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Cynthia Erivo, Emily Wilson, Martin Scorsese: Inside the 2026 National Book Festival

nbcwashington.com · 9h · first reportShare

Readers, it’s the best time of year to be in the District: The 2026 National Book Festival is this Saturday. The free event brings nationally and internationally recognized authors to D.C., with a side of celebrating all things bookish. This year, traffic and road closures from the Freedom250 Grand Prix will almost certainly impact Book Fest visitors — but with special guests such as Cynthia Erivo, Kate McKinnon, Reid Wiseman, Emily Wilson, David M. Rubenstein and Martin Scorsese, there are plenty of rewards for those who brave the congestion. Here’s what to know. When and where is the 2026 National Book Festival? The Library of Congress event is happening Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The festival is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entry. While organizers advise registering in advance, same-day tickets will be available online here . You can leave and re-enter with the same ticket. Admission to individ