San Diego’s literary calendar is getting a sizable summer sequel, with the KPBS San Diego Book Festival returning to the University of San Diego campus on Saturday, August 22. More than 145 authors are expected to take part, turning the free public event into a full-day gathering for readers, families and anyone with an overstuffed to-be-read pile.
According to KPBS, the festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and organizers anticipate roughly 8,000 attendees. General admission is free, although some author sessions may charge a nominal seat-reservation fee when space is limited.
Festival Expands With More Genres And Kids Activities
The event will feature author panels, live entertainment, independent booksellers, local authors, food trucks and a youth reading stage. This year’s expanded footprint also brings a larger area for children, while newly added genres include romantasy, mystery, self-help and parenting alongside picture books, young adult fiction, fantasy, romance, graphic novels, historical works and horror.
University of San Diego says the campus event will combine national and local authors with family-friendly activities, booksellers and food trucks. The festival is presented by USD and produced by KPBS, with the university again serving as presenting sponsor.
Headliners include Max Brallier, Oliver James, Christina Lauren, Chuck Tingle and Claudette Zepeda. The local lineup includes María Dolores Águila, Kazim Ali, Maya Beck, Megan Jauregui Eccles, Dr. Cassidy Freitas, Minh Lê, T. Jefferson Parker and others, while the festival website continues adding authors each week.
One Book, One San Diego Reaches Its 20th Chapter
The festival will also host the announcement of the 2026 selections for One Book, One San Diego, including titles for adults, teens, children and Spanish-language readers. The community reading program, which began in 2007, is celebrating its 20th chapter with a milestone built around the same shared-reading mission that helped launch the festival.
As outlined by One Book, One San Diego, the program works with libraries, schools and community organizations across the region to bring readers together for discussions and related events. The book selections will be unveiled on the festival’s main stage, with free books available at the One Book booth while supplies last.
The festival is open to book lovers of all ages and will be held rain or shine, according to the official event listing. For San Diego families looking for a low-cost August outing, this one comes with panels, stories, snacks and plenty of opportunities to leave with an even taller reading stack.
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