DC Events · August 22, 2026
Free. Hundreds of authors. One full Saturday at the Convention Center. The 26th National Book Festival is August 22, 2026.
The 26th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival takes over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, August 22, 2026 — free entry, tickets required, hundreds of authors from 9am to 8pm.
Where to Stay Near the Book Festival
Convention Center hotels put you steps from the festival entrance. Shaw and Logan Circle properties are a 10-minute walk with easy Metro access.
Marriott Marquis DC
1,175 rooms directly connected to the Convention Center. Zero commute to the festival entrance.
Check RatesThe LINE DC
Converted 1930s church in Logan Circle. Best design hotel near the Convention Center, 10 minutes on foot.
Check RatesHampton Inn Convention Center
Steps from the Convention Center. Free hot breakfast, reliable quality.
Check RatesThe Riggs Washington DC
Converted 1891 bank building. Short walk from the festival.
Check RatesWhat the National Book Festival Actually Is
The Library of Congress National Book Festival is one of the largest free literary events in the country — hundreds of authors, storytellers, poets, and illustrators across multiple presentation stages, all inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Free tickets required — register at loc.gov. The 2026 festival is the 26th annual edition, celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
What to Expect Inside
The festival is organized by genre — fiction, nonfiction, history, poetry, children’s and young adult — with author presentations running simultaneously across multiple stages. Family programming is a genuine strength — the children’s and young adult stages run all day with live illustrators and authors who know how to hold a room of young readers.
Practical Information
- Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Hours: 9am–8pm (doors open 8:30am)
- Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW
- Admission: Free — tickets required at loc.gov
- Metro: Mount Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center (Yellow/Green Line) — directly adjacent. See our DC Metro guide
- Bookseller: Politics and Prose on site
Getting There
Metro is the move. Mount Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center station (Yellow/Green) drops you directly at the entrance. From Reagan National, take the Yellow Line — about 25 minutes. See our DC Metro guide and our DC rideshare guide for all options.
🅿️ Parking Near the Convention Center
Convention Center garages fill fast on event days and charge event pricing. Pre-book a guaranteed spot before you leave home.
Search Convention Center Parking on SpotHero →What’s Nearby
Logan Circle and 14th Street — 10-minute walk south, one of DC’s best restaurant corridors. Plan dinner after the festival. Read our DC neighborhoods guide for the full area picture.
National Book Festival 2026 Quick Reference
- Date Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Hours 9am–8pm (doors 8:30am)
- Location Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW
- Admission Free — tickets required at loc.gov
- Metro Mount Vernon Square/7th St (Yellow/Green Line) — directly adjacent
- Bookseller Politics and Prose — on site
- Family programming Children’s and YA stages run all day
- Anniversary 26th annual festival
Bottom Line
Free, all day, hundreds of authors, family programming that actually works, and one of DC’s best restaurant neighborhoods right outside the door. Register for your free tickets at loc.gov before sessions fill.
More DC events: Panda Fest DC · Snallygaster Beer Festival · DC JazzFest · Otakon 2026
Visiting DC for the Book Festival?
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