BookCon returns to NYC

BookCon opened Saturday at the Javits Center in Manhattan, bringing the reader convention back to New York for the first time since 2019. (bookcon.com) The two-day event runs April 18 and 19 and was organized by ReedPop, the company behind New York Comic Con and other fan conventions. ReedPop announced the relaunch in June 2025 and described it as a “reimagined” version of the old show. (rxglobal.com) This year’s program centers on author panels, autograph sessions, book signings, workshops and a show floor spread across multiple halls at Javits. The official site says the event also includes Indie Alley for independent authors, exhibitor booths and a mobile app with tickets, maps and schedules. (bookcon.com) The return comes after BookCon was canceled in 2020 during the COVID-19 disruption and then stayed dark for six years. ReedPop executive Kristina Rogers told Variety the company began the process of bringing it back about 18 months before the official announcement. (variety.com) The new version reflects how the book business changed while the event was away. Variety reported that organizers weighed the growth of romantasy, book-to-screen adaptations and TikTok’s BookTok community while rebuilding the convention. (variety.com) Demand was high well before opening day. Tickets sold out by Dec. 3, 2025, according to Mashable, and Variety reported that reservations for signings and exclusive events disappeared quickly after opening last month. (mashable.com) (variety.com) That reservation system is now a central part of how the weekend works. BookCon says select panels, autograph sessions, in-booth signings and giveaways require free advance reservations on a first-come, first-served basis, and each attendee needs a valid ticket for the day of the reservation. (bookcon.com) The guest list shows how broadly the event is pitching itself across genres and fandoms. Mashable highlighted appearances by Rachel Reid, Andy Weir, Casey McQuiston, Emily St. John Mandel, Veronica Roth, Leigh Bardugo and R.F. Kuang, while Publishers Weekly noted an earlier first wave that also included Jasmine Guillory, Tahereh Mafi, Rebecca Roanhorse and Sabaa Tahir. (mashable.com) (publishersweekly.com) The relaunch has not been friction-free. Variety reported that some authors and ticketholders joined a boycott after raising concerns about ReedPop parent company RELX and its subsidiary LexisNexis having a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. (variety.com) For now, the immediate test is simpler: whether a sold-out crowd will turn a once-paused convention into a durable annual stop again. On Saturday morning, BookCon’s website was already counting down to opening and directing attendees toward maps, entrances and the next panel. (bookcon.com)