Las Vegas Book Festival Announces 100 Authors

Plan To Attend Free Festival Oct. 17, 10 A.M.-5 P.M. At Historic Fifth Street School

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 14, 2026) - The 2026 Las Vegas Book Festival will feature 100 authors in interviews, panels and talks. Open to all ages, the Las Vegas Book Festival, now in its 25th year, returns to Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. downtown at the Historic Fifth Street School, located at 401 S. Fourth St.

A full schedule of book festival activities that includes panel discussions, talks and interviews is listed below. See the schedule to plan your day at the book festival. Additional scheduled children's activities and children's/young adult author panels will be detailed as we get closer to the festival. Expect 50 exhibitors (see list).

The annual Spark! Youth Poetry Competition for Clark County students in grades 9-12 is taking applications now. The competition will take place at the Poetry Pavilion at the festival, with cash prizes awarded to the top three competitors. Learn more and register to participate here. The deadline to register is Oct. 12, 2026.

Presented by the city of Las Vegas with support from Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Clark County Parks & Recreation, the event also is sponsored by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Audacy Radio, KTNV CHANNEL 13 and other donors. For updates and information, visit lasvegasbookfestival.com.

Auditorium Schedule

• 10-10:30 a.m. Clark County Poet Laureate Announcement Join us as we unveil Clark County's new poet laureate and celebrate the power of poetry in Southern Nevada. Meet the newly appointed poet laureate and hear a special reading of his/her work.
• 11 a.m.-Noon Tony Weaver, Jr.
  Award-winning writer and creator Tony Weaver, Jr. will grace the auditorium with this inspiring and joyful conversation about storytelling, self-love, confidence and the power of seeing yourself reflected in the worlds you love. Author of the acclaimed middle-grade graphic novel "Weirdo," Tony brings his signature nerdy joy and positive energy to a discussion about embracing what makes you different, challenging harmful narratives and helping young people find their place. Come for the stories, stay for the laughter, and leave with the confidence to be unapologetically you.

• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Harry Reid Then and Now with Jon Ralston & Steve Sebelius
  Journalists Jon Ralston and Steve Sebelius sit in conversation about the life, legacy and enduring influence of former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. Drawing on Ralston's new book, "The Game Changer," they'll explore Reid's remarkable political career, his impact on Nevada and national politics, and how his legacy continues to shape the state and the country today.

• 2:15-3:15 p.m. Legends, Myths and Aliens Too!
  Get ready for an out-of-this-world panel that explores the supernatural secrets, sweeping fantasy worlds and comedic science fiction from the best-selling authors of our favorite books. From ancient lore to alien encounters, this headliner panel promises a spirited look at worlds both familiar and fantastical that keep readers turning the page. Featuring Yasmin Angoe, Ayana Gray, Clarence A. Haynes, Meghan Le Fay, Kimberly Lemming, and Vanessa L. Torres, with moderator Las Vegas Review-Journal Reporter and author Patrick Blennerhassett.

• 4-5 p.m. Natalie Baszile
  Join acclaimed author Natalie Baszile for an intimate reading and thought-provoking discussion with Obodo Collective's Erica Vital-Lazare. This event will be followed by a book signing in the Mayor's Gallery. Baszile is the author of "Queen Sugar," the celebrated novel adapted into seven seasons of television by writer/director Ava DuVernay and co-produced by Oprah Winfrey. Her acclaimed nonfiction work, "We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land & Legacy," explores the enduring connections between Black communities, land, agriculture and family history through essays, poetry, conversations, portraits and first-person narratives. In her newest novel, "Friends and Family" (2026), Baszile turns her keen storytelling and social insight toward the complexities of friendship, loyalty, race, identity and allyship.

Downtown Tent

• 10:30-11:30 a.m. Outlaw Literature of Las Vegas
  Las Vegas historian and mob expert Geoff Schumacher leads a team of writers in a freewheeling exploration of the literature devoted to the city's underbelly. Panelists include Tod Goldberg, Oksana Marafioti, Maria Konnikova and Paul W. Papa.
• 12-1 p.m. Writing Life: Working & Living As A Writer Today
  Las Vegas-based authors Nicholas Russell, Krista Diamond, Erin Singer and Maile Chapman sit in conversation about their newly published books and what it's like to be working writers published by well-known imprints, providing insights into their work, the process and details of getting an agent, editing a manuscript and positioning oneself as a writer from a specific place.
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. How The West Is Told
  The American West is not only a landscape of stories, but of many kinds of stories. Writers who examine the West through very different lenses - crime fiction, horror, literary fiction, picaresque - explore the region's vast capacity for meaning. Moderated by Jarret Keene, 2025 inductee into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame, the panelists include Kathleen Boland, Jim Ruland, Melissa Broder and Nicolas Russell.
• 3-4 p.m. Mastering Poker and Life: Lessons in Human Behavior
  Poker Champion Maria Konnikova, award-winning author of "The Biggest Bluff" and "The Confidence Game," talks about poker, Las Vegas and her career with "Gangsterland" author Tod Goldberg.

