The Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival returns to downtown Toledo on Saturday, April 25, 2026, bringing together bestselling authors, illustrators, educators and hundreds of young readers for a free, all-day celebration of books and creativity designed especially for middle- and high-school students.
Now a well-established annual event, the Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival was created to encourage teens to read for pleasure by connecting them directly with authors and stories that resonate. The festival is completely volunteer-run and focused on making literature approachable, inclusive and fun.
This year’s event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Toledo School for the Arts, located at 333 14th Street. Admission is free, and free parking is available, making it easy for families and school groups from across Northwest Ohio to attend.
Bestselling YA authors headline the 2026 Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival
One of the highlights of the day is the keynote address by Susan Dennard, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her popular Witchlands fantasy series. Dennard’s engaging talks about storytelling, creativity and perseverance are especially popular with teens who love fantasy or dream of writing their own stories one day.
In addition to the keynote, dozens of authors will participate in small-group sessions and panels throughout the day. Teens can choose which sessions to attend, exploring topics like world-building, character development, writing process and the power of representation in books. Sessions repeat during the day, allowing attendees to build a schedule that fits their interests.
Below is a list of authors who will be at the event, along with their featured books:
- Chelsea Bobukski, author of A Deal With a Debutante
- Jess Callans, author of Ollie in Between
- Paul Coccia, author of Recommended Reading
- Mark Crilley, author of The Comic Book Lesson
- Susan Dennard, author of The Executioners Three
- Chanelle Desamours, author of Needy Little Things
- Kelcey Ervick, author of The Keeper
- Andrea Hannah, co-author of I Killed the King
- Scoot McMahon, author of Ninja Kaiju
- Meriam Metoui, author of Portrait of a Shadow
- Abbey Nash, author of Breathing Underwater
- Natalie D. Richards, author of 49 Miles Alone
- Tricia Springstubb, author of How to tell a True Story
- Alison Stine, author of Dust
- Suja Sukumar, author of When Mimi Went Missing
- Maya Van Wagenen, author of Chronically Dolores
- Claire Winn, author of City of Vicious Night
How to plan your day at the 2026 Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival
The festival experience goes beyond traditional author talks. Teens can relax and connect during board games with authors, take part in interactive activities and browse books by participating writers. The day concludes with Authors Alley, where attendees can purchase books and have them signed.
Free lunch is provided for all attendees, with the option to bring a packed lunch if preferred.
Families can attend independently, but many teens come with schools or youth organizations. Schools can register buses in advance; bus transportation sponsorships are available to help reduce costs, making the festival accessible to students throughout the region.
Registration details and the full author lineup will be released closer to the event at nwoteenbookfest.com.
How to get involved: volunteering, sponsorships and community support
The Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival relies on community support to keep the event free. Parents and community members can get involved by volunteering, serving on planning committees or sponsoring or donating to help cover author travel, meals and event costs.
