The Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest, is a community-based celebration for book lovers presented by the not-for-profit Near South Planning Board.

More than 100,000 visitors are expected over the two-day festival, which will feature carefully selected offerings from over 100 booksellers; everything from the tattered to the rare to ‘hot off the press,’ newly published works.

Printers Row Lit Fest is monitoring the latest CDC and City of Chicago guidelines and will follow all requirements to ensure the health and safety of its guests and authors. 

Printers Row Lit Fest is located on historic Printers Row (once the bookmaking hub of Chicago!), on and around the area of Dearborn Street, from Polk Street to the newly renamed Ida B. Wells Drive (formerly Congress Parkway) in Chicago.

The 2024 Printers Row Lit Fest takes place on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8.

Click here to see this year’s schedule!

Applications to participate as an exhibitor at Printers Row Lit Fest are no longer being accepted as we are at capacity for the event. 

For vendor questions only, email vendors@printersrowlitfest.org

If you would like to propose a program for the 2024 Printers Row Lit Fest, please fill out the application form here.

Printers Row Lit Fest features more than 100 authors participating in panels, discussions and a variety of other programs.

Check the Speakers page for updates on this year’s lineup.

All programming is free and open to the public, rain or shine! Seats are available on a first-come first-served basis.

Printers Row Lit Fest authors are asked to remain after their event for at least one hour to sign copies of their books at official Fest book-signing areas. Some authors will only sign books purchased at Fest. The types of items they choose to sign will be at their discretion and may be limited in number.

For each author event, the Printers Row Lit Fest steering committee selects a bookseller to sell the books.

The Printers Row Lit Fest has programming for family and kids held within the heart of the outdoor programming. Please check the Center Stage line-up for more info. Additional activities for kids and families are being organized in and around this programming stage.