If you find yourself with shelves of books filling up your home or with a little one who is diving deeper into reading, you need to mark the Pgh Book Fest on your calendar. On May 30, Pittsburgh’s official book festival returns to the Main/Oakland location of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. This one-day event fills the inside and outside of the library with workshops, author talks, a space for local vendors, Writer’s Row for authors, food trucks, mobile coffee trucks, bookstore pop-ups, and so much more. To put it simply, this is a bookworm’s dream.

What’s Happening at the Pgh Book Fest 2026?

No matter your age, favorite genre, or how often you read, there’s something for everyone at Pgh Book Fest. This year, over 50 authors and poets are taking part in discussions around trends in literature and genre deep dives. Some of the featured authors include literary fiction author Catherine Newman, science fiction author John Scalzi, romance author Chloe Liese, fantasy author Kamilah Cole, horror author Kylie Lee Baker, and even recent Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction, Daniel Kraus. All these authors will also be signing books after each of their panel discussions and author talks take place. Feel free to browse the tables by local bookshops that will also have books available for purchase from all the authors attending.

Discussion Panels and Workshops

Fill your festival schedule with the variety of discussion panels and workshops that start at 10 a.m. and end with the festival at 6 p.m. You can start your morning with programs like Burning the Midnight Oil: Academic Thrillers, Love is a Battlefield: Romantasy, Country Roads: Modern Appalachia, and Home is Where the Horror Is: Contemporary Gothic Novels. Then, in the afternoon, make plans to hit up the author talks Far Out! Exploring Sci Fi with John Scalzi and Isabel J. Kim and Daniel Kraus: From Best Sellers to Blockbusters as well as programs Chloe Liese and Laura Piper Lee Talk Contemporary Romance, Growing Together: Black History Through Family, Food, and Foliage, and The Suspense is Killing Me: Thrillers. Finally, end the day with Steven Rowley & Catherine Newman in Conversation to close out the festival.

If you prefer more of a hands-on, interactive learning experience, Pgh Book Fest also provides a number of workshops for writers and those simply interested in literature. The sessions span lessons on creating a brand identity, learning about the Pittsburgh publishing scene, finding your writing spark, crafting universes and rules of magic, tips for freelancing, and even one about the influence of fanfiction. Who knows, after one of these workshops you could find yourself on the author side of things at next year’s festival.

Kid’s Programming

Encourage your kids to immerse themselves in the literary world with children and young adult programming that encompasses author discussions and storytime sessions. Whether your little one is into middle grade fiction, tween fiction, or even nonfiction, there’s something for every kiddo. There’s even a designated children’s area inside the Carnegie Library with activities and reading spaces.

For Poetry Lovers

Not so much into long-form? No problem! Even though Pgh Book Fest may have you thinking of hardbacks, poetry is an integral part of the celebration. Each year the festival invites local and national poets to share their works in readings starting at 10:15 a.m. and finishing at 4:45 p.m. Stop into the tent throughout the day to rest your legs and hear stories both emotional and heartwarming.

Not to mention, if you’re a poet yourself, the festival hosts workshops that invite you to you to heal your inner child through poetry, invent your own poetry form, learn about centos poems, and even hear from local poet Sony Ton-Aime.

Pick-Your-Own Adventure

We know that looking at all the programming at Pgh Book Fest can be a lot to sort out, especially if it’s your first time attending the festival. Luckily, they put together various schedules depending on your literary preference that you can follow along with to make your day easier. You can choose from 10 different pathways that range from True Yinzers to Horror Heads, Fantasy Adventurers, and Nonfiction Fanatics. Each of the pathways lays out the workshops and discussions that correlate to the genre in question.

But, if we had to make our own TABLE Magazine pathway for the festival, here’s what we’d pick:

10 a.m.-11 a.m.: PGH Screams: Daniel Kraus and How the Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World at Tansky Family Commons in the Hillman Library

11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.: Country Roads: Modern Appalachia at Tansky Family Commons in the Hillman Library

1 p.m.-2 p.m.: Far Out! Exploring Sci Fi with John Scalzi and Isabel J. Kim at the Lecture Hall in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Word + Image: Poems Inspired by Works of Art at the Magazines & Newspapers Room in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Growing Together: Black History Through Family, Food, and Foliage at the South Wing Reading Room in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

5 p.m.-6 p.m.: Steven Rowley & Catherine Newman in Conversation at the Lecture Hall in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Story by Kylie Thomas
Featured Photo Courtesy of Pgh Book Fest

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Playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Aleshea Harris makes her feature film debut with Is God Is, a jarring and intense tale of siblings tasked with revenge.

