BookCon, which is returning to the Javits Center in New York City on April 18 and 19, 2026, after a hiatus that began with the pandemic in 2020, has sold out and has attracted top publishers. Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks are bringing authors to the show to participate in signings and panels and will be exhibitors on the show floor. (Other companies offering a range of book-related merchandise include Blissfully Bookish, Book Beau, Cliche Teas, Kingdom of Threads, Pinstory, Reading Portal, Steamy Lit, and more.)
Jenny Martin, event director at ReedPop, which organizes BookCon, said, "We have seen a tremendous response from partners and fans alike who are just as excited about the upcoming return of BookCon in 2026 as we are. Publishers are a cornerstone of the book industry, and we are thrilled that they are supporting BookCon's return as we work to create an unmatched experience for attendees."
Leigh Marchant, senior v-p, chief marketing officer, Hachette Book Group, said, "We're thrilled for the return of BookCon--there's nothing like the energy of thousands of passionate readers meeting and interacting with the authors and stories that they love. Along with booksellers, influencers, and other publishers, HBG is very excited to be a part of the celebration that brings together the book community. We can't wait to bring our creativity and passion to the show floor."
Melissa Campion, senior director, author events, Macmillan, said, "BookCon is a great opportunity to connect our authors directly with the enthusiastic readers who champion their work. Much like our presence at New York Comic Con, we are thrilled to continue fostering that vital author-reader relationship and drive excitement for our upcoming books."
Lindsey Elias, director, brand events, Penguin Random House, said, "The return of BookCon is exciting news! It's great to be able to bring our books and authors to their biggest fans."
Dominique Raccah, publisher and CEO, Soucebooks, said, "The return of BookCon signals an exciting moment for our industry. Events like this remind us that the future is being shaped by passionate readers who see books as essential to our shared culture. We're energized to be part of BookCon 2026 and to help authors, readers, and booksellers define what's next for storytelling."
BookCon was founded in 2014 and was an immediate success, drawing 10,000 enthusiastic readers, particularly teenage girls, its first year, limited because of a cap on attendance. BookCon remained a vital event through 2019.