• Schedule and author appearances subject to change.
• All panels and signings are free and open to the public except for the keynote talks and the YA Smackdown.
• All seating is general admission.
• For signings, please bring no more than 3 books per author per trip through line.
• Pictures are permitted, but authors may not be able to accommodate all requests.
• Festival staff may limit some signings with wristbands as needed to allow authors to keep their schedules.
455 King Street
map →446 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →4 Vanderhorst Street
map →43 John St.
map →Presented by Underlined.
Signings by 14 authors at various Upper King Street venues.
map →455 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →501 King Street
map →4 Vanderhorst Street
map →43 John St.
map →446 King Street
map →1067 King Street
Presented by Fierce Reads.
YALLFest goes uptown! Join a select group of best-selling YA authors — for this special Friday preview event hosted by Macmillan Fierce Reads — featuring book signings, giveaways, button making, games, and food treats!
Featuring authors Roshani Chokshi, Nadine Courtney, Emily A. Duncan, Sara Faring, Stephanie Garber, Kami Garcia, Maurene Goo, Kim Liggett, Alex London, Adrienne Young, and Jodie Lynn Zdrok.
SOLD OUT
map →422 King Street
*Signing is contingent on travel schedule. Pray for no delays!
map →68 Calhoun Street
Presented by Penguin Teen.
Your favorite YA authors walk the red carpet and then gather for a panel discussion at this annual kickoff event.
Featuring authors Renée Ahdieh, Danielle Paige, Ally Condie, Brendan Reichs, Julie Dao, Charlotte Davis, and Tochi Onyebuchi.
SOLD OUT
map →446 King Street
Presented by Disney Publishing Worldwide.
Your favorite Disney authors team up with fans and chef Shuai Wang from forthcoming Jackrabbit Filly for fast-paced food challenges. Hosted by Corrie Wang and featuring authors Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova, and Kwame Mbalia.
SOLD OUT
map →422 King Street
Start the day off right! Come meet awesome authors, eat a delicious donut, and get a “Be True to Your Shelf” tote bag. Featuring Sharon Cameron, Mason Deaver, Debbie Rigaud, Rosiee Thor, and Kaitlin Ward. At the I Read YA Tent next to the Big Tent at Blue Bicycle Books.
map →360 Meeting Street
Enjoy some hot biscuits and mix and mingle with authors Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova, Kwame Mbalia, and Corrie Wang.
map →422 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
Start your day with coffee, cider, treats, and a reusable coffee sleeve.
map →37 John Street
Presented by Penguin Teen.
Powerhouse of inventive YA fantasy Holly Black (The Cruel Prince) and and sparkling up-and-coming talent Tochi Onyebuchi (Beasts Made of Night) give us a glimpse into their magical minds in an unforgettable opening keynote conversation. Moderated by Veronica Roth.
$9.
Wristbands for Holly Black’s signing (happening at 11 a.m.) will be given out first-come first serve at the Opening Keynote, 10 am on Saturday. You must have a ticket to get a wristband, and no one is allowed to line up for the 11 am signing without a wristband
map → tickets →
37 John Street
Whether a fandom is just one of many sources of inspiration, or actually finds its way into a book, every author was a fan before they were a writer. Come find out if your faves like your faves. Cosplay encouraged. Moderated by Veronica Roth with Stephanie Garber, Maurene Goo, Adam Silvera, and Angie Thomas.
map →360 Meeting Street
Want to get lost in a world that feels completely new and unexpected? These authors can make that happen. Moderated by Julie C. Dao with Roshani Chokshi, Kami Garcia, Megan Shepherd, Adrienne Young, and Amélie Wen Zhao.
map →446 King Street
These love stories are way more complicated than the standard formula — and way more fun. Moderated by Tiffany Schmidt with Nandini Bajpai, Ronni Davis, Sophie Jordan, Christine Riccio, and Debbie Rigaud.
map →446 King Street
Writers of action-packed tales that get hearts pounding and pages turning. Moderated by Carrie Ryan with Sharon Cameron, Emily A. Duncan, Kwame Mbalia, Derek Milman, and Corrie Wang.
map →422 King Street
Wristbands for Holly Black’s signing will be given out first-come first serve at the Opening Keynote, 10 am on Saturday. You must have a ticket to get a wristband, and no one is allowed to line up for the 11 am signing without a wristband
360 Meeting Street
map →422 King Street
map →446 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →37 John Street
map →446 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
Meet debut author Namina Forna and receive a signed exclusive YALLFest ARC!
map →360 Meeting Street
Sponsored by Riveted. Come to the Charleston Museum Courtyard at 12:00pm to show your bookish school spirit and snag exclusive swag! Ask for a wristband at the Riveted by Simon Teen booth to secure your spot!
map →37 John Street
Presented by Kindle Direct Publishing.
