Heartland Book Fest

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Heartland Book Fest

Find your story! Welcome to Kansas City’s premiere literary event. This year’s festival offers a range of exciting activities for all ages.

For the second year, the Kansas City Public Library, Missouri Humanities, and the Missouri Center for the Book are proud to present the Heartland Book Festival. We are thrilled that you’ve joined us to celebrate the people and ideas that shape not only the books you love but society itself. By connecting with each other and today’s visiting authors, you strengthen the fiber of the community at a t

ime when such strength is critical. Discover panel discussions, presentations, vendors, and other activities throughout the building, and learn what else the Library has to offer year-round.

09/09/2026

Victoria Aveyard is an internationally bestselling author and screenwriter, known for her Red Queen and Realm Breaker series, both of which have topped The New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times bestseller lists.

Soman Chainani is the New York Times bestselling author of "The School for Good and Evil," a global franchise spanning books, film, and education.

Join us on October 3 at 2 p.m. as they record an episode of their Plot Twist podcast. They will discuss Aveyard’s latest novel, "Tempest," the story of protagonist Cat Rose, the queen of a pirate tavern. When opposing forces close in on her people, she must decide how she will save her kingdom: Turn in the only man she’s ever loved — or hang.

09/05/2026

We are only one month away from the Heartland Book Festival! 🎉 Get ready for a day full of authors, workshops, vendors, and activities for children! 📚

Get free tickets at heartlandbookfest.org!

09/02/2026

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue-collar men, and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Join us as Bailey discusses her latest book in conversation with Sierra Simone on October 3 at 10 a.m. Her novel, "Broken Rival," is a time-travel romance about a high school girl stuck in the past and torn between two Kansas brothers.

08/27/2026

Free tickets?! Say less! 🤩 Registration for the Heartland Book Festival is officially OPEN! 📚

Featuring national and regional authors, workshops, vendors, and activities for children!

🎟️ Friday, October 2, at the Mid-Continent Public Library. Tickets are limited. Grab them FAST!
🎟️ Saturday, October 3, at the Kansas City Public Library. Tickets are available for a full day of events. Passes for the main stage will be given on arrival, first come, first served.

Do you want to attend both days? Absolutely! Just make sure to register for each one separately!

Reserve your tickets: heartlandbookfest.org

08/24/2026

Tayari Jones is the author of five novels. Kin is an Oprah's Book Club Selection, and The New York Times and Amazon.com editors have named it the best novel of the year so far. She is also among the TIME100 list of the most influential people in the world. Her previous novel, An American Marriage, was also an Oprah’s Book Club Selection, appeared on Barack Obama’s summer reading list, and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Aspen Words Prize, and an NAACP Image Award.

On October 2 at 6:30 p.m., join the best-selling author for a conversation about Kin, a novel about mothers and daughters, friendship and sisterhood, and the complexities of being a woman in the American South. Kin is an exuberant, emotionally rich, unforgettable work from one of the brightest and most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction.

Free tickets are available starting August 27 at heartlandbookfest.org! 🗓️

08/20/2026

The 2026 Heartland Book Festival lineup is here! 🤩📚

We’re bringing you a weekend full of stories, inspiration, and unforgettable conversations in partnership with Kansas City Public Library, Mid-Continent Public Library, and Missouri Humanities.

This year's featured authors are Tayari Jones, Tessa Bailey 💋, Daniel Miyares, Victoria Aveyard, Soman Chainani, and Giselle Anatol!

Set a reminder because free tickets are available starting August 27! 🗓️

Learn more about our full list of speakers at heartlandbookfest.org.

Which author are you most excited to see?

08/17/2026

A picture is worth 1,000 words. 🖼️ Some of these images may have something to do with our featured authors. 😉 Drop your best guesses in the comments and get ready for our official announcement on August 20. 🎉

08/14/2026

While we patiently await the Heartland Book Festival lineup to be announced next Thursday, we wanted to share some late-summer reading recommendations with you. ☀️📚

What's been your favorite title you've read this summer? 💭

08/07/2026

Our author lineup drops in less than two weeks! 🤩 Kinda chic if you ask us!

🔔 Turn on notifications and be ready on August 20 to see who is coming to KC!

07/17/2026

Are you an author, illustrator, or bookish creator? 📚 The Heartland Book Festival is now accepting vendor applications! 📣 Share your stories, artwork, and goods with fellow Midwest book lovers. 🙌

🔗 Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWQpk-x3xBRu0Az0muB3aQuybuxzNSzEgp1axlxykn8LS64w/viewform

Address

14 W. 10th Street
Kansas City, MO
64105

Website

https://www.heartlandbookfest.org/

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