Empowered Tent

• 10:15-11:15 a.m. Sustaining The Creative Life
  Stacey D'Erasmo and Sharon Louden draw on their work with artists of varied practices who have sustained creative lives across decades, exploring what it means to remain engaged and relevant as their circumstances, bodies, careers and cultural expectations change. With Kim Foster, D'Erasmo and Louden consider how experience and longevity can transform what it means to make meaningful work last and make lasting work meaningful.
• 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. A Gathering of Western States Poets Laureate
  Hear the poetry from distinguished western state poets laureate Crisosto Apache, Lisa Bickmore, Shaun T. Griffin and Lee Herrick. Poets laureate are officially appointed by each state to represent a community or region, to reflect, connect and find inspiration in the places we call home.
• 1:15-2:15 p.m. Literary Identity & The Hispanic Community (Identidad Literaria y la Communidad Hispana)
  Four authors, four voices. One conversation en español about the power of literature to preserve our identity, share our stories, and build community. From memory and migration to creativity and resilience, this panel celebrates the richness of Hispanic literature and its role in building a future rooted in heritage and hope. Panelists include Mapy Durán, Ere Gonzalez, Rosa Iñigo and Augusto Lemus Martínez.
• 2:45-3:45 p.m. Hard Launch: Relationships, Sexuality and Mental Health in the 2020s
  This panel will explore the ways in which contemporary authors navigate the complexities of relationships, sexuality and mental health in the social media era. Non-fiction authors Janet W. Hardy, Kelsey Darragh and graphic novelist Erika Moen will talk about their own journeys with writing and how they have each illuminated this vital intersection of human experience in their works.

Inspired Tent

• 10-11 a.m. Red Tower Romantasy
  Best-selling romantasy authors from Red Tower Books will take you on a journey through their stories and inspirations! With moderator Alexis Parsha, the panel includes Mai Corland, Melissa de la Cruz, Nisha J. Tuli and Rachel Howzell Hall.
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Secrets, Lies and Solving Crimes
  Uncover the secrets of how these best-selling mystery and thriller authors figure things out! The panel includes Crystal Perkins, Yasmin Angoe, Rachel Hawkins, Rachel Howzell Hall and Rasheed Newson.
• 1-2 p.m. Just My Trope
  Best-selling authors from various subgenres of romance will have you falling in love with their books! Moderator Charlie Luster leads a panel that includes Liana De la Rosa, Regina Black, Lily Chu, Mia Heintzelman and Erin Sterling.
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. Small Towns, Cowboys and Big Love
  You didn't have to grow up in a small town or on a ranch to fall in love with the stories from these best-selling authors! Moderator Chelsey Nation hosts the panel of Katrina Emmel, Sara Ney, Farrah Rochon and Liara Tamani.
• 4 p.m. Comics Unleashed: When Stories Jump to New Mediums
  A powerhouse panel of storytellers discuss how their comics and creative worlds evolve into films, television, novels, radio and more. Moderated by Tim Chizmar, this session explores the craft and challenges of adapting stories across multiple media. Panelists include Steve Darnall, Deborah Daughetee, Stephen Stern and Mark Savage.

Poetry Pavilion

• 10:15-11:15 a.m. From Idea to Book: A Craft and Publishing Session with Cosmic Q
  The featured authors of Cosmic Q will share their experience in publishing their most recent collection of poetry. From generating the idea to navigating the publishing process, this panel will explore the complexities of contemporary poetry publishing. Panelists include Jesus Solis-Leon, Yesenia Moya Garay, Half-Centric, Brooke Arita-Zamora and Margaret the Dreamer.
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lyric and Flow: An Exploration of Oral Traditions in Poetry
  From folklore to spoken word to hip hop, oral traditions of lyrical expression and storytelling predate the written word and permeate the experience of nearly every culture. Join UNLV professor and moderator Dr. Tyler Parry as he guides us through this history and the ways in which this tradition is renewed in modern poetic genres. Panelists include PROPAGANDA, Ashley August and Javon Johnson.
• 1-3 p.m. Spark! Youth Poetry Competition
  Clark County high school students present their original poems at the Las Vegas Book Festival, judged by a panel that consists of poets, authors, educators and other community members. Coordinated by Elle Hope, the judges include Nise Daniel, Johnny Swoopz and Elizabeth Allen Berry.
• 3:45-4:45 p.m. Homelands: Discourses on Parenthood, Indigeneity and Belonging
  This panel will explore the question of what it means to write about home and the people in our lives who manifest and create belonging. Featuring authors from diverse backgrounds and perspectives - Fatima Suarez, Ph.D., Gwendolyn Paradice, Willy Palomo and Praise Osawaru - join us to discuss the intersections of parenthood, indigeneity and the importance of place in how we experience these identities.

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About the Las Vegas Book Festival

The Las Vegas Book Festival is the largest literary event in Nevada, presented by the city of Las Vegas with support from Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Clark County Parks & Recreation, along with many sponsors and donors. This 25th annual celebration of the written, spoken and illustrated word is free and open to all ages. Through the years, the festival has presented countless well-known authors, panel discussions, readings, workshops and book signings. Topics of interest include politics, social issues, history, popular fiction, cooking and science fiction. There is something for everyone. For information, please visit lasvegasbookfestival.com . Keep up with festival news on Facebook and X (#VegasBookFest). RSVP here to receive event updates. The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino downtown is offering a special room rate for Oct. 15-17 through Sept. 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. Click here to book a hotel room. Download the parking map .

Editor's Note: Photos and short bios of speakers and their book jackets are available at lasvegasbookfestival.com. Video b-roll may be downloaded here. Photos of previous book festivals are available for download at https://cityoflasvegas.smugmug.com/Event/LVBF.