Penguin Random House Library Marketing is headed to Chicago! Join us for author events, book buzzes, galley giveaways, and stop by Booth #2812 during ALA Annual 2026!
Want to check out the season’s hottest books before heading to ALA? Browse a collection of our featured lightbox titles here.
For those of you unable to attend, follow along with us using #ALAAC26 on X, Facebook, and Instagram!
Are you headed to ALA? Fill out our form and we’ll add you to our events mailing list!
HEADLINER AUTHOR EVENTS
Rachel Maddow
DEPARTMENT OF FATE
Opening General Session
Friday, June 26th • 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM • McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline
LeVar Burton
TAKE MY WORD FOR IT
Main Stage Speaker: United for Libraries President’s Program
Saturday, June 27th • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM • McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline
Learn More Here.
Megha Majumdar
A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF
2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Award Ceremony and Reception*
Saturday, June 27th • 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM • American Writer’s Museum
*Ticketed Event
Learn More Here.
UFL The Laugh’s On Us
Featuring
THE WORLD’S WORST MOM by Sona Movsesian
Laugh out loud at this wine-and-cheese event featuring headliner and United for Libraries spokesperson Paula Poundstone. A book signing will follow, with free books/advance copies for attendees (subject to availability).
Sunday, June 28th • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • McCormick Place, W 375 A Skyline
*Ticketed Event
UFL Gala Author Tea
Featuring
I’VE GOT YOU by Cara Bastone
and
MYSTERY PLAY by Elizabeth Kostova
Enjoy tea and treats while hearing from bestselling writers about their forthcoming titles during this annual United for Libraries event. Attendees will receive advance copies and have the opportunity to have them signed by authors (signed books and advance copies are subject to availability). Moderated by Booklist‘s Donna Seaman.
Monday, June 29th • 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • McCormick Place, W 375 A Skyline
*Ticketed Event
JOIN US FOR OUR BOOK BUZZES
Join the Library Marketing Team to receive ARCs and a sneak peek of upcoming releases sure to drive your holds list. Attendees will receive ARCs and Swag. Refreshments will be served.
Sunday, June 28th • 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM • Hyatt McCormick, Adler ABC
Stick around for our Penguin Random House Publisher Services Small Press Book Buzz! Join for highlights, swag, and ARCS from some of our distribution partners DC Comics, Other Press, NYRB, Soho, Disney Publishing, Titan, and more!
Sunday, June 28th • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM • Hyatt McCormick, Adler ABC
MEET THE AUTHORS
We have so many incredible authors attending ALA Annual this year, including Allison Epstein, Isabela Livino, Ruth Ozeki, Megha Majumdar, and more!
Download our complete author schedule to reference at-a-glance HERE, or check out the full schedule below.
Friday, June 26th
Rachel Maddow
DEPARTMENT OF FATE
Opening General Session
Friday, June 26th
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline
Saturday, June 27th
Jarret Dapier
WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE
Civic Engagement, Advocacy, and Comics
Saturday, June 27th
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Clark ABC
and
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Signing in Follet Booth #1929
Tim Leatherman
THE LEATHERMAN BOOK
Must-Read Memoirs
Saturday, June 27th
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Adler ABC
Alex L. Combs
and
Andrew Eakett
TRANS HISTORY
and
James Robinson
WHALE EYES
The Odyssey Awards
Saturday, June 27th
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Hyatt Regency McCormick, DuSable AB
Marcia Chatelain
HOW BRIGHT THE PATH GROWS
Saturday, June 27th
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Signing in Amazon Business Booth #2221
and
Nonfiction You Can’t Put Down
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
McCormick Place, W 192 C
BERKLEY XO GIVEAWAY
Saturday, June 27th
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
PRH Signing Booth #2612
Pick up a Berkley XO tote and copies of early galleys!
