On November 8–9, 2025, the 30th annual Texas Book Festival will take place near the Texas State Capitol in downtown Austin, drawing over 40,000 attendees and featuring more than 300 authors. During Festival weekend, events such as author presentations, panels, book signings, cooking demonstrations, activities for kids, and food trucks come together to celebrate literary tradition.

Since 1995, the Texas Book Festival (TBF) has brought together authors and readers through meaningful experiences that honor storytelling, ideas, and imagination. For 2025, TBF has in store a lineup that includes Academy Award-winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey, R.L. Stine, creator of the iconic Goosebumps series, and comedian and seven-time New York Times best-selling author Chelsea Handler. This two-day event promises to inspire readers and aspiring writers, while giving authors the chance to share their craft.

Coveted Ticketed Sessions

Several headlining authors will hold ticketed sessions and discuss their books. On Saturday, November 8, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Mitch Albom, author of the beloved Tuesdays With Morrie, will share insights from his new novel Twice, an exploration of love, regret, and second chances.

At 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Chelsea Handler will discuss her latest memoir, I’ll Have What She’s Having, a funny and vulnerable collection of essays about growth and sisterhood. Later that afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, TODAY show host Jenna Bush Hager will highlight her publishing imprint, Thousand Voices, in conversation with debut author Ariel Sullivan about her novel Conform.

On Sunday, November 9, at 3:15 p.m. at the State Theatre, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen will present his essay collection To Save and Destroy: Writing as an Other, reflecting on his lived experience as a child refugee from Vietnam and on broader questions of history and identity. Closing the Festival, at 4:15 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Matthew McConaughey will share from his new book Poems & Prayers, an inspiring meditation on life, wonder, and meaning.

Festival Happenings

Beyond the ticketed sessions, the Festival offers a wide variety of events for readers of all ages. On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., under the Central Market Cooking Tent, Marisel Salazar, author of Latin-ish: More Than 100 Recipes Celebrating American Latino Cuisines, will showcase her cross-cultural cooking in a live demo. At 10:45 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, legendary master of youth horror R.L. Stine joins moderator Rose Brock to discuss his chilling new novel The Last Sleepover, a haunting addition to the House of Shivers series, followed by a book signing in the Main Book Signing Tent.

At 11:30 a.m. in the Read Me a Story Tent, Olivia Abtahi will present a bilingual reading of her novel The Interpreter/La intérprete, about Cecilia, a young soccer player who interprets for her parents.

On Sunday at 11:15 a.m. in the Capitol Extension Room, Paul Lisicky (Song So Wild and Blue) and Peter Ames Carlin (Tonight in Jungleland) will discuss the artistry of Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen, offering an intimate look at the stories behind two musical icons. At 4 p.m. in the YA HQ Tent, acclaimed authors Justine Pucella Winans (How to Survive a Slasher) and Racquel Marie (If We Survive This) will bring fresh voices to YA horror, exploring resilience and survival through imaginative storytelling.

TBF’s Year-Round Influence

Since its inception, TBF has made promoting literacy and supporting libraries a central part of its mission. Funds raised during the annual Festival Weekend are distributed as grants to libraries across the state, with 1,492 grants totaling more than $3.7 million awarded to date. These grants help libraries expand their collections to better serve the needs of their communities.

TBF’s Reading Rock Stars program brings nationally recognized authors and illustrators to Title I elementary schools across Texas, inspiring young readers through interactive presentations and conversations. Each student has the chance to engage with visiting authors and leave with a personally signed copy of the featured book.

Modeled after Reading Rock Stars, the Real Reads program fosters a love of reading among middle school, high school, and young adult students by connecting them with acclaimed authors. At each event, students hear directly from the writer and receive a signed copy of the featured book. Since its launch in 2017, Real Reads has reached more than 5,200 students.

For more details and to plan your Festival weekend, visit www.texasbookfestival.org and follow @texasbookfest on social media.

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