The Cultural Review

Reading Trends

3 articles

A diverse crowd of thousands attends an outdoor book festival, with authors speaking on a stage and people browsing book stalls under sunny skies.
Books

US book festivals draw record crowds with over 80 authors

More than 80,000 people registered for tickets to the 26th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, according to WTOP .

Claire Donovan·August 24, 2026
A lively outdoor literary festival with diverse attendees, authors signing books, and stages set up for readings, all under warm evening lights.
Books

Literary Festivals Celebrate Authors and Cultural Impact

The National Book Festival saw its attendance rise from 25,000 in 2001 to over 200,000 in 2019, demonstrating a significant surge in public interest for literary events.

Claire Donovan·June 24, 2026
A diverse crowd of people enjoying a lively outdoor book festival, browsing stalls filled with books under a sunny sky.
Books

Global Book Festivals See Resurgence, Celebrate Diverse Voices

The 31st annual L.A. Times Festival of Books recently drew an estimated 168,000 attendees to the USC campus, according to the L.A. Times. This massive turnout signals a vibrant global resurgence in literary events.

Claire Donovan·April 26, 2026