Is God Is Movie Review

A Lauded Playwright Becomes a Vital New Filmmaker

Is God Is, which Harris adapted from her own play, follows a pair of twin sisters bonded by blood — and trauma. When they were very young, their abusive father attempted to murder their mother, leaving both sisters with disfiguring burn scars; they were raised in foster care, believing their mother had died in the attack. In the present day, they’ve learned their mother is alive — and she has a deadly mission for them.

Harris approaches the film with both practiced pacing and a rookie’s daring. In its structure, characterization and pace, her script is a marvel; this is a tale with intimate stakes and epic sweep. In her approach, however, she is unafraid to be bold. The twins communicate to one another with looks and gestures that are transcribed on screen like living subtitles. Dialogue flows into narration, soliloquy and aside with a poet’s grace. Shots are composed with immediacy and suspense.

Is God Is announces Harris as an important filmmaker — one who will undoubtedly make more excellent films in the years to come.

A Violent, But Immensely Satisfying, Tale

I do not, however, mean that this film is a warm-up. It is a powerful, if grim, achievement of its own — and it is packed with fantastic performances.

Kara Young, who plays more talkative twin Racine — billed in the credits as Racine the Rough One — is one of Broadway’s most decorated stars, a two-time Tony winner. She’s not new to the screen, having appeared in a number of well-received (if little seen) independent productions, but Is God Is serves as an emphatic announcement of her power. Mallori Johnson — playing the other twin, Anaia the Quiet One — says as much with silence and uncertainty as Young does with bravado.

They’re buoyed by an all-star supporting cast, including Vivica A. Fox, Janelle Monáe and Sterling K. Brown; the latter plays the twins’ sinister father, named only as The Monster. He turns his charming persona into a manifestation of evil with little more than a slow delivery and an unsettling stare.

The experience of watching Is God Is will be jarring to some viewers; it’s violent, unflinching and bold. In its wake, however, you’ll know you’ve experienced an important film. Expect it to linger; expect Harris to make masterpieces.

Another Comedy Icon Gets a Documentary and More New Films This Week

Martin Short becomes the latest comedy star to receive the streaming-documentary treatment in Marty: Life is Short, premiering on Netflix. Short’s friend Lawrence Kasdan directs the film, which delivers the familiar beats of a friendly biography: interviews about Short’s life and career, testimonials from famous friends, and clips from his most iconic performances. This material is fine, if unremarkable; the film shines, however, when it shows Short’s home movies. A lover of camcorders, Short captured his family and all-star buddies in unscripted moments for decades. You’ll wish that this material made up more of the film; a hilarious and touching twist on Grey Gardens-style filmmaking would’ve been delightful. As it is, Life is Short is a pleasant diversion with some great footage buried within.

Obsession — Be Careful What You Wish For

A classic be-careful-what-you-wish-for tale gets a modern update in Obsession, also new this week. A lovelorn young man longs for his childhood crush to obsess over him. After some metaphysical chicanery grants his wish, her fixation spirals into something terrifying. Director Curry Barker isn’t exactly a newbie. The sketch-comedy veteran also made the feature Milk & Serial on a budget of just $800, but this marks the first time he has worked with a significant budget.

The 40th anniversary screenings of Top Gun continue through this weekend. Audiences still seem to crave the need for speed, so theaters have paired some showings with screenings of the long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick.(Don’t tell anyone with a strong nostalgia drive, but the latter film is much better.)

Speaking of anniversaries: We regret to inform you that it’s the 25th anniversary of Shrek. Not out of an objection to Shrek per se, that’s just a crippling reminder of the passage of time. See the ogre as well as his donkey friend back on the big screen this weekend at select multiplexes.

Story by Sean Collier
Featured Photo Courtesy of Patti Perrit / Amazon Content Services

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