Have you saved the dates?
We’re in the middle of planning one of our most exciting Fests yet! We can’t wait to see you in person in our beloved Berkeley venues and park
When? Soon! The 2025 Festival will be held May 31 – June 1. (For you true book nuts: We plan to reveal the full schedule and headliner/workshop ticketing in March.)
Can I take part as an author? Submissions for on-stage programs will open in October of 2024
Where? Indoor author programs will fill multiple Downtown Berkeley venues. The Outdoor Fair, with at least four large adult program stages, a robust children’s area, and a couple hundred exhibitors and food vendors, will take over Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park.
Can I exhibit in the Outdoor Fair? 2025 Exhibitor Registration will open in January, 2025! Sign up here to receive future updates.
Can I sponsor the event? Yes, we’d love to have you, and we offer tons of unique opportunities to connect with our engaged audience. We’ll customize a package to fulfill your specific goals, so reach out now to start a conversation.
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2025 Programming
Call for submissions will open in October!
Book sales are a key part of the Festival experience. Festival speakers should have a book published between June 2024 and June 5, 2025. Books must be readily available for our independent bookseller partners to order via their customary distribution channels, or directly via the publisher.
Exhibit at the Outdoor Fair
Applications open in December!
The Festival’s Outdoor Fair is a lively, immersive experience where readers meet writers and diverse communities gather to celebrate a love of books and reading. More than 150 literary exhibitors, free stages present acclaimed authors, and performances and fun activities for all ages abound.
Partner with us!
There are many opportunities for sponsorship of the Bay Area Book Festival. Let us work with you to deliver and maximize your investment in this unique event. Opportunities range from branding or creation of sessions, marketing through our mailing list, special outdoor activations, presence at our Author Party, and more. Please visit our sponsor page, email [email protected], or add a request for information to your speaker or program proposal.
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! Sign up to receive our newsletter and be the first to know when we are ready for signups!