A new literary festival built around Black books and readers is heading to downtown Indianapolis, with organizers promising more than 200 participants and over 140 conversations across three days in the summer of 2027. Kinfolk Lit Fest is scheduled to run from Friday, July 16, through Sunday, July 18, 2027, at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
According to a press release placement carried by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the festival is being pitched as a three-day gathering featuring more than 200 participants and more than 140 conversations, including panel discussions, live readings, fireside chats, workshops, book signings, keynote addresses and complimentary sit-down dinners. Organizers describe the event as a curated literary gathering for Black readers, writers, creators and publishing professionals, with a year-round community built around discovery, conversation and connection.
Who's On the Lineup
The announcement names a roster of authors and talent set to appear, including Jason Reynolds, Tiffany D. Jackson, Victoria Christopher Murray, P. Djèlí Clark, Tayari Jones, Eriq La Salle and Sadeqa Johnson. The festival says its programming will track across eight genres within Black literature, while also spotlighting local and regional writers, independent booksellers, educators, creatives and community organizations.
Founder and president Casey Kelley framed the festival's origins in personal terms, saying the event grew from a passion for reading into a community of book lovers seeking connection and networking. Kelley described Kinfolk Lit Fest as a family reunion, a phrase that underscores the communal tone organizers are aiming for across the weekend's panels, signings and dinners.
Ticket Prices and Access
All-access passes and tickets for Kinfolk Lit Fest are listed at $250, the press release states. Teenage passes for attendees ages 13 to 17 are listed at $175 and provide limited access rather than the full slate of programming available to all-access ticket holders.
From Jacksonville Book Bash to an Indianapolis Debut
Kinfolk Lit Fest did not emerge out of nowhere. The event originated as Black Book Bash, a 2025 book event that celebrated Black books, Black readers and online literary communities. That inaugural gathering was described by Publishers Weekly as a gathering of more than 150 Black authors in Jacksonville, Florida, with programming that included panels, keynotes, wellness events, a game night and a pajama party.
Featured authors at that earlier Jacksonville event included Clarence A. Haynes, Wanda M. Morris and Justin A. Reynolds, per the trade publication's account. Organizers said at the time that the programming would reflect the breadth and brilliance of Black literary culture, a mission statement that now carries over into the expanded Indianapolis festival planned for 2027.
Ticket, programming, participating-author and additional festival information is expected to be available at kinfolklit.com as planning continues ahead of the July 2027 dates.
