Charlotte African American Book Festival

Back for it's 4th year, the Charlotte African American Book Festival celebrates African Americans contributions to literature, books, literacy, and the literary culture. It will be held Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the historic Second Ward Gymnasium/Brooklyn Village located at 710 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.

The African American Book Festival was built to give the cemented and newly emerging authors, bookstores, and publishers of our culture a platform to spread the messages that are embedded in the pages of their iconography. With one goal in mind, we want to educate, entertain, and impact the Charlotte community through African American literature, by shining light on the stories told in their books.

This event is a great opportunity for community members to meet and engage with their favorite black authors. There will be several featured authors.

Come out to support your authors, meet them face to face, get pictures, buy books at discounted prices, network with other professionals, and bring back reading books into normalcy and support authors in spreading their messages.

What can you expect?

This event will feature author and publisher exhibits, author discussions and book signings, entertainment, networking and door prizes. Books available will be suitable to all ages; from children, teenagers, young adults to adults. Authors will present fiction, poetry, nonfiction, memoirs, self-help, and spiritual offerings.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Come enjoy this free community Festival that celebrates the beauty, power, passion, and excitement of the written work.

Additional businesses related to literature and publishing (i.e. copywriter services, editing/proofreading services, bookmarks, etc.) may also register for the festival.

Upon registration, a Vendor's Packet will be sent, including a request for Author photos, book titles, and images for promotion. So please provide a useful email address.

Interested in performing, send an email to [email protected] for a Performer Application.

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