What’s it like to go to BookCon: Where the fandom can shine and the lines are long

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Traveling through BookCon was a kind of writing environment. As I approached the exhibition space, a collection of cables filled the Javits Center as if they had been thrown from an episode of Bridgerton. The show floor was filled with exhibits from the big five publishers to indie publishers, as attendees hoped to find the advanced copy they were looking for. Before the event started, as I approached the meeting place about two hours before it started, the line wrapped around several city blocks.

However, at the fairgrounds, despite the long lines, there was harmony among the attendees. There was a quick rush around the HarperCollins booth as the publisher handed out tickets to the author signings, but those in attendance were polite, asking and answering each other’s questions, and excitedly sharing which author signings they hoped to score. This is a gathering of fans, to celebrate a shared passion for learning, and it felt like people came ready to enjoy that community.

BookCon’s return to New York City comes after a six-year hiatus. From the last BookCon, which took place in 2019, to 2026, the book industry has undergone seismic shifts, no doubt due to the results of BookTok, which helped to revive the sale of print books. Romance and fantasy, two of the most popular genres, have fervent beliefs, and they all came to life at BookCon.

In the past six months, books have had a big moment, with the success and excitement of Rachel Reid’s. Hot Competition following its conversion to HBO Max. It’s hard not to compare it to the burning of Harry Potter followers. At BookCon’s opening panel, Reid was joined by Jacob Tierney, the creator of Change, for their first public conversation about the show, and the room was packed with 3,000 fans — you’d think it was a ComicCon panel for Marvel’s Avengers. Reid put it best, saying that this level of author fame sounds strange, and that “writers don’t get recognized.”

BookCon was a place of uninhibited book joy. A place for fans to connect with other fans and be book nerds together – I’ve even seen writers banter with each other. There were hoards of all kinds of Heated Rivalry hockey jerseys or t-shirts. If you didn’t know the faces of Connor Storie and Hudson Williams before BookCon, you sure would. But in equal numbers, people were gearing up to celebrate all their favorite authors, especially Andy Weir and Sarah J. Maas. Attendees brought free books, too, with collapsible shopping carts that they pulled with their loot.

This two-day event was a sprint, and even putting the event together, I didn’t feel like I could make it all the way. But with the first BookCon in six years in the rearview and next year on the horizon, these are my takeaways.

Amazon is notably absent

The most popular e-reader is Amazon’s Kindle. Amazon, however, was largely absent from the event, ironically being the largest bookseller in the United States. But at BookCon, other retailers were front and center, including Barnes and Noble stores and New York’s Greenlight Books and The Ripped Bodice. The main stage was presented by Thrift Books, and before each event, sponsors of the event were rolled out, including Binc, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps struggling independent stores. Having these event-focused businesses felt like a statement against Amazon, which has a history of working against independent bookstores.

Amazon was not entirely absent, however; was represented by its subsidiary Audible, which hosted the “Audible Story House.”

Print books still dominate

Rakuten Kobo is the only e-reader maker at BookCon 2026, showing the Kobo Clara and Kobo Remote.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As a journalist covering e-readers, I expected to see them in the hands of attendees and on the show floor. Rakuten Kobo is the only e-reader manufacturer at BookCon 2026.

Turns out, BookCon was a surprisingly analog event. At any meeting, you will find attendees taking breaks in the long hallways, and when people were reading, there was always a book on hand. So when I walked into the event planning to ask what e-readers were attending, I ended up seeing the joy of print being celebrated.

Fans have thoughts about the future of BookCon

Reviews of BookCon 2026 have been mixed on Instagram and Reddit.
Credit: Mashable Photo Composite

When I attended BookCon 2026 as a member of the press, I had a great experience, but as always, fans will let you know when things fall short. In the comments on BookCon’s Instagram, fans shared their frustrations about long lines and not getting reservations for author signings. Crowds were packed for the event, which was a common complaint, although many noted that the crowds were smaller on Sunday for a more enjoyable experience.

The negative comments tend to be loud, and there is still some positive feedback about the event, which I’ve seen on the BookCon subreddit. It’s not unreasonable to expect a perfect event after a hiatus of nearly seven years, and with next year’s dates already in the books for April 10 and 11, 2027, BookCon organizers, ReedPop, have a year to listen to attendee feedback for an improved event.