A free weekend on the USC campus with hundreds of exhibitors and outdoor stages: the largest literary festival in the United States, and the least formal of the big ones.
The 2027 edition has no official dates yet. It is usually held over a weekend in April; this page will be updated as soon as they are announced.
Last edition: 18–19 Apr 2026 · The largest literary festival in the United States
Updated: September 2026
Started by the Los Angeles Times in 1996, the festival fills a university campus with tents, cooking demos, poetry stages and conversations that run all weekend. Attendance is free; only the indoor panels need a ticket, and those are released in advance.
It is as much a street fair as a book fair: independent presses, comics, literary magazines and food trucks share the same lawns, which is why families come for the whole day.
Log what you buy, your progress and the quotes you underline. Free, no account needed to start.
Start for freeThey are free but ticketed, and the well-known names go within hours of release.
Expo Park/USC station drops you at the gate; campus parking is paid and fills by mid-morning.
Most of the festival happens outdoors in April sun, and you will leave with more books than you planned.
The 2027 dates have not been announced yet. It is usually held over a weekend in April. The last edition ran 18–19 Apr 2026.
At USC University Park Campus, Los Angeles.
Yes, admission is free.
Yes, general admission is free. Some indoor conversations require a free reserved ticket.