Louisville Book Festival Returns for Seventh Year with Bestselling Author Roxane Gay

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (October 20, 2026) — Louisville's literary scene will take center stage this weekend as the seventh annual Louisville Book Festival returns to the Kentucky International Convention Center on Saturday, Oct. 24. The free, family-friendly event will feature more than 100 authors, illustrators and exhibitors from across the country, headlined by New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay.

Held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the daylong festival invites visitors and residents to celebrate literature through author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, writing workshops and interactive activities for all ages. This year's event will also be held alongside the Kentucky Women's Book Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary and bringing two of the region's literary celebrations together under one roof.

Roxane Gay, an acclaimed author, essayist and cultural critic best known for her books Bad Feminist and Hunger, will headline the festival with a presentation scheduled for 2 p.m. While festival admission is free, tickets are required to reserve a spot for her presentation due to anticipated demand.

The 2026 lineup will also feature a diverse collection of literary voices and notable guests, including Louisville author and festival founder Deedee Cummings, award-winning Kentucky author Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., University of Louisville professor and author Dr. Kaila Story, children's book author Janelle Harper and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Dan Issel.

New this year, Louisville's A Novel Romance Bookstore will curate a panel celebrating romance literature, while literary agents from across the country will participate in an Ask Me Anything session. Local independent bookstore Foxing Books will serve as the festival's official bookseller.

Festivalgoers can also enjoy a variety of free programming and family-friendly activities throughout the day, including:
- Author meet-and-greets and book signings
- Children's story time, activities and free books while supplies last
- Literary agent pitch sessions for aspiring authors
- Writing, publishing and literacy workshops
- Louisville Free Public Library programming
- WAGS therapy dogs and community resource exhibits
- A special appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog

Founded by Louisville author, therapist and attorney Deedee Cummings, the Louisville Book Festival has grown into an annual celebration of literacy and community engagement. Through the festival and year-round initiatives, including its It Pays to Read program, the nonprofit organization has helped distribute more than 20,000 books to children and schools.

“Books are a great way to practice community care and grow community engagement,” said Cummings. “We believe books offer hope and that literacy is a fundamental human right.”

Located in the heart of downtown Louisville, the Kentucky International Convention Center places festival attendees within walking distance of the city's Museum Row attractions, locally owned restaurants and entertainment along historic Main Street, offering visitors opportunities to explore Bourbon City before or after the event.

Louisville Book Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Kentucky International Convention Center, Downtown Louisville
Admission: Free; tickets required for select presentations, including Roxane Gay's 2 p.m. appearance.

For the complete author lineup, event schedule and ticketing information, visit louisvillebookfestival.com.

While planning a trip to Louisville, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism's annual Visitor Guide to discover the city's top attractions and bourbon distilleries. Visitors can also find additional attractions, lodging and dining information at gotolouisville.com.