Thank you for attending our 5th Anniversary Bay Area Book Festival.

We hope you had a wonderful time!
See you next year May 2 and 3, 2020.

Tens of thousands of book lovers meet hundreds of acclaimed authors over an exciting weekend in downtown Berkeley, California. One of the premier literary events in the nation!

2020 Festival Information

Call for Proposals for the 2020 Bay Area Book Festival

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Artist: Michael Wertz, Oakland, California

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The Women Lit speaker series for 2020 featuring Valeria Luiselli

View the 2019 Festival videos

Program/
Schedule

Authors&
Speakers

Outdoor Fair

Children and
Family

Festival FAQ

Some Speakers from Previous Years

Esi Edugyan

Robert Reich

Anand Giridharadas

Moby

Tayari Jones

Joyce Carol Oates

Kiese Laymon

Charlie Jane Anders

Judy Blume

Greg Sarris

Roxanne Gay

Pico Iyer

Viet Thanh Nguyen

Cara Black

Michael Chabon

Daniel Clowes

Dave Eggers

Mona Eltahawy

Adam Hochschild

Jack Kornfield

Jonathan Lethem

Colm Tóibín

Carmen Maria Machado

Alice Waters

Christian Robinson

Robert Scheer

Gary Snyder

Rebecca Solnit

T.J. Stiles

Ngügi wa Thiong’o

Nominate speakers for the 2020 festival!

“It was perfect. Couldn’t have been better. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity.”

Robert Reich, Author

“My experience was unbelievable. Each of the panels I attended exceeded my expectations. This Festival was the high point of my year.”

Attendee

“My best festival experience ever.”

Pulitzer finalist Hernan Diaz

“I was incredibly inspired by how this Festival provides so many writers and artists with the opportunity to share their work with such a vibrant community in the Bay Area.”

Attendee

“I was truly impressed by the scope and diversity of the panels, participants, and overall programming.”

Maw Shein Win, Author

“The panelists were clearly selected with care, and in all cases I could have listened to them speak all day.”

Attendee

“All the writers I spoke to expressed their love and admiration for the Festival. I do mean all the writers – every single one.”

Marie Mockett, Author

“I’m pretty sure that everyone who attended will agree that they will be forever changed.”

Elizabeth Rosner, Author

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Donate

We keep the festival low cost so all can participate. Nearly 90% of our budget comes from donors and sponsors ─ and your donation is essential to making it all possible.
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Volunteer

Volunteers are a crucial part of the Festival’s success each year. No experience is necessary and you’ll enjoy learning what is required to produce a major literary event!
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