Fans filled New York’s Javits Center for a two-day literary festival featuring some of the biggest names in the industry, including Andy Weir, Rachel Reid, Veronica Roth, R. F. Kuang, and more

APRIL 20, 2026 – BookCon made its highly anticipated, sold-out return to the Javits Center in New York City on April 18 and 19, drawing 25,000 fans for a two-day celebration of storytelling and pop culture. Produced by ReedPop, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events, the reimagined event brought together readers, authors, and publishers for an immersive experience built for readers, by readers, bringing the online book community into a real-world space through intimate author chats, book swaps, and dedicated crafting zones. Throughout the weekend, attendees engaged with a dynamic lineup of programming, from bestselling and emerging author appearances to interactive panels and show floor exclusives, spotlighting the stories and fandoms shaping today’s cultural landscape.

Screen adaptations took center stage as Heated Rivalry’s Rachel Reid, the author of the Game Changers series upon which the show was based, and Jacob Tierney, the series creator and showrunner, made their first joint con appearance to discuss the show’s incredible success, the making of season one, and what fans can expect in season two.  Seats filled for the “Page to Screen” panel featuring Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven), Robinne Lee (The Idea of You), May Cobb (The Hunting Wives), and Andy Weir (Project Hail Mary), where they discussed their books and the movie and tv adaptations that followed.   Attendees got an early look at what’s next from Veronica Roth, who unveiled the latest installment in the Divergent franchise, setting the tone for a high-energy weekend. Jenny Slate joined the lineup for a candid conversation with Jason Blitman on writing through humor and heartbreak, alongside signings for her latest book. Fans heard directly from some of the industry’s biggest names, including #1 New York Times-bestselling authors Tomi Adeyemi, who previewed her upcoming novel The Siren, and R.F. Kuang, who reflected on her works spanning Katabasis to The Poppy War.  Programming also spotlighted diverse voices, with sessions on Indigenous storytelling led by Rebecca Roanhorse and Moniquill Blackgoose, and a celebration of queer escapism featuring Casey McQuiston, Aiden Thomas, and Kate Bornstein.

Additionally, the weekend highlighted a dynamic mix of genre-defining authors, from romantasy favorites Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen series) and Scarlett St. Clair (Hades x Persephone Saga) to masters of horror Chuck Tingle and Tananarive Due and literary voices like Jodi Picoult (My Sister’s Keeper). On the show floor, more than 260 exhibitors, including leading publishers, retailers, and creators, brought the book world to life, alongside a bustling Indie Alley featuring 165 independent authors connecting directly with readers.

Beyond panels and signings, fans immersed themselves in hands-on experiences including bookbinding, edge painting, fantasy map-making, live puzzling, and themed mocktail-making classes. The celebration continued after hours with BookCon After Dark, featuring a Fantasy Ball, PJ Party, poetry slam, karaoke, and more, extending the excitement well beyond the show floor.

“Bringing BookCon back to New York City is incredibly meaningful,” said Jenny Martin, Event Director at ReedPop. “This event is rooted in storytelling and the community it creates, and there’s nothing like seeing fans connect over the stories they love. We’re proud to return with an epic two-day event designed to bring those stories to life in unforgettable ways.”

Book lovers can watch some of BookCon 2026’s biggest panels for free on the Popverse YouTube channel and can stay up to date on the latest BookCon news at BookCon.com and on Instagram and Facebook. BookCon will return to the Javits Center next year on April 10 & 11, 2027. Sign up for the BookCon newsletter to be alerted when 2027 tickets go on sale!

About ReedPop
ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world’s leading event organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events globally and a full-service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, MagicCon, BookCon, and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop owns and operates the pop culture news site, Popverse, which is the exclusive home for livestreams from all of ReedPop's major comic cons. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion. (www.reedpop.com).