A YALLWEST favorite descends on Charleston, a game of brave and honest hearts! Moderated by Brendan Reichs with Soman Chainani, Ally Condie, Kate DiCamillo, Kwame Mbalia, and Margaret Stohl.
map →360 Meeting Street
Whether they’re making us laugh, cry, or fall in love—or all three at once—these authors give us some insights into their Emotional Wizardry. Moderated by Sophie Jordan with Mason Deaver, Jenny Han, Adam Silvera, and Nic Stone.
map →446 King Street
From Star Wars to Shakespeare, these engaging yarns take an existing framework and make it all their own. Moderated by Zoraida Córdova with Kami Garcia, Danielle Paige, and Tiffany Schmidt.
map →446 King Street
They say the real monsters we fight are within. Well, in this case, they’re wrong. How do you stay alive when your enemies are big, scary, and murdery? Come find out. Moderated by Scott Reintgen with Cinda Williams Chima, Coco Ma, Ashley Poston, and Kaitlin Ward.
map →422 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
map →446 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
map →37 John Street
map →37 John Street
map →418 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
Divided societies, wild west adventure, and journeys through the stars—these books have all the dreams (and nightmares) of the future you could possibly want. Moderated by Ashley Poston with Zoraida Córdova, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Scott Reintgen, and Corrie Wang.
map →446 King Street
Whether their battles are close to home or in unfamiliar lands, these girls rise to the occasion — and redefine strength. Moderated by Jodie Lynn Zdrok with Dhonielle Clayton, Nadine Jolie Courtney, Camryn Garrett, Brittney Morris, and Rory Power.
map →446 King Street
After something tough happens, how do we move forward? Life dealt these characters a tough hand, but their stories are far from over. Moderated by Ronni Davis with Kacen Callender, Mason Deaver, and Mark Oshiro.
map →360 Meeting Street
Sponsored by Penguin Random House Audio.
Compete head-to-head with fellow fans and bestselling authors Nic Stone, Renee Ahdieh, David Levithan and Alex London in themed categories featuring clips from popular audiobooks.
map →446 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
map →446 King Street
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map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
Tor Teen will give away 50 ARCs of A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow to the first 50 attendees upon entrance to the panel Tales from the Future.
map →37 John Street
Presented by Disney Worldwide Publishing.
Join beloved authors of novels for all ages, Kate DiCamillo (Beverly, Right Here) and Roshani Chokshi (Aru Shah and the Song of Death) with moderator Ally Condie as they discuss telling tales that children love, following their imaginations into an astonishing variety of stories, and how, exactly, you entertain and inspire choosy readers by the thousands.
$9
map → tickets →418 King Street
Meet influencer and debut author Lilia Buckingham and receive a signed exclusive YALLFest ARC.
map →360 Meeting Street
Join Fierce Reads for bingo (with incredible prizes!), swag giveaways, and special messages straight from your favorite authors!
map →446 King Street
Grab a free hot beverage of your choice and spend the afternoon with some Tor Teen authors. This ticketed event will be limited to 50 attendees. Tickets will be distributed Saturday morning at 10am in front of the American Theater. Featuring Charlotte Nicole Davis, Tochi Onyebuchi, Mark Oshiro, and Jodie Lynn Zdrok.
map →37 John Street
Amateur sleuths! World-famous pop stars! Ambitious rappers! Don’t let the real-world settings of these stories fool you—these contemporary tales are as imaginative as they come. Moderated by Nic Stone with Mary H.K. Choi, Jenny Han, Karen M. McManus, and Angie Thomas.
map →360 Meeting Street
They’re sent to kill, but their stories are far more complicated than life and death. Moderated by Rosiee Thor with Jordan Ifueko, Danielle Paige, and Amélie Wen Zhao.
