BookCon returns to NYC
BookCon is back in New York City for the first time in six years, running April 18–19 with panels, signings and public events featuring authors such as Rachel Reid, Andy Weir, Casey McQuiston and R.F. Kuang ( ). The convention’s organizer ReedPop is reviving the two‑day format after retiring the event in 2020, positioning it as a big public showcase during a busy spring festival season (variety.com).
BookCon reopened in New York on Saturday, bringing the fan convention back to the Javits Center for the first time since 2019. (bookcon.com) The revived event runs April 18 and 19 across Javits North and Halls 1A and 1B, with panels, signings, workshops and a show floor built for public ticket holders rather than industry-only trade guests. (bookcon.com) ReedPop, the organizer behind New York Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration, retired BookCon in 2020 and announced its return in June 2025 as a two-day event in Manhattan. ReedPop vice president Kristina Rogers told Variety, “We never let it go.” (rxglobal.com, variety.com) This year’s lineup includes Rachel Reid, Andy Weir, Casey McQuiston and R.F. Kuang, alongside other bestselling authors pulled from romance, fantasy, young adult and science fiction. Mashable and Publishers Weekly both described the guest list as a broad mix of commercial fiction and online fandom favorites. (mashable.com, publishersweekly.com) The return lands at a moment when publishers are chasing readers where they already gather: on BookTok, BookTube, Bookstagram and live fan events. Mashable called BookTok “one of the loudest and most influential spaces on the internet,” while BookCon’s own site pitches the show directly to those creator communities. (mashable.com, bookcon.com) BookCon started in 2014 as the consumer-facing counterpart to BookExpo America, the long-running publishing trade show. When BookExpo and BookCon were canceled in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the public convention disappeared with them. (theliteraryreporter.com, variety.com) The 2026 version leans harder into festival-style programming than the old trade-show orbit did. The official schedule includes advance reservations for some panels and autograph sessions, plus after-hours events on Saturday night such as a fantasy-themed ball, murder mystery parties and book clubs. (bookcon.com, bookcon.com) Demand appears strong on opening weekend: the official ticketing page listed Saturday, Sunday, weekend and VIP passes as sold out. CBS New York reported that thousands of fans were expected at the convention. (bookcon.com, cbsnews.com) For ReedPop and publishers, the test is whether a book convention can again fill a New York hall with readers, creators and authors over two spring days. For attendees walking into Javits this weekend, that experiment is already underway. (variety.com, bookcon.com)
