Black Authors Festival

Atlanta: The Perfect Next Chapter for the Black Authors Festival

By Joleen Pete

Published August 25, 2026

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At a Glance

What: Black Authors Festival makes its Atlanta debut, celebrating Black literature, storytelling and creative expression.
When: Sept. 12, 2026
Where: Norwood Vineyard & Gardens in Jonesboro
Theme: “The Right to Write”
What to expect: Author conversations, book signings, the Vineyard Book Walk, curated shopping and live cultural programming.
Don’t miss: The festival’s signature Sneaker Ball, where cocktail attire meets fashion-forward sneakers.
Why go: Meet acclaimed authors, discover new voices and celebrate the power of stories in an elegant outdoor setting.

Atlanta is a city built on powerful stories.

It started with sermons that shaped the Civil Rights Movement and has included bestselling novels, groundbreaking journalism and spoken word stages. Storytelling has always been part of Atlanta’s identity. This September, that legacy grows a little bigger as the Black Authors Festival makes its Atlanta debut.

(Photo courtesy of Black Authors Festival)

Founded in Sag Harbor, N.Y., in 2022, the festival has become one of the country’s top celebrations of Black literature. After four successful years in New York, organizers selected Atlanta as the first city to host the festival beyond its original home.

Held Sept. 12 at Norwood Vineyard & Gardens in Jonesboro, the Black Authors Festival is less like a traditional book fair and more like a cultural celebration. The day’s programming blends conversations with acclaimed authors, journalists and scholars with book signings, a Vineyard Book Walk, curated shopping, live entertainment and opportunities to connect with fellow readers and creatives in an elegant outdoor setting.

This year’s theme, “The Right to Write,” invites attendees to reflect on the power of literacy and freedom of expression. Organizers describe the festival as both a celebration and a call to action, emphasizing that stories preserve history, strengthen communities and help shape future generations.

One of the festival’s most distinctive traditions also makes it one of the most stylish. Guests are encouraged to pair cocktail attire with fashion-forward sneakers for the Sneaker Ball.

Atlanta’s literary community has flourished for decades. Readers can spend the year exploring independent bookstores, attending author talks, visiting literary landmarks and celebrating Black creativity through evnts such as the National Black Arts Festival. The arrival of the Black Authors Festival adds another chapter.

Whether you’re hoping to meet your favorite author, discover a new voice or simply spend an afternoon surrounded by people who believe in the power of books, the Black Authors Festival offers a fresh reason to celebrate Atlanta’s thriving literary scene.

More Ways to Celebrate Atlanta’s Literary Scene

If the Black Authors Festival leaves you inspired to pick up another page-turner, Atlanta has plenty of places to keep the story going.

Browse independent bookstores. Spend an afternoon exploring neighborhood favorites A Cappella Books in Inman Park, Brave + Kind Bookshop in Decatur, For Keeps Books in Sweet Auburn and Medu Bookstore in the Greenbriar area.

Visit literary landmarks. Walk the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, where the words and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. continue to inspire visitors from around the world. History lovers can also explore the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, home to one of the nation’s major collections documenting Black history and culture.

Discover Atlanta’s celebrated authors. Atlanta has long been home to influential writers including Alice Walker (as a student at Spelman College) Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones, whose works explore themes of identity, family, history and the city itself.

Mark your calendar. Throughout the year, Atlanta hosts author talks, book signings, poetry readings and literary festivals that bring readers together. Keep an eye on local bookstores, libraries and cultural organizations as well as Discover Atlanta’s calendar for upcoming events and opportunities to meet your next favorite author.