About
Marlon James, Joyce Carol Oates and Douglas Stuart headline eight free stages around Borough Hall at NYC's biggest free book festival.
Eight stages of readings and conversations surround Borough Hall, with Marlon James, Joyce Carol Oates, Namwali Serpell and Douglas Stuart among the names on the program. Between panels, the plaza turns into a huge outdoor marketplace of independent presses, literary magazines and booksellers. If you read at all, this is the one day a year you can see this many major writers for free, a short walk from the Atlantic Antic.
What to expect
Expect a plaza packed with publisher and bookseller tables, plus panels running simultaneously in venues like Brooklyn Law School, the Center for Brooklyn History and St. Ann & the Holy Trinity. Popular talks fill up, so most visitors pick a few sessions and browse the marketplace in between.
Good to know
- Borough Hall (2/3/4/5) and Court St (R) stations exit right at the festival.
- Stages are spread across several nearby buildings and parks, so check the schedule map before you go.
- Headliner panels fill quickly; get in line well before a session you care about.
- Bring a tote — the marketplace is the best part for browsing small presses.
- The Atlantic Antic street fair runs a few blocks south the same day.
Common questions
Is the Brooklyn Book Festival free?
Yes. Festival Day and the Literary Marketplace are free to attend.
Where are the stages?
Across Brooklyn Borough Hall, Brooklyn Law School, the Center for Brooklyn History, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Columbus Park and Korean War Veterans Plaza.
Is there a day for kids?
Yes, Children's Day runs at Borough Hall the day before Festival Day.