The Baltimore Book Festival is set to make its anticipated return to Waverly in 2026. The event will be organized by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment (MOACE), in collaboration with City Council member Odette Ramos from the 14th District and local bookstores.
In a recent meeting, Baltimore’s Board of Estimates, responsible for overseeing the city’s financial expenditures, approved a request from the Mayor’s Office for $450,000. This funding aims to support the 28th annual book festival, the SAIL250 Maryland event, and other cultural initiatives scheduled from July 31, 2026, to June 30, 2028.
“The Baltimore Book Festival was formerly organized by Create Baltimore and later by Waverly Main Street, but moving forward, it will now be managed by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment,” the briefing statement noted in the spending board’s agenda from April 1.
“Scheduled for the Waverly neighborhood in September 2026, this cultural gathering will showcase a variety of local and national authors, including book signings, workshops, panel discussions, and vendor booths featuring literary arts and crafts,” the statement continued.
According to the briefing, the allocated funds will facilitate the planning and execution of the Baltimore Book Festival along with additional MOACE-managed cultural events and civic programs, including activities related to Sail250 aimed at boosting public engagement and enhancing Baltimore’s cultural landscape. The Baltimore Civic Fund will act as the financial overseer for these resources.
While the specifics of the festival’s exact location remain unconfirmed, the briefing did not provide details on how the allocated $450,000 will be distributed among various events. The Sail250 celebration is planned to run from June 24 to July 1 at multiple venues across Baltimore City and Baltimore County to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding. MOACE is collaborating with various organizations on this initiative.
In an email following the Board of Estimates meeting, Ramos confirmed that the 2026 book festival is slated for the weekend of September 12 and 13, retaining the same venue as the previous year.
Last year’s book festival took place on September 13 and 14, encompassing sections of 32nd Street, 31st Street, and 30th Street, spanning between Greenmount Avenue and Barclay Street. The event also extended into local bookstores, Peabody Heights Brewery, and the Waverly branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Admission to the festival has always been free.
“Indeed, we are hosting the Book Festival in Waverly, with my office and the Mayor’s Office working together alongside local bookstores,” Ramos stated in her message. “The Book Festival will be a permanent fixture in Waverly!”
