7 of the best book festivals around the world

National Geographic

3 days ago

The ritual of convening around books is a worldwide tradition—from the small fishing village of Treasure Beach in Jamaica to a countryside street in Wales. To pore over a new book in a new setting with like-minded people garners community and inspiration. Add in a gorgeous setting, riveting speakers, and some of the world's best restaurants and hotels nearby, and book festivals can serve as a starting point for a greater travel adventure, too.
Whether you're a longtime bibliophile or simply looking to be inspired while traveling, here are seven literature festivals worth visiting that you should consider planning for right now. 1. Calabash Literary Festival, Treasure Beach, Jamaica
This biennial festival showcases the power of community and books to their fullest. Over three days, award-winning author deliver powerful words via an excerpt from their latest book. Past year attendees and speakers have included Padma Lakshmi, Jamaica Kincaid, Zadie Smith, and Angelina Jolie. Afternoons at Calabash Literary Festival are spent in conversation over glasses of rum punch at family-owned Jake's Hotel, the host of the popular festival. After Hurricane Beryl's devastation to the region in 2024, the literary festival returned in May 2025, bolstered by an international community. Attendees delighted in hearing the voices of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph read from her memoir, Diva, while Jamaican native Safiya Sinclair read thought-provoking prose from How to Say Babylon. British poet Linton Kwesi Johnson holds a copy of his book, 'Time Come,' at the Calabash International Literary Festival. Photograph By Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times/Redux During the Calabash International Literary Festival, book lovers can stay at the 49-room Jake's Hotel, located in Treasure Beach on the south coast of Jamaica. Photograph By Christian Heeb/laif/Redux
Where to stay: When planning a visit, there's no better place to stay than Jake's Hotel, home to a collection of colorful oceanfront bungalows and cottages that are just steps away from the festival's main stage. The property represents the most authentic taste of Jamaica.
(10 of Jamaica's best hotels, from waterfront villas to mountain cabins with a view.) 2. Martha's Vineyard Book Festivals, Massachusetts, U.S.
A haven for seaside communion spread over six towns, Martha's Vineyard plays host to two literary festivals each summer. The Martha's Vineyard Book Festival sprang from the Chilmark Community Center's evening lecture series and will celebrate its 20th anniversary this August. The free, weekend-long event's theme this year is 'The Power of Perspective,' and will take place in the quaint town of Chilmark. Also in August, the Martha's Vineyard Black Book Festival will draw crowds to the region for its second year.
Founded by talent agent powerhouse Traci Wilkes Smith, the festival showcases both aspiring and established Black authors through a variety of panels, fireside chats, and lively social events that demonstrate why the island has been such an important fixture in the Black community for decades. Notable authors who will speak include Kiano Moju, author of AfriCali: Recipes from My Jikoni, and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. You can also optimize your visit by checking out the popular events that take place in August as well.
Where to stay: Faraway Martha's Vineyard offers an impressive collection of shingle-roofed suites and rooms in the idyllic Edgartown. The easiest way to get to Martha's Vineyard is by plane.
(Love reading? These are the best book towns around the world.) 3. Jaipur Literature Festival, India
This renowned five-day festival in the historic Pink City of Jaipur first began in 2006 as a small gathering for book lovers. Since then, nearly half a million attendees have traveled to India to partake in a literary festival where you can spot a celebrity as easily as your favorite author. This year's 18th edition featured acclaimed writers, Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, and luminaries like Geetanjali Shree and Lucy Caldwell. Theatrical adaptations of some books take center stage on the festival's Music Stage.
Where to stay: Consider checking into The Oberoi Rajvilas, a 68-room palace stretched across 32 acres of manicured lawns that offer respite from the bustle of the city.
(A guide to Jaipur's craft scene, from Rajasthani block printing to marble carving.) People congregate on the lawn during the popular Jaipur Literature Festival, the world's largest free literary festival. Photograph By Radiokafka/Shutterstock 4. Brooklyn Book Festival, New York
