June 10, 2025
By Aryanna Gamble
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University is growing and families are getting an extra day of literary magic. Beginning in 2026, the festival’s popular Family Day at the Fest will move to Sunday, March 15, creating a dedicated day of programming for children and families to close out the festival weekend.
Traditionally held on Saturday alongside the festival’s general lineup, Family Day will now shine on its own stage with a full schedule of kid-friendly author readings, interactive performances, costumed characters, crafts and community literacy partners—all free and open to the public.
“This move gives us the chance to elevate Family Day even further,” said Cheryl Landrieu, festival co-chair. “By extending the festival into Sunday, we’re creating more space for families to explore, connect and celebrate the joy of reading without competing with other programming.”
The core festival schedule will remain unchanged, with an opening keynote session on Thursday evening, followed by full days of author conversations and panels on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, March 15, will be exclusively devoted to Family Day programming.
The 2025 Family Day featured over 20 children’s authors, 22 community partners, and more than 5,000 free books distributed in partnership with Scholastic. The dedicated Sunday format aims to build on that success and provide an even more welcoming and immersive experience for young readers and their families.
“Family Day is one of the most joyful and inclusive parts of the festival,” said Landrieu. “We’re thrilled to give it the spotlight it deserves.”
More details about Family Day and the full 2026 festival schedule will be announced at bookfest.tulane.edu in the coming months.
