The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) has revealed 16 authors presenting at the 2026 annual event on Oct. 2–3.
The lineup includes Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Goldstone in a keynote session on Friday, Oct 2; critically acclaimed children’s authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko for a “Kidnote” event on Saturday, Oct. 3; New York Times–bestselling author Tomi Adeyemi kicking off the festival morning for young adult readers; the 25th United States Poet Laureate, Arthur Sze; and award-winning novelist Tayari Jones.
Additional authors announced are Marcia Chatelain, Ryan Douglass, Meherwan Irani, Tareasa “Reesa Teesa” Johnson, Pedro Martín, J. Tom Morgan, Steven Raichlen, Eliot Schrefer, Aiden Thomas, and Nghi Vo.
All festival sessions are free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged for the keynote event with Goldstone.
The full lineup and schedule will be announced on Aug.18 with more than 70 award-winning and celebrated authors from around the country.
In addition to these authors, DBF will celebrate the 2026 winners of the Lillian Smith Book Awards with a session in partnership with the Southern Regional Council, University of Georgia Libraries, and DeKalb County Public Library/Georgia Center for the Book. DBF will also have sessions partnered with Georgia Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“For twenty-one years, the Decatur Book Festival has brought together authors and readers for this beloved literary event,” Executive Director Bailee Yarbrough said in a press release. “DBF remains committed to keeping literature accessible to all members of the Greater Atlanta area with this free book festival. We’re especially excited about the success of the City of Decatur’s WatchFest and the new stage downtown. Our children’s programming will take place on the new stage at the Square, and programming for all ages will happen around downtown.”
