This started, as many of my recent decisions seem to, with a ChatGPT rabbit hole. I’m currently listening to the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks by Matt Dinniman—I just finished the first one, and it absolutely deserved its own post—and somewhere in the process of digging into the books, the audiobooks, and narrator Jeff Hays, I discovered something called BookCon.
Matt Dinniman was there last year. Jeff Hays was there. And then I found out Andy Weir was there too.
Excuse me?
My already-established favorite author AND the author and narrator of the audiobook series currently taking over my life were all at the same event? Thirty minutes later, I was planning a trip to New York.
So apparently we’re doing this.
So…What Exactly Is BookCon?
The easiest way I can describe it is: Think Comic Con, but for novel book nerds instead of comic-book nerds. And I say that with absolutely no criticism or condescension. It’s very much an I see you, fellow nerds situation.
There are author panels and signings. Audiobook narrators. Publishers. Workshops. Book swaps. Indie authors. And then apparently when the regular convention ends, everyone just…keeps going. Last year’s After Dark events included things like a pajama movie party and murder mystery, and BookCon also had a Fantasy Ball.
I had been researching this event for approximately half an hour when I realized:
Oh. These are my people.
And that’s only what I managed to uncover in my first rabbit hole. I can only imagine how much I haven’t found yet.
And Now It’s THREE Days
BookCon returned in 2026 as a two-day event. For 2027, they’re expanding it to three days: April 9–11 at the Javits Center in New York City. Apparently 25,000+ book people showed up last year and tickets sold out within hours. So if anyone needed evidence that readers can, in fact, leave the house when properly motivated…
There you go. The 2027 lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m watching. Closely. Last year’s first wave of authors was announced at the end of September, so I have my fingers crossed that we’ll start seeing names soon.
BookCon 2027 Author Announcements
And the author announcements are starting! Rebecca Yarros, author of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, is scheduled to appear on Friday. Stephen Graham Jones, known for The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Off the Reservation and I Was a Teenage Slasher, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The specific appearance details are still listed as TBD, so I’m keeping an eye out for more information. It’s exciting to finally start seeing names attached to the event, and I’m looking forward to seeing who else gets added to the lineup!
My Completely Reasonable Wish List
I would LOVE to see Matt Dinniman and Jeff Hays come back. I’ve already written a full review of the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobook, because Jeff Hays deserves an entire conversation of his own. If you’ve listened, you know. And obviously…
Andy.
Maybe the success surrounding Project Hail Mary will bring Andy Weir and Ray Porter to BookCon in 2027. A girl can hope. Last year’s author list also included names like Jodi Picoult and Meg Cabot.
Meg Cabot!
BookCon is apparently the place where your teenage reading life, your twenties, and your thirties/forties all get to show up for the same weekend. I don’t know exactly what stage of my life we’re reliving at any given panel, but I’m here for all of them.
I Also Need to Talk About Indie Alley
One of the things I’m really looking forward to exploring is Indie Alley. It’s a dedicated part of BookCon for discovering independent authors—and for 2027 they’re expanding it to include independent artists too. I love the idea of going to an event excited about authors I already know and walking out having discovered a whole new list of people I want to read.
Thank God I’m one of those Kindle readers, or I’d probably need an extra suitcase just for the trip home. Although let’s be realistic. If I meet an indie author, love their story, and there’s a signed hard copy sitting in front of me? I’m probably coming home with a book or two.
Tickets: I Have a Date on My Calendar
Public tickets for BookCon 2027 go on sale: November 19 at 12 PM ET There is also a November 18 presale for eligible previous Premium VIP ticket holders. I don’t qualify for that one, so November 19 it is.
The official 2027 ticket pricing hasn’t been posted yet, so I’m not going to guess. I’ll update this when BookCon releases the prices and ticket options. What I do know is that after seeing how quickly 2026 sold out, I’m not planning to casually remember sometime that afternoon.
I will be ready.
And Since We’re Going to New York…
Obviously I’m not flying to New York, attending BookCon and immediately flying home. This is becoming a whole trip. I’m already making my sightseeing list, which will absolutely include some of my favorite movie and TV locations. And Strawberry Fields is non-negotiable.
I’ve been to New York before, and as far as I’m concerned, no trip is complete without walking through Central Park and stopping at the Imagine mosaic.
The Imagine mosaic at Strawberry Fields — non-negotiable.
Now I just need to figure out which of my book-loving mom friends I’m dragging along with me. I’m sure one of them can be persuaded. Probably.
Follow Along While I Plan This
Right now I’m still firmly in the planning and rabbit-hole stage, which is exactly why I’m writing this now instead of pretending I already know everything about BookCon. As the author lineup comes out, tickets go on sale, I figure out where I’m staying, and my New York plans start coming together, I’ll update this and share what I’m finding.
And if Matt Dinniman, Jeff Hays, Andy Weir or Ray Porter gets announced? You’ll probably hear me screaming before I get the chance to update the website.
See the Latest BookCon Update →
