Published September5, 2025 · The Digital Desk at America Publishers
25 Years of Stories: The National Book Festival in a Changing Washington
A Festival at a Crossroads
Tomorrow, September 6, the Library of Congress will open the doors to its 25th annual National Book Festival, a milestone event in the nation’s capital that promises to blend tradition, innovation, and resilience. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center will host thousands of readers, writers, and publishers in a full day of programming from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission for all and livestreams available worldwide. Yet this landmark year unfolds in a Washington under unusual circumstances.
The festival arrives in the wake of leadership changes at the Library itself, with the removal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and uncertainty about copyright chief Shira Perlmutter’s tenure. Acting Librarian Robert Newlen, stepping into the spotlight with co-chair David Rubenstein, will lead tonight’s “Opening Celebration,” joined by acclaimed voices such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, John Green, Christina Henríquez, Scott Turow, and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett. Their presence signals the festival’s enduring prestige, even as National Guard troops patrol D.C. streets, shaping the city’s mood and daily life.
It is against this backdrop of literary triumph and civic tension that the National Book Festival celebrates its silver anniversary, reminding a divided capital of the unifying power of stories
The Essentials, Date, Venue, and Accessibility
The 2025 National Book Festival will officially unfold on Saturday, September 6, inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northeast Washington, D.C. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with programming scheduled from 9 a.m. through 8 p.m. Throughout the day, attendees can expect author panels, award presentations, and lively conversations across multiple stages. In keeping with the Library of Congress’s mission to serve all Americans, entry is completely free, making the festival one of the most accessible cultural events in the country.
For those unable to attend in person, the Library has expanded digital access. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online, and recordings of all sessions will be made available shortly after the festival. This ensures that the anniversary celebration reaches beyond the convention center, connecting with readers nationwide.
As in past years, the festival promises to be more than a one-day gathering. Planning began nearly a year in advance, with the Library’s literary director Clay Smith coordinating publishers, authors, and moderators to curate a day that balances prestige with inclusivity. The meticulous federal contracting process, Smith notes, means that as soon as one festival ends, work begins on the next, an ongoing cycle that reflects the scale and significance of the event.
Festival Spirit: Authors, Awards, and Celebrations
The opening night of the 25th National Book Festival sets the tone for a day steeped in literary prestige and celebration. Acting Librarian of Congress Robert Newlen and festival co-chair David Rubenstein will host an “Opening Celebration” alongside a powerful lineup of authors. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, John Green, Christina Henríquez, Scott Turow, and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett are among the headliners lending their voices to the stage, underscoring the festival’s commitment to a wide readership.
A highlight of the weekend will be the honoring of Geraldine Brooks, author of Memorial Days, who recently received the 2025 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. Brooks will be in conversation with Washington Post books editor John Williams before formally accepting her award, offering a moment of literary gravitas.
Equally notable is the convergence of three former U.S. poets laureate, Joy Harjo, Ada Limón, and Tracy K. Smith, who will appear in discussion with Robert Casper, director of the Library’s laureate program, and Washington Post critic Ron Charles. Their panel embodies the festival’s blend of artistry and reflection. With the post of poet laureate currently vacant following Limón’s term, attendees are eagerly anticipating the announcement of her successor, expected later this month. Together, these sessions affirm the festival’s stature as both a national stage and a platform for ongoing literary dialogue.
The Constitutional & Political Conversations
One of the defining features of this year’s festival is its willingness to embrace the nation’s ongoing constitutional debates. Several of the most anticipated sessions focus directly on the U.S. Constitution, bringing together voices from across the ideological spectrum. Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett will discuss her reflections in Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution. Harvard historian Jill Lepore, known for her sweeping works on American democracy, will appear to present We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution. Adding to the conversation, Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute will share insights from his book American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified America, and Could Again.
According to festival director Clay Smith, these programs reflect the Library of Congress’s responsibility as a nonpartisan federal agency to offer audiences diverse perspectives. “If we’re going to have Jill Lepore, who is probably no fan of originalism, it’s important for us to provide that other option,” Smith noted. In a political climate often defined by polarization, this careful balance underscores the festival’s role as a platform for dialogue rather than division.
These sessions also highlight the festival’s capacity to transcend literature alone, positioning the National Book Festival as a forum where history, law, and civic identity intersect, an invitation for readers to consider the living Constitution as part of America’s broader cultural story.
