Every year, bookstores, libraries, universities, and organizations host engaging programs that spotlight censorship.

Are you hosting an event for Banned Books Week? Putting up a display? Click here to let us know about it, and we’ll share it here for the world to find! (Please note: Your event will not appear right away. A moderator will post as soon as possible.)

If you are organizing a virtual event, choose “Virtual Event” for the venue. If it is an in-person event, please provide complete address and time information, as well as contact information so we can send queries for clarification. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee your event will display correctly. Thank you!

If you have any questions, please email coordinator@bannedbooksweek.org

Banning Oz: Wicked Writers Discuss Book Challenges

Virtual Event

For the past century, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has faced book bans and challenges. In modern times, the revisionist novel Wicked and its hugely popular musical adaptation have faced similar censorship around the country. Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, and Winnie Holzman, bookwriter ... Read More

Free

Community Read-In for Banned Books Week

Croton Free Library 171 Cleveland Dr, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, United States

Kick off Banned Books Week with a Community Read-In! Library staff and community guests will host a public storytime and read aloud from children's books that have been banned or challenged in the last decade. Adults, teens, and older kids are welcome to just bring a blanket or lawn chair and read together on the ... Read More

Free

Unstoppable Stories: A Banned Books Festival

River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

With book banning at an all-time high, it's important for people of faith and those who care about the future of all American children to resist these efforts. Celebrate and lift up the books and stories that reflect and change people’s lives! Come to the 2-day banned books festival organized by Unitarian Universalist faith communities ... Read More

The 2023 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

Chappaqua Train Station Allen Place, Chappaqua, NY, United States

The 10th Anniversary of The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival  The 10th Anniversary of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF) will take place on Saturday, September 30, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Chappaqua Train Station in Chappaqua, New York. This year’s Festival will be the largest one yet, with 180 authors in attendance ... Read More

Free

Booktoberfest: Banned Books Panel

Planet Word 925 13th St NW, Washington, DC, United States

The capstone of Shout Mouse Press's Booktoberfest event will be a thoughtful panel discussion on banned books (2:30-3:30pm) moderated by Glory Edim (Well-Read Black Girl) to honor Banned Books Week. Other panelists include: Keesha Ceran of Social Justice Books, 2022 SLJ Librarian of the Year K.C. Boyd, and two of Shout Mouse Press authors, Sasa Aakil ... Read More

Free

On Censorship with James LaRue

The Bookworm 295 Main Street C101, Edwards, United States

Celebrate Banned Books Week and listen to James LaRue as he presents his book On Censorship, which uses humor, reason, and intelligence to build a case against censorship. LaRue recounts stories from his experience as a librarian confronting book banning, while also casting a wider net to encompass larger issues of censorship. Librarians and educators ... Read More

$10

Join Award-Winning Author Isabel Quintero Live on Instagram

Virtual Event

Join us! We're celebrating Banned Books week with an Instagram Live on Thursday, October 5th at 3 PM EST / 12 PM PST. Author Isabel Quintero will be joining us to chat about her Morris Award-winning book, GABI, A GIRL IN PIECES, plus all things banned books. You won't want to miss it.

Free

Author Series: Lydia Conklin & Rainbow, Rainbow

Alumni Hall Reading Room Nashville, TN, United States

For an encore event in our Trans & Nonbinary Author Series, LGBTQI Life will host Lydia Conklin for a read from and celebrate the paperback release of Rainbow, Rainbow and a Q&A followed by mixer. Student readers include undergraduate Sawyer Sussner and MFA candidates Kumari Devarajan and Lela Ni.  Lydia Conklin has received a Stegner Fellowship, a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s ... Read More

Freedom to Read: NYC Library Leaders on Censorship & Photographs by Kimberly Butler

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 7th Floor Event Center 455 5th Ave, New York, United States

Join The New York Public Library during Banned Books Week for a discussion about censorship in literature and the pivotal role public libraries play in championing the right to access a range of perspectives and ideas. Plus, discover photographs by Kimberly Butler, whose work explores censorship and banned books through visual media. This event will take ... Read More

Freedom to Read Storytime

Blue Island Public Library 2433 York Street, Blue Island, IL, United States

Celebrate the freedom to read by joining us for a free event at the Blue Island Public Library! Local children's author Jarrett Dapier will read his picture book, Mr. Watson's Chickens, which has been the subject of challenges and bans. A chicken-themed craft is to follow. Local independent bookstore Bookie's will be selling copies of the ... Read More

Free

Banned Books Brunch

Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice 12 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ, United States

The BRCSJ Defenders of the Right to Read invite you to our BANNED BOOKS BRUNCH to honor Harmonica Sunbeam & Senator Andrew Zwicker!

$20.00

Free to Belong: An Author Afternoon

Dayton Metro Library: Main Library Forum 215 East Third Street, Dayton, OH, United States

Spend the afternoon with three different authors: Leah Johnson (1:00), K. Ancrum (2:00), and Julian Winters (3:00). Learn from the authors about their process, their books, and their thoughts on banning books. This program will kick off a series of programs centering around intellectual freedom, because Dayton Metro Library, now a Book Sanctuary, is proud ... Read More

Free

Florida’s War on Books

Delray Beach Public Library 100 W Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, FL, United States

A talk by educator Dr. Margery Marcus on the history of censorship and book banning in Floridas schools and libraries. Sponsored by the South Florida chapter of the Women’s National Book Association and Delray Beach Public Library.

Free