Hayward Lit Hop 2026

The 2026 Hayward Lit Hop will take place Saturday, April 25th! The Lit Hop is a major annual literary festival in downtown Hayward the last Saturday in April.

This festival will begin with a kickoff in front of the downtown library that includes a performance from the East Bay Symphonic Band, readings from local adult and youth poet laureates, and remarks from city officials and librarians.

This year we'll have readings from poet laureate Leticia Guzman and the announcement of new youth and adult poet laureates for Hayward's 150th birthday!

Everyone will then hop through venues down the street to attend any three of up to 15 literary readings from local groups.More information at haywardlithop.com and the official schedule will be coming soon!

So far, we have these groups lined up to read:

California Writers’ Club Berkeley Chapter
Local chapter of the Mystery Writers Association
Local chapter of the Horror Writers Association
Women Who Submit Literature

Francisco Zermeno’s Spanish/English Chabot bilingual group
Big Red Chair (CSUEB)
Bay Area Queer Writers Association (BAQWA)
East Bay Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers (EBSFFW)

HARD Senior Scribes

San Leandro Writers Workshop
Fremont Area Writers

Journalists' reading from reporters at the Tri-City Voice
AfroSurreal Writers Workshop of Oakland
B Street Writers
The Word Barre

Venues on board include Books on B, the historic Odd Fellows Lounge, the Dirty Bird Lounge, Storybook Restaurant, the World Famous Turf Club, Kin Cafe, and the Sun Gallery.

Finally, everyone will congregate at the Sun Gallery for an afterparty with more music and food from local restaurants!

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Host or Publisher Hayward Lit Hop