The fifth annual New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University has announced its full schedule for 2026, featuring over 250 authors, artists, storytellers, and moderators during a four-day event from March 12 to 15. The festival will take place on Tulane’s uptown campus and includes more than 100 sessions along with an expanded Family Day, covering topics such as literature, history, music, food, and politics. All events are free and open to the public, with first-come seating and encouraged registration.
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Highlighted speakers include Stacey Abrams, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, David Brooks, Ken Burns, Oren Cass, Kenny Chesney, Roxane Gay, Walter Isaacson, Ibram X. Kendi, Emeril and E.J. Lagasse, Erik Larson, Michael Lewis, Jon Meacham, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Imani Perry, Salman Rushdie, Dax Shepard, and Clint Smith.
The festival will kick off with an opening night program on Thursday, March 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium, moderated by The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. This panel will feature filmmaker Ken Burns, historian Annette Gordon-Reed, biographer and festival co-chair Walter Isaacson, and writer Clint Smith, discussing America at 250, a focal theme for the festival.
Approximately a dozen sessions will concentrate on the “America 250” theme, examining evolving ideals of leadership, civil rights, public memory, and cultural identity.
Food enthusiasts can attend “New New Orleans Cuisine, Then & Now,” featuring chef Emeril Lagasse and his son E.J. Lagasse, discussing the evolution of Louisiana cuisine. Additional food-related sessions will feature chefs, writers, and industry experts exploring culinary storytelling and its impact on community identity.
Throughout the festival, bestselling authors will participate in discussions covering investigative journalism, presidential history, music, sports, and contemporary fiction, with book signings following panel discussions. Official festival booksellers will be present on-site for book purchases.
Family Day, moving to Sunday this year, will feature two stages of programming with sessions geared toward middle-grade readers, including author readings and interactive storytelling.
Festival Co-Chair Cheryl Landrieu stated, "As we celebrate our fifth year, the festival continues to grow in both scope and ambition. We’re proud to bring together voices from across disciplines to spark meaningful conversations in the heart of New Orleans."
The festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of ideas and community. For more information, visit bookfest.tulane.edu or follow the festival on social media.