map →446 King Street
Stories that will neither be contained nor categorized. They will, however, entrance. Moderated by Sharon Cameron with Sara Faring, David Levithan, Kim Liggett, and Rory Power.
map →446 King Street
Whatever the world, there are those who covet power, glamor, nobility, and status and those who would do anything to escape it. Moderated by Megan Shepherd with Kacen Callender, Makiia Lucier, and Coco Ma.
map →418 King Street
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map →422 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →37 John Street
map →446 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →446 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
Join HMH Teen for a Waffle and Bookstagram party! Grab some waffles, take Insta-worthy pictures, and hang out with authors Megan Shepherd, Makiia Lucier, and Sophie Jordan at the Charleston Museum Courtyard.
map →37 John Street
Welcome to worlds where morals are grey, magic is dark, and the line between heroes and villains is hardly ever clear. Each of these fantasies will transport you to adventure where wonder abounds but safety is not guaranteed. Moderated by Holly Black with Dhonielle Clayton, Renée Ahdieh, Emily A. Duncan, Alex London, and Cinda Williams Chima.
map →360 Meeting Street
Come and escape into someone else’s life for a little while with these stellar contemporary authors. Moderated by Mark Oshiro with Nadine Jolie Courtney, Camryn Garrett, and Julian Winters.
map →446 King Street
Authors who write across the LGBTQIA+ are ready to answer anything you want to ask in this annual celebration of community, trust, and open conversation. Moderated by David Levithan with Kacen Callender, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Mason Deaver, Derek Milman, Ashley Poston, Rosiee Thor, and others.
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →446 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →37 John Street
map →446 King Street
map →418 King Street
Could you survive a YA thriller? Roll the dice to seal your fate and win a prize.
map →37 John Street
Let’s be real: we’ve all longed for the ability to summon the remote from across the room when we’re comfy on the couch. These characters might just be able to do it — and more. But what happens when a regular person finds themselves capable of doing something…irregular? (Fun and mayhem, that’s what.) Moderated by Soman Chainani with Julie C. Dao, Kim Liggett, Brendan Reichs, Margaret Stohl, and Adrienne Young.
map →360 Meeting Street
Authors of various genres talk building compelling mysteries… and the winsome characters who solve them. Moderated by Renée Ahdieh with Sara Faring, Derek Milman, Brittney Morris, Carrie Ryan, Jodie Lynn Zdrok
map →446 King Street
How does mental illness fit into a world with dragons? If a civilization has spaceships, would it also have Prozac? And who does an elf see when they need a therapist? This panel will explore mental illness in genre fiction, because even epic heroes can use some help sometimes. Moderated by Alex London with Charlotte Nicole Davis, Tochi Onyebuchi, Veronica Roth, and Kaitlin Ward.
map →446 King Street
Booktubers Jesse George, Kat O’Keefe, and Christine Riccio
map →418 King Street
map →37 John Street
map →418 King Street
map →418 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →422 King Street
map →360 Meeting Street
Tor Teen will give away 50 ARCs of Sensational by Jodie Lynn Zdrok to the first 50 attendees upon entrance to the panel Moody and Mysterious.
360 Meeting Street
Fame and high school both have their challenges, but the combination of the two can get dramatic. Explore tales of celebrity and notoriety with these notorious authors. Moderated by Maurene Goo with Nandini Bajpai, Mary H.K. Choi, Debbie Rigaud, and Julian Winters.
map →446 King Street
Nothing should keep them together, anything might to tear them apart. Moderated by Makiia Lucier with Ally Condie, Jordan Ifueko, and Rosiee Thor.
map →37 John Street
Presented by Flatiron Books and Underlined.
Master of the YA thriller Karen McManus (Two Can Keep a Secret) joins with the lush imagination of Stephanie Garber (Finale) in a conversation that will keep you on the edge of your seat, at the outer limit of your dreams, and ready to devour their unputdownable novels. Craft, creativity, and killer plots will close out this year’s YALLFest.
$9
map → tickets →37 John Street
Presented by Reading Partners.
YALLFest’s most beloved tradition, the Smackdown, will bring your favorite authors on stage with hosts Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) and Nic Stone (Dear Martin) for games, laughs, tears and dancing. $16.
map → tickets →