Strolling through BookCon felt like walking into a bibliophile’s haven. As I approached the exhibition area, a string ensemble echoed throughout the Javits Center, evoking a scene from Bridgerton. The exhibition floor was alive with booths from major and independent publishers alike, with attendees eagerly hunting for advance copies. Even prior to the event’s start, the line stretched around several city blocks as I arrived at the convention center nearly two hours ahead of time.
Attendees were primed and poised for the show floor to open precisely at 9 a.m., and the queues began forming early. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
On the show floor, despite the lengthy lines, there was a palpable sense of community among the attendees. An immediate surge occurred at the HarperCollins booth, where the publisher was offering tickets for author signings, yet attendees showed respect, posing inquiries and providing answers to one another while enthusiastically sharing which author signings they were eager to attend. This was a gathering for fans, honoring the common love of reading, and it felt like everyone came prepared to revel in that community.
BookCon’s return to New York City marks the end of a six-year hiatus. From the previous BookCon in 2019 to 2026, the publishing industry has undergone notable transformations, primarily due to BookTok, which has contributed to the resurgence of print book sales. Romance and fantasy, the two leading genres, boast passionate fanbases, and all of it was vibrant at BookCon.
Over the last six months, books have enjoyed a significant moment, highlighted by the success surrounding Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry following its adaptation by HBO Max. It’s hard not to draw parallels with the enthusiasm seen in the Harry Potter fandom. In the opening panel of BookCon, Reid was joined by Jacob Tierney, the adaptation’s creator, for their inaugural public discussion about the show, and the audience was packed with 3,000 fans — one might have thought it was a ComicCon panel for Marvel’s Avengers. Reid aptly noted that this level of recognition for an author seems rather rare, stating that “authors don’t get recognized.”
BookCon was an oasis for unrestrained, genuine book happiness. A place for fans to engage with one another and nerd out over books together — I even noticed authors expressing excitement about one another. There were throngs in every type of Heated Rivalry hockey jersey or T-shirt. If you weren’t familiar with Connor Storie and Hudson Williams’s faces before BookCon, you certainly would be afterward. Equally, many attendees sported apparel celebrating their favorite authors, particularly Andy Weir and Sarah J. Maas. Fans also arrived to collect free books, some equipped with foldable shopping carts to haul their treasures.
The two-day affair felt like a marathon, and even while covering it, I sensed I couldn’t experience everything. However, with the first BookCon in six years now behind us and next year’s on the horizon, these are my reflections.
Amazon largely missing
The dominant e-reader is undoubtedly Amazon’s Kindle. However, Amazon’s presence at the event was minimal, which felt unusual considering it is the largest bookseller in the United States. Yet at BookCon, other retailers took the spotlight, including Barnes and Noble and local New York stores like Greenlight Books and The Ripped Bodice. The main stage was sponsored by Thrift Books, and prior to each event, a reel featuring the sponsors rolled, including Binc, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting struggling independent bookstores. Having these businesses prominently featured at the event seemed like a statement against Amazon, known for its challenges to independent bookstores.
However, Amazon wasn’t totally absent; it was represented through its subsidiary Audible, which hosted the “Audible Story House.”
Print books maintain their dominance
Rakuten Kobo was the sole e-reader manufacturer present at BookCon 2026, showcasing its Kobo Clara and Kobo Remote. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
As a journalist focused on e-readers, I expected to see attendees utilizing them and on display at the show. Rakuten Kobo stood as the only e-reader producer at BookCon 2026.
It turns out, BookCon was surprisingly an analog affair. At any convention, attendees take breaks in the lengthy corridors, and when individuals were reading, it was always with a physical book. Thus, while I entered the event intending to inquire about the e-readers attendees brought, I instead experienced firsthand the celebration of print.
Fans share perspectives on BookCon’s future
Feedback from BookCon 2026 varies across Instagram and Reddit. Credit: Mashable Photo Composite
While experiencing BookCon 2026 as a member of the press, my experience was overwhelmingly positive, but as always, fans will voice where they feel things fell short. In the comments on BookCon’s Instagram, fans are