Expanding Horizons: Genre Focus and Diversity
While the National Book Festival has long been known for its literary prestige, the 2025 program reveals a growing embrace of genre fiction and diverse storytelling. Festival director Clay Smith, who has overseen the event since 2022, emphasized that romance, speculative fiction, and horror are playing a larger role this year. This shift not only broadens the audience but also reflects the Library’s mission to welcome readers of all tastes.
Among the highlights is a romance panel featuring Alexis Daria, author of Along Came Amor, and Kennedy Ryan, whose Can’t Get Enough earned a starred review. Their discussion will be guided by Jenn White, host of WAMU’s 1A, promising a lively exploration of how love stories continue to resonate across cultures and communities.
Another standout session, titled “Something’s a Little Funny Here,” pairs Kashana Cauley (The Payback) with Maggie Su (Blob: A Love Story). Both novels explore young protagonists navigating worlds they do not fully accept, blending speculative elements with biting social commentary. Smith notes that such works appeal to younger readers while offering older audiences insights into generational perspectives.
These genre-focused panels underscore the festival’s adaptability: by celebrating writers across forms and voices, the National Book Festival affirms that prestige and popularity can coexist, bringing fresh energy into its 25th anniversary year.
The City’s Backdrop, National Guard and Bookstores
Even as the National Book Festival prepares to celebrate its 25th year, the atmosphere in Washington, D.C. is shaped by a heavy National Guard presence that has unsettled daily life and impacted the city’s literary community. Since August 11, when federal troops were ordered into the District, independent bookstores have experienced starkly different realities.
At Kramers in DuPont Circle, sales have dropped 17%, though foot traffic remains steady. Loyalty Bookstores, known for its diverse and intersectional catalog, has been hit hardest, reporting a 65% revenue loss. Staff have faced intimidation from federal agents entering the store, prompting new emergency procedures and partnerships with neighboring businesses to ensure worker safety. East City Bookshop, located near a metro stop with frequent patrols, has seen sales fall 35%, while Lost City Bookshop in Adams Morgan noted a shift in tone even after reopening from its usual August closure.
Busboys and Poets’ 14th Street location has suffered due to nearby checkpoints, though its suburban branches are seeing stronger sales as city visitors turn away. Solid State Books, in contrast, has benefitted slightly, with its two D.C. locations up 4–10% as patrons view the stores as refuges from unrest. Across the river, stores like Old Town Books in Alexandria and One More Page in Arlington are balancing modest gains with concerns over declining tourism. Together, these accounts reveal how bookstores, pillars of community life, are navigating an uneasy city during the festival’s landmark year.
Why Stories Still Matter
A silver anniversary would be reason enough to celebrate. The 25th National Book Festival arrives on September 6 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, free to the public, doors at 8:30 a.m., programs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with livestreams and full videos available shortly after. The stage is set by an Opening Celebration with acting Librarian Robert Newlen and co-chair David Rubenstein, joined by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, John Green, Christina Henríquez, Scott Turow, and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett. Geraldine Brooks, author of Memorial Days, will receive the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction in conversation with John Williams. Joy Harjo, Ada Limón, and Tracy K. Smith meet with Robert Casper and Ron Charles, while readers await a new poet laureate announcement expected on September 15.
Debate has its place here as well. Amy Coney Barrett, Jill Lepore, and Yuval Levin speak across differences in sessions that reflect the library’s nonpartisan mission and Clay Smith’s programming that values geographic diversity and a full range of publishers. The festival also widens its embrace of genre with Alexis Daria and Kennedy Ryan in conversation with Jenn White, and a playful yet pointed panel with Kashana Cauley and Maggie Su.
Beyond the halls, Washington is living through a tense season, with National Guard patrols since August 11 and bookstores feeling the strain. Kramers reports a 17 percent sales dip, Loyalty faces a 65 percent decline and heightened safety steps, East City is down 35 percent near a regularly patrolled metro stop, and Lost City notes a changed tone in Adams Morgan. Busboys and Poets sees city sales soften while suburban locations tick up, Old Town Books worries about tourism even as One More Page says business is steady, and Solid State rises 4 to 10 percent as readers seek refuge.
Set against these contrasts, the festival’s purpose is clear. Stories gather people who disagree, comfort people who are anxious, and invite people who are curious. Planning began months ago because the library believes access matters. Admission is free, recordings travel farther than any single room, and the program holds space for prestige and popularity. In a complicated capital, the National Book Festival stands as a public square that belongs to everyone, a reminder that literature can still widen the circle, steady the pulse, and help a city, and a country, keep talking.
Sources: Information for this article was gathered from official coverage of the 25th National Book Festival via Publishers weekly, and the Library of Congress. All program details, author appearances, and local reporting reflect updates as of September 2025.