The Experience:

Are you a book worm? Passionate about our future!

If so, don’t miss out on the Bay Area Book Festival that is coming to town and celebrating its 12th year Fri – Sun, May 29-31.  Engage yourself in a cultural celebration in a critical gathering space where activists, authors, and audiences can unite around today’s most urgent issues and uplift marginalized voices.

Participate in first-rate live conversations with top authors on compelling topics, authors’ readings, writing workshops, democracy dialogues and even a bookworm block party! There’s a free lively outdoor fair that directly connects you/your company with engaged book lovers eager to learn about new literary and consumer products and services.

Headliners. Over the course of three evenings and five separate headliner sessions, join them at the The Freight for mesmerizing and timely discussions about world building and movement building, how to foster diversity and equity in publishing, globalist pasts, presents, and futures, horror as cultural critique, and black feminist futurescaping! Arrive and build community in a packed house of 500 like-minded folks. Headliners tickets.

Festival Map

Festival Schedule

Abou:t

The Bay Area Book Festival unites readers, writers, and changemakers. Their mission is to uplift and honor the full spectrum of literary voices, with particular care for those who have been historically excluded or marginalized, while encouraging reading, creative expression, and critical thinking across all ages and backgrounds.

Location: Downtown Berkeley.

  • Main Outdoor Fair & Bookworm Block Party: Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park
  • Youth Activities & Readings: Berkeley Public Library (Main Branch, 2090 Kittredge St.)
  • Panels & Readings: The Freight & Salvage (2020 Addison St.)
  • Author Talks & Locus Awards: Hotel Shattuck Plaza (2086 Allston Way)
  • Performing Arts & Sessions: The Marsh Arts Center (2120 Allston Way)

Where:

Downtown Berkeley

Berekeley, CA

Home