2024 KWELI INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL
We couldn’t be more excited to share that the 2024 Kweli International Literary Festival will be held from July 13 - September 13.
The hybrid festival will feature virtual and in-person readings and conversations with debut and award-winning BIPOC writers, master classes, craft talks, and much more, as well as the year’s best opportunity to connect with agents, editors, and fellow creatives of color during the opening weekend of the festival.
As always, it’s our honor to invite longstanding beloved authors of color to speak alongside recent debuts and rising stars who are generous enough to share their honest publishing journeys with you, as well as shine light on the most urgent issues of the day through their art. It is our privilege to share that this year’s keynote speakers will be: Edwidge Danticat (MacArthur Fellow), Kenzie Allen (James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets), DéLana R. A. Dameron (South Carolina Poetry Book Prize), Susan Muaddi Darraj (American Book Award), and Crystal Wilkinson (NAACP Image Award). They will join us for opening events in July or closing events in September.
Festival Opening Weekend will be held on SATURDAY, JULY 13 - SUNDAY, JULY 14, in-person at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City.
The weekend program will include Ayana Mathis (2024 - 25 Berlin Prize Fellow), Jaquira Diaz (Whiting Award), Megha Majumdar (National Book Critics Circle Leonard Prize Finalist), Hannah Giorgis Yohannes (AKO Caine Prize Finalist), Tyriek White (2024 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” Honoree), a keynote conversation between Crystal Wilkinson (NAACP Image Award) and Kaitlyn Greenidge (Radcliffe Fellow) along with other highly acclaimed writers, as well as groundbreaking debut authors. Take a peek at our Schedule at a Glance.
In addition, there will be a free in-person pre-Festival reading and performance event on Friday, July 12, 2024 with Emily Raboteau at Ballet Hispánico. This pre-festival event will feature recorded music and choreographed dance.
Additional multi media readings and performances will take place at Ballet Hispánico throughout the summer.
The festival continues virtually through September with Master Classes, and Craft Talks curated for writers of color by teaching artists, Kenzie Allen, Hannah Bae, Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, and Crystal Hana Kim.
Registration includes in-person Opening Weekend tickets with access to all-day programming featuring keynote conversations and breakout sessions offered on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, as well as access to the special multimedia readings, conversations, master classes and craft talks that are scheduled from July 15th through September 13th.
Have questions about registration, scholarships, refund policy, etc.? Check our Frequently Asked Questions
Kweli International Festival Opening Weekend at Teachers College - Full Schedule
Kweli International Literary Festival Faculty
Can’t make it to in-person Opening Weekend? Register for our VIRTUAL Festival ($100)
Kweli International Festival Readings and Conversations
Kweli International Literary Festival Scholarship Application (deadline to apply is Monday, July 1, 6:00PM EST)
Program Book PDF | Kweli International Literary Festival
The Racial Literacy Project @ Teachers College, the Gordon Institute for Urban and Minority Education, United Way of New York City and Victoria Sanders & Associates are co-sponsoring our event.
See highlights from past festivals below!
Click here for the 2023 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2022 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2021 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2020 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2019 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2018 Kweli International Literary Festival.
