WASHINGTON, DC.- The Library of Congress will host the 2025 National Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Washington Convention Center, festival organizers announced today.

This will mark the 25th anniversary of the Library of Congress National Book Festival, which was co-founded in 2001 with first lady Laura Bush. In 2025, the festival will expand its footprint in the Washington Convention Center to host book lovers from across the region and nationwide.

“We are thrilled to announce plans are set to celebrate the National Book Festival’s 25th anniversary in September 2025,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “This festival has grown to become one of the most beloved literary events in the nation and one of the most popular festivals in our nation’s capital.”

The festival is free for everyone and provides a full day of conversations with dozens of authors, poets and illustrators from a variety of genres about their latest books and book signings with each writer. The festival offers readings, giveaways, and activities for children and young adults, as well as the opportunity to purchase books from the festival’s official bookseller. For festival updates, subscribe to the Library’s Bookmarked blog.

At the 2024 festival, tens of thousands of people joined the festival, setting an all-time ridership record for travel to the convention center on the Metro transit system Aug. 24. Videos of select stages are available online, and NPR produced a series of podcast interviews from festival presentations, extending the festival’s reach.

The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chair David M. Rubenstein.