McNally Jackson Unveils Biannual Book Festival Celebrating Ideas Beyond the Page

One of New York City’s most beloved indie bookstores is turning the page on traditional book promotion with an ambitious new venture according to Vulture. McNally Jackson has announced the launch of a biannual book festival, hosted at its scenic Seaport location, with the first installment debuting this spring from May 7 through June.

Designed to break away from the publishing industry’s typical hype cycle, the festival will offer a thoughtfully curated lineup of talks, panels, and performances, all centered around the theme: “archives, historiography, and legacies.” It’s a celebration of literature, but also of the deeper ideas and cultural conversations that books spark.

A New Chapter for Literary Events

The festival isn’t just another stop on the book tour circuit. McNally Jackson founder Sarah McNally envisions it as a space where literary minds can dig deeper, and readers can engage with the ideas shaping the cultural moment. “We want to provide more access to high-level intellectual conversations in the city,” McNally said. “And to extend publicity for books beyond the few weeks surrounding publication.”

Kate Dwyer, the store’s head of events, echoed that vision, emphasizing the festival’s editorial independence. “This is not a criticism, per se, but there is this sense in publishing that book media and literary events are sort of responsive to the publishing cycle,” she told Vulture. “We’re really interested in following the culture.”

In short: this festival is about what people are thinking, not just what they’re selling.

More Than Books: Zines, Secret Guests, and a Phone-Free Party

The inaugural spring edition will include:

• A series of intellectually rich talks

• A limited-edition print zine capturing the festival’s spirit

• A phone-free closing party featuring a secret lineup and musical guest—a nod to the analog joy of discovery

This innovative blend of ideas and atmosphere aims to create a sense of cultural community that lingers far beyond the final page.

Who’s Speaking?

The lineup for the spring edition includes Parul Sehgal and Andrea Long Chu, as well as Lincoln Michel, Helen Phillips, Chloe Cooper Jones, and Kevin Nguyen—a mix of award-winning critics, novelists, and thinkers, each ready to explore legacy and literature from fresh angles.

Future festivals, slated for spring and fall each year, will continue to explore thematic ideas, making McNally Jackson’s Seaport outpost a new literary landmark for readers, writers, and thinkers alike.

In a time when attention is fleeting and book buzz often burns out in weeks, McNally Jackson’s festival invites us to slow down, think deeply, and celebrate the lasting impact of books—not just as products, but as portals to bigger conversations.