SAN ANTONIO – This Saturday, San Antonio will come alive with the magic of books as the San Antonio Book Festival returns for its 14th year, bringing together over 100 authors from around the world. This vibrant event aims to inspire a love for reading among attendees of all ages.
The festival is free to the public and runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the downtown library, located on the 600 block of Soledad Street. It’s an incredible opportunity to meet authors, attend panels, and participate in book-related activities.
“We bring in over 100 authors every year to San Antonio,” said Lisa Ayres, who became the festival’s executive director last fall. Under her leadership, the festival continues to celebrate books, authors, and literacy, a mission that has been central since its inception.
Ayres noted the community’s enthusiastic embrace of the festival from the very beginning. “It was popular from the start,” she said, recalling how the excitement in San Antonio surprised many, including the festival’s founders.
The San Antonio Book Festival started in 2012 when founder Katie Flato collaborated with the Texas Book Festival, the City of San Antonio, and the Southwest School of Art. By 2019, it evolved into an independent nonprofit organization, showcasing its growth and significance in the literary community.
In its early years, the festival featured fewer than 100 authors, but it still drew large crowds. “In those first years, we had crowds come out,” Ayres reminisced, highlighting the festival’s quick rise in popularity.
Today, this one-day event attracts over 25,000 visitors annually, offering a diverse range of discussions and activities that bring literature to life. The festival’s format allows fans to engage directly with their favorite authors through panels and book signings.
Looking ahead, Ayres envisions even more growth for the festival. “I think that your opportunities are endless,” she said, suggesting the possibility of expanding into a multi-day event in the future, which could further enhance the experience for attendees.
Beyond the festival, organizers are committed to fostering a love for reading throughout the year. They run programs like the “Get Lit Author Series,” host “Authors in School” events, and distribute around 2,000 free books annually. Ayres aims to boost this number to 10,000, emphasizing the importance of connecting young readers with authors.
“Creating that love for young readers, giving them that interaction with authors, is a great way to inspire future generations of readers,” she explained, highlighting the festival’s role in promoting literacy.
To kick off the festival, a special presentation featuring authors Juliet Faithfull and Jenna Bush Hager is set for Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Central Christian Church. This event promises to be an exciting prelude to the weekend’s festivities.
SABF hosts Thursday event. (Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.)
