Welcome to the Literary Family Reunion
Kinfolk Lit Fest is three full days of Black books, conversations and community in Indianapolis.
Across eight tracks, readers can spend the weekend in conversation with the storytellers behind the books they love, learn from the people shaping the business of books and experience a literary festival built to feel like family.
Books You Know. Authors You’ll Meet.
The stories you love. The storytellers behind them. All coming together at Kinfolk Lit Fest.
Follow Your Track
Think of each genre track as its own mini-festival.
Follow one track all weekend or hop between conversations based on the books, authors and topics calling your name.
Some cuzzins build their whole weekend around their favorite genre. Others want a little bit of everything. These tracks are here to help you plan your literary journey, not box you in.
Explore all eight tracks below.
Black to the Future
From intergalactic visions to haunted houses and magical lineages, this track explores what happens when Black imagination has no limits. Afrofuturism, fantasy, horror, and sci-fi welcome here.
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
Messy, magical, and growing up Black. Whether it’s first love, rebellion, or soft rage, these stories capture what it means to figure it all out and still dance after.
Don’t Go in There!
Suspense, crime, psychological thrillers, and that cousin who yells at the screen. These reads are pulse-pounding, jaw-dropping, and “one more chapter at 2AM” certified.
Drawn + Written
Comics, graphic novels, poetry, illustrated works, and other stories where words and visuals share the page. This track celebrates the many ways Black stories get drawn, written, and brought to life.
Kinfolk Lit Talks
The business behind the books. Publishing professionals, creators, and industry insiders talk craft, careers, access, trends, and what it takes to move stories from idea to audience.
Love Jones & Situationships
Swooning, steamy, soft, and messy from slow burns to entanglements. Whether it’s giving “forever ever” or “he toxic but I like it,” this track is for lovers of Black love in all its forms.
Our Stories, Our Terms
From quiet family sagas to loud ass reunions, this track celebrates the richness of Black life across genres. Whether you’re into Southern epics, diaspora dramas, this is where voice, character, and legacy shine.
Real Life, Real Talk
Memoir, biography, history, politics, and social commentary. These conversations dig into the lives we live, the systems we navigate, and the stories that help us understand both.
The Conversations Are the Destination
THREE FULL DAYS
Kinfolk Lit Fest features six literary conversations per track each day across eight tracks, followed by daily author signings.
Detailed programming and session schedules will be announced as we get closer to the reunion.
Stay With the Family
Signia by Hilton Indianapolis
Our official host hotel is connected directly to the Indiana Convention Center, so the reunion stays close even when the conversations wrap for the day.
Festival registration and meals will take place at the hotel. Festival rate and booking information will be available on our Hotels page.
Join the Family
Kinfolk Lit Fest takes a whole literary family. There’s a place for authors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters at the reunion.
Participant Application
Join the conversation as a featured participant in Kinfolk Lit Fest programming.
Volunteer With Us
Help us bring the literary family reunion to life.
Become a Sponsor
Explore partnership opportunities with Kinfolk Lit Fest.
Support Kinfolk Lit
Help us keep building spaces for Black books, readers and storytellers.
Put Your Brand in the Room
PARTNERSHIPS
Partner with Kinfolk Lit Fest and connect with readers, authors, publishing professionals and book influencers shaping conversations around Black books and culture.
Pull Up to the Reunion.
Indianapolis, Indiana | July 16–18, 2027
Three days. Eight tracks. More books, authors and conversations than you can fit into one weekend.
Come find your people at Kinfolk Lit Fest.