The second annual KPBS San Diego Book Festival will take place Aug. 22 at the University of San Diego with larger gathering spaces and new programming designed to transform the event into an even bigger celebration of books and reading.
After drawing about 12,000 registrants and 8,000 attendees during its inaugural festival last summer, organizers are building on that momentum with 60 featured authors, more than 10 local booksellers and expanded activities for readers of all ages, according to Jenelle Dean, community engagement manager at KPBS.
“We evaluated pretty much every aspect of the program, heard from many attendees and community members, evaluated the feedback and decided that we have to do this again,” Dean said.
Christina Hobbs, bottom, and Lauren Billings, top, who together write under the pen name Christina Lauren, are headliners at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival on Aug. 22. (Chandra Wicke)
Although the KPBS San Diego Book Festival is in its second year, it builds on a longer local tradition. KPBS and The San Diego Union-Tribune launched the San Diego Festival of Books in 2017. After pausing during the pandemic, the festival returned before concluding in 2023, prompting KPBS to reimagine it as a communitywide celebration.
This year’s festival also marks the 20th anniversary of KPBS’s One Book, One San Diego program, which Dean manages. Created in partnership with the San Diego city and county library systems, the all-ages literacy program features selected books for children and adults, book discussions, author talks and more. The 2026 book selections will be announced at the festival.
Many of the changes at this year’s festival were made in direct response to attendee feedback. Organizers plan on expanding the festival footprint to accommodate larger crowds, adding more indoor venues for author sessions, increasing food and water options and creating additional gathering spaces where visitors can relax between events.
“It’s a festival after all,” Dean said. “We want people to enjoy the authors and the books, but also the food and camaraderie and just being together.”
This year’s headliners are Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, who together write under the pen name Christina Lauren; literacy advocate Oliver James, who learned to read in his 30s; children’s author Max Brallier; local chef and author Claudette Zepeda; and “Fabulous Bodies” author Chuck Tingle. Each headliner will participate in a 45-minute moderated conversation followed by a book signing.
The festival’s featured writers include T. Jefferson Parker, Michael Hiltzik, Kazim Ali, Sean Mortimer, Daniel M. Lavery, Steve Hawk, Holly Michelle, Kim Fu, Brad Ryan, Amy Chozick, Megan Jaureghi Eccles, Neftalie Williams, Chris Duffy, Jordan Harper, Leon Carroll Jr., Minh Lê, April Dávila, Susan Lee, Joe Pan, Elizabeth DeLozier, Dr. Cassidy Freitas, Leslie Priscilla, Reyna Grande, Richard Louv, Sally J. Pla, Merryl Goldberg, Andy Harkness, Julia Abe, Salina Yoona, Shugri Salh, Rasheed Newson, Deborah Underwood, Vanessa Hua, Greg Karber, Alexadra Bracken, Sumayyah “Maya” Beck, Carlyn Greenwald, Jim Miller and Kelly Mayhew, Addie Thorley and Mária Dolores Águila.
Max Brallier, author of the children’s books series “The Last Kids on Earth,” among other titles, will be a headliner at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival on Aug. 22. (Ruby Brallier)
More than 90 local authors will also be exhibiting and selling their books at the festival’s The Writer’s Block area.
An addition this year is expanded youth programming. Last year’s festival primarily focused on children ages 8 and younger, but this year’s Kids Zone will also feature activities and authors for middle school and early high school readers, prompting a larger graphic novel and comic section throughout the festival.
“There’s a focus on graphic novels and comics as well, because we know that’s a huge area of interest here in San Diego since we host Comic-Con,” Dean said.
The NewBridge School Main Stage will feature author conversations alongside live music, poetry and programming recognizing America’s 250th anniversary. The Blue Shield of California Promise Youth Reading Stage will host readings and interactive activities throughout the day.
Local independent bookstores remain key partners in the festival, helping recommend moderators, and identify the writers San Diego readers most want to hear from.
Dean said KPBS also prioritized expanding sponsorships this year to support the festival’s continued growth. Looking ahead, Dean hopes future sponsorships will allow the festival to bring in nationally recognized authors from outside California by helping cover travel costs, expanding the festival’s reach while continuing to celebrate reading in San Diego.
KPBS San Diego Book Festival
When: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22
Where: University of San Diego: 5998 Alcala Park Way San Diego
Admission: Free
Online: kpbs.org/sdbookfestival