The free Southern Festival of Books brings hundreds of authors to Bicentennial Mall each October. The 2026 festival ran Oct. 17-18; 2027 dates are not out yet.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Organizer: Southern Festival of Books, a program of Humanities Tennessee, 615-770-0006, sfb1@humtn.org.

The Southern Festival of Books is Nashville’s free weekend for readers: hundreds of authors, talks and signings, publishers and booksellers, stages and food trucks around Bicentennial Mall each October. Humanities Tennessee, which runs it, says it has been “celebrating the written word since 1989” and is “among the oldest literary festivals in the country.” The 2026 festival ran Oct. 17-18; the 2027 dates have not been announced.

At a glance

  • When: a weekend in October. 2027 dates not yet announced.
  • 2026: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
  • Where: Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Tennessee State Museum and Tennessee State Library and Archives
  • Cost: free
  • Organizer: sofestofbooks.org, 615-770-0006

When

The festival’s own site gave the 2026 hours as 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Humanities Tennessee’s program page says the festival welcomes “hundreds of authors and thousands of visitors to downtown Nashville each October.”

Humanities Tennessee had not posted 2027 dates on Oct. 19. In 2026 the window for publishers to submit books closed May 31, and the author lineup and schedule followed on the festival’s authors and schedule pages. We will update this page when the 2027 dates are out.

What’s there

  • Author sessions and signings across the museum, the library and the mall, with book sales by Parnassus Books and a signing tent, the festival’s FAQ says.
  • Performance stages, food trucks, publishers and booksellers outdoors on the mall’s paved roads.
  • The Fest app for iPhone and Android carries the schedule.

Vanderbilt University presented the 2026 festival. The festival’s site warns readers to beware of online festival imposters and scams; the festival’s own site is sofestofbooks.org.

Where and getting there

From the festival’s FAQ:

  • Addresses: the museum side is 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.; the library side is 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way.
  • Rideshare: drop-off and pickup is the horseshoe driveway in front of the Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
  • Parking: free in State of Tennessee lots (the festival’s map shows them), plus paid lots and street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods.
  • ADA parking: Lot 4, just south of the Tennessee State Library and Archives at John Lewis Boulevard and Jr. Gilliam Way. Show your ADA tag at the barricade.
  • Bike: the site is just off the Music City Bikeway, and Walk Bike Nashville runs a free, supervised bike valet that also takes strollers, wagons and scooters.
  • Bus: several WeGo routes pass the festival.

What to know

  • Accessible: all areas of the mall, museum and library meet ADA standards. Golf cart shuttles run between the museum and the library, from the corners of Sixth Avenue and Jr. Gilliam Way and of Seventh Avenue and Locklayer Street.
  • Book sales and signings have accessibility pathways for wheelchairs, scooters and walkers.
  • ASL interpreters can be requested for a specific session by emailing info@humtn.org.
  • Strollers are welcome; the bike valet will park them.

More in Nashville

The festival comes in the same month as the city’s fall festivals and pumpkin patches. For the Bicentennial Mall and its neighbors, see our history and landmarks guide, and for more free days out, our free things to do guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Southern Festival of Books?

Every October in downtown Nashville. The 2026 festival ran Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18. Humanities Tennessee had not announced the 2027 dates by Oct. 19, 2026.

Is the Southern Festival of Books free?

Yes. Humanities Tennessee says the festival is free, with author sessions, performance stages, food trucks, publishers and booksellers.

Where is the Southern Festival of Books held?

At Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library and Archives, just north of the Capitol. Rideshare drop-off is the museum driveway at 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

Where do I park for the Southern Festival of Books?

The festival says parking is free in State of Tennessee lots, with Lot 4, south of the State Library and Archives, reserved for ADA parking. Street parking is in the surrounding neighborhoods, and Walk Bike Nashville runs a free bike valet.