Every September, Brooklyn becomes a literary haven for nine days. As New York City's largest free festival, the Brooklyn Book Festival will celebrate its 25th year this fall with one of the most diverse author lineups. Many genres are well-represented, including poetry and graphic storytelling. The finale of this festival takes place in parks and plazas across downtown Brooklyn. The festival's literary marketplace features a diverse array of books sold directly by authors and publishers. For those who can't make it to the festival in person, there's a Virtual Festival Day to catch the lineup of talent. Beyond the festival, it's never hard to find something to do in Brooklyn, especially in the fall when temperatures are more agreeable.
Where to stay: Make your home base the legendary Beekman—A Thompson Hotel, a Martin Brudnizki-designed showstopper with a nine-level atrium and plenty of quiet nooks to cozy up with your next great read.
(Seven literary destinations around the UK to inspire children) Bibliophiles can travel to the charming town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales for the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts. Photograph By Jeff Morgan/Camera Press/Redux 5. Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, Wales, U.K.
Situated against the backdrop of the grassy moorlands and stunning summit views in Wales' Brecon Beacons National Park, the Hay Festival brings together voices in literature from countries such as Kenya, Peru, and Mexico. Its location in Hay-On-Wye is also quite significant. In the 1960s, antiquarian and academic Richard Booth began filling the empty buildings of the small town with second-hand books. Voracious readers from the United Kingdom and beyond began descending upon this corner of Wales, eagerly pursuing another page-turning treasure.
Today, this popular book town turns it up another notch with the Hay Festival every May. Beyond conversations with award-winning authors, there are also cooking workshops, tours of centuries-old castles, and musical performances.
Where to stay: The Swan at Hay is a cozy, 19-room hotel that situated just on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. You can also check into Llangoed Hall, a stately countryside retreat that wows with exceptional attention to detail in each guest room–including a decanted Madeira welcome bottle on arrival. Get more information about how to get to Hay-on-Wye here.
(Hay-on-Wye and beyond: 5 of the UK & Ireland's best spring literary festivals) 6. International Literary Festival Berlin, Germany
This mega festival in Berlin brings together over 200 authors and around 20,000 attendees every spring. Contemporary poetry, prose, nonfiction, graphic novels, and young adult literature are all discussed across 300 events in theaters and museum halls in the city. Speakers in attendance this year include Isabel Allende, author of The House of Spirits, and Arundhati Roy, author of The God of Small Things. One exciting segment of this festival is its Young Program, which offers children and teenagers readings and workshops that encourage cultural diversity. More than 200 authors and 20,000 attendees converge on Berlin for the Berlin International Literature Festival every spring. Photograph By Jens Kalaene/Where to stay: Book lovers should consider the Grand Hyatt Berlin and Hotel Palace Berlin. Both hotels are just steps away from some of the city's most popular landmarks, including Berliner Philharmonie (Philharmonic Hall) and Berlin Cathedral.
(How to spend a day exploring Berlin's art and design scene) 7. Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival, New Orleans, U.S.
New Orleans is renowned for its lively community events, from the revelry of Mardi Gras to the palpable joy of a second-line celebration. Every spring, the Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival lands in the city's historic French Quarter. The five-day event pays homage to American writer Tennessee Williams, who was a longtime resident of the Crescent City, where two of his major plays—A Streetcar Named Desire and Vieux Carré—were set.
The Saints + Sinners Literary Festival is one of the festival's programs, created to bring the LGBTQ+ literary community together to celebrate the literary arts. Outside of the festival, spring is an ideal time to explore and appreciate the city's beauty. The low-hanging oak trees of St. Charles Avenue that shade busy cafes and bars or a drum circle in Congo Square.
Where to stay: Bibliophiles can stay at the Hotel St. Vincent with its glowing brick facade. Grab a drink poolside or Cajun fried oyster banh mi from the on-site Elizabeth Street Café. At night, the Chapel Club is a dimly lit space with speakeasy vibes and plush chairs to lounge.
(How to plan a walking tour exploring the alternative arts scene in New Orleans) Kristin Braswell is a travel journalist and founder of Crush Global Travel. She has penned pieces for Vogue, Bon Appetit, USA Today, NPR, Architectural Digest, and the Los Angeles Times, among others.