Kobi Yamada
OTHERS
Saturday, June 27th
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
LeVar Burton
TAKE MY WORD FOR IT
Main Stage Speaker: United for Libraries President’s Program
Saturday, June 27th
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline
Brenda Iijima
SHELTER IS NECESSARY FOR EXISTENCE
Saturday, June 27th
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
Sarah Becan
LET’S MAKE COCKTAILS!
and
James Tynion IV
SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN
GNCRT Magical Comics Tea*
Saturday, June 27th
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Hilton Chicago, Continental A
*Ticketed Event
Ruth Ozeki
THE TYPING LADY
Saturday, June 27th
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Signing in OverDrive Booth #2225
and
Beyond the Book:
How Libraries Can Fundraise with Author Events
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
McCormick Place, W 175 A B C
Tae Keller
WHEN TOMORROW BURNS
Saturday, June 27th
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Signing in OverDrive Booth #2225
Michael Rey
THE HAVANA SYNDROME
Nonfiction You Can’t Put Down
Saturday, June 27th
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
McCormick Place, W 192 C
Alex L. Combs
and
Andrew Eakett
TRANS HISTORY
Saturday, June 27th
3:30 PM – 4:10 PM
Signing in Playaway Booth #2616
Megha Majumdar
A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF
Saturday, June 27th
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Signing in Amazon Business Booth #2221
and
2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Award Ceremony and Reception*
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
American Writer’s Museum
*Ticketed Event
Kate Messner
AXOLOTL-ELLA
Saturday, June 27th
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
Sunday, June 28th
Allison Epstein
FAGIN THE THIEF
RUSA’s Literary Luminaries Panel
Sunday, June 28th
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
McCormick Place, 190 A
and
Signing at OverDrive Booth #2225
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Jarret Dapier
WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE
Toxic Exclusion: Banned Authors Share How to Support Children’s Access to Information
Sunday, June 28th
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
McCormick Place, W 179 A B
Lauren Rowe
CHASING THE RUSH
Love Stories: A Romance Author Panel
Sunday, June 28th
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
McCormick Place, W 193 A
James Tynion IV
SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN
Sunday, June 28th
10:00 AM – 10:45 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
and
Crossing the Page
11:30 AM – 12:20 PM
PopTop Stage Booth #1756
Sarah Becan
LET’S MAKE COCKTAILS!
From Idea to Zine: Supporting Comics Creation in Library Makerspaces
Sunday, June 28th
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
McCormick Place, W 475 b
and
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
Lauren Blackwood
THE QUEEN’S BODYGUARD
Sunday, June 28th
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Signing in Amazon Business Booth #2221
Scott Christian Sava
BECOMING AN ARTIST
Sunday, June 28th
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
Lina Chern
TRICKS OF FORTUNE
Sunday, June 28th
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Signing in PRH Booth #2612, Table 3
Isabela Livino
AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION
First Novels: An Author Panel
Sunday, June 28th
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
McCormick Place, W 193 A
Speakers Bureau Anniversary Toast
Join the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau for a special treat to celebrate their 20th Anniversary!
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
PRH Booth #2812
Melanie Benjamin
THE WINDSOR AFFAIR
Sunday, June 28th
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Signing in Amazon Business Booth #2221
James Robinson
and
Brian Rea
WHALE EYES
Sunday, June 28th
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Signing in Playaway Booth #2616
Sona Movsesian
THE WORLD’S WORST MOM
The Laugh’s On Us*
Sunday, June 28th
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
McCormick Place, W 375 A Skyline
*Ticketed Event
Dr. Selwyn Rogers
HEALING THE GUN EPIDEMIC
BCALA Annual Membership Meeting & Awards
Sunday, June 28th
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Marriott Marquis, Great Lakes C
Monday, June 29th
Inside the Studio: The Making of Three Odyssey Audiobooks
Monday, June 29th
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM
A Real Page-Turner Stage Booth #4956
Cara Bastone
I’VE GOT YOU
and
Elizabeth Kostova
MYSTERY PLAY
UFL Gala Author Tea*
Monday, June 29th
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
McCormick Place, W 375 A Skyline
*Ticketed Event
SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday, June 27th
The 2026 Odyssey Awards
Celebrate the spoken word at the 2026 Odyssey Award Presentation! The Odyssey Award is presented annually to the best audiobook production for youth and co-administered by YALSA and ALSC and is sponsored by Booklist magazine. This year’s reception will be sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association. Learn more about our 2026 Odyssey winner, TRANS HISTORY and our Odyssey honor book, WHALE EYES.
Saturday, June 27th • 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM • Hyatt Regency McCormick, DuSable AB
Monday, June 29th
Inside the Studio: The Making of Three Odyssey Audiobooks
What makes an Odyssey Honor Audiobook? Hear from the Penguin Random House Audio staff about the power of the spoken word and the importance of audiobooks in encouraging reading with children and young adults. Moderated by Listening Library’s Editorial Director Rebecca Waugh.
Monday, June 29th • 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM • A Real Page-Turner Stage, Booth #4956
