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Limited Time Holiday Offer

Help us stay strong (and primarily free for everyone) and join our giving circle! Holiday special: Donate at least $50 by December 15 and automatically be entered in our raffle to win a signed copy of Michelle Zauner’s best-selling modern classic, Crying in H Mart. It makes a great gift for a loved one–or for yourself!

If you contribute $200 or more you will automatically become a Friend of the Festival! This is our giving circle that comes with special perks, like shorter lines, headliner tickets and Authors’ Party invites. Learn more HERE.

DONATE HERE

Be part of the 2024 Festival

The Bay Area Book Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary, welcomes your proposals to participate in the festival’s on-stage programming. Our next festival will take place in two parts: Family Day at the Berkeley Public Library on Saturday May 4, 2024 (geared towards youngsters through teens/YA) and our full festival June 1 & 2, 2024 in Downtown Berkeley. More information

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Some of our 2023 speakers

Full lineup of 2023 Festival speakers can be found here.

Joan Baez

V (f.ka. Eve Ensler)

Nicole Chung

Melissa de la Cruz

Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

Tricia Hersey

Cory Doctorow

“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

2023 Festival Sponsors

In partnership with

Click here to see all of our 2023 sponsors