festival has announced a star-studded lineup. This year’s event will feature Cynthia Erivo, Martin Scorcese, Ann Patchett, and more.
The Library of Congress’ annual festival is Saturday, August 22, at DC’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It will feature conversations with more than 80 authors across several genres.
As part of the library’s ongoing America 250: It’s Your Story initiative, the festival will also feature special programming on music, film, history, and folklife.
The National Book Festival is free to attend. However, free tickets are required for entry this year for the first time. Tickets are for entry only and are not required for individual programs within the festival.
Author Lineup
Some of the authors and speakers slated to appear at the 2026 National Book Festival include:
- Cynthia Erivo will share her new memoir, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much.
- Martin Scorcese will hold a discussion about filmmaking and “the importance of preserving the nation’s film heritage.”
- Kate McKinnon will discuss her middle-grade book Secrets of the Purple Pearl.
- Ann Patchett, winner of the 2026 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, will talk about her recent book, Whistler.
- Comic book creator Frank Miller will discuss his new memoir, Push the Wall.
- PBS NewsHour co-host Geoff Bennett will discuss Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to ’90s Sitcoms.
See the full list of 80 scheduled authors on the Library of Congress’ website.
Feature image of National Book Festival courtesy Library of Congress
