The National Book Festival in 2019.

Shawn Miller / Library of Congress

After hosting an all-virtual event last summer, the Library of Congress is bringing its annual National Book Festival back with a mix of virtual and in-person events.

The 10-day festival will feature conversations with a host of big-name authors, poets, and illustrators, including: horror novelist Silvia Moreno-Garcia, editor and columnist Roxane Gay, Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro, Pulitzer Prize-winner Isabel Wilkerson, novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen, and actor Michael J. Fox, who’s written a memoir. The event’s initial list of speakers also includes young adult novelist Angie Thomas, radio journalist Maria Hinojosa, and renowned poet Nikki Giovanni. (The LOC will provide additional author list updates through its email list.)

The initial lineup of 2021 National Book Festival authors includes Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Roxane Gay, Kazuo Ishiguro, Michael J. Fox (pictured clockwise). Press photos by Martin Dee, Andrew Testa, Mark Seliger / Courtesy of the LOC

From September 17 through September 26, attendees can select from a list of on-demand videos, live Q&As, nationally televised events through PBS, as well as in-person, ticketed events held at the Library of Congress.

NPR will also produce an inaugural series of podcast interviews with the festival’s authors.

“This year, we are inviting Americans to create their own National Book Festival experiences by offering free, high quality programs in a variety of formats that they can mix and match according to their interests and schedules,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in a statement. “Our stellar cast of authors, conversations on timely topics, and new ways to engage will allow everyone to enjoy a personalized National Book Festival how, when and where they want to experience it.”

The LOC chose “Open a Book, Open the World” as the festival’s theme to symbolize how the featured authors have opened new worlds for their readers.

The library plans to release more information on events and the full author list in the coming weeks.

The National Book Festival will take place from September 17-26. In-person events will be ticketed.