About this Event
Photo: 2019 Schomburg Center Literary Festival, author book signing; Isseu Diouf/Schomburg Center
IN-PERSON
Join us at our Schomburg Centennial Festival for a celebration of the African Diaspora through the power of literature, literacy, and community! We convene communities of book lovers to interact with their favorite authors and comic book creators on 135th Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards in Harlem, New York.
The Schomburg Centennial Festival will take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 13, starting at 11 AM.
The day begins with an opening cultural grounding and a keynote conversation. We continue with book talks and workshops, and more. A fan favorite from our Black Comic Book Festival, the Very Black Cosplay Showcase brings characters to life!
All day you can take part in readings, panel discussions, workshops, photo activations, bookish marketplace, mobile library, and more. We will close the day with musical performances and an old-school block party. Last year we celebrated with DJ D-Nice, Slick Rick and The Soapbox Presents. Stay tuned for our 2026 musical performance announcement!
LOCATION
The festival will take place in Schomburg’s landmark building at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, as well as outdoors on 135th Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevards.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Schedule will be live on May 29.
Schedule and participants are subject to change.
MARKET PLACE - 135TH STREET
The Marketplace located on 135th Street between Malcolm X Blvd. and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. is a great place to support local authors and the Schomburg Pop-Up Shop including:
Comic Book Row
Calling All BLERDS! Swing by Comic Book Rowand grab all your favorite comics, anime, and sci-fi reads.
NYPL Countee Cullen Mobile Library
Mobile library, library card sign up, story time, and book giveaways!
Vendors
GET CENTENNIAL UPDATES
NOTICES
AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING Programs are photographed and recorded by the Schomburg Center. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library.
PRESS Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to Leah Drayton at [email protected].
Please note that professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent.
E-TRANSPORTATION NYPL policy prohibits electric transportation devices (e.g., motorbikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards) from being brought into or stored at library sites for any length of time, as this is the best way to keep our spaces & people safe.
ACCESSIBLILITYMAccessibility requests can be made by e-mail [email protected].
Leadership support for the Schomburg Center's Centennial is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Andreas C. Dracopoulos.
Additional support is provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation.
The 2025 Schomburg Center Centennial Festival is powered by Puma.
Additional support provided by HarperCollins Publishers
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, United States
USD 0.00
