The Library of Congress has set an August 22 return for the National Book Festival, with more than 80 authors and speakers and an expanded slate linking literature with film, music, recorded sound and history. The July 7 lineup announcement placed the free, daylong event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The headliners cross several forms of storytelling. Cynthia Erivo is scheduled to discuss her memoir “Simply More,” while novelist Ann Patchett, the 2026 recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, will appear with “Whistler.” Kate McKinnon will present a middle-grade sequel, and U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze will discuss poetry and translation.
Director Martin Scorsese is slated to screen selected clips while talking about filmmaking and film preservation. Other announced participants include Tia Williams, Tayari Jones, Frank Miller, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Geoff Bennett, Jenny Lawson, Max Brooks and Karin Slaughter. The Library cautions that the lineup is subject to change.
This year's theme, “America 250: It's Your Story,” extends beyond author conversations. Programming is also expected to draw on the Library's holdings in American folklife, veterans' history, music and recorded sound. Family offerings include storytelling, science-and-story activities and workshops.
The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with doors opening at 8:30. Admission remains free, but for the first time attendees must reserve a free entry ticket. The ticket covers entry to the festival; individual programs do not require separate reservations.
People outside Washington can watch Main Stage events through the festival website. The Library also plans to publish video of all presentations afterward. With the event two weeks away as of August 8, attendees should use the official site for ticket availability and schedule changes rather than rely on the July lineup alone.