2026 Festival of Books: Tina Knowles, Jayne Kennedy, Garcelle Beauvais, Jurnee Smollett, and More! | PHOTOS

*Los Angeles, CA – The outdoor festival season has sprouted throughout the region. You don’t have to look too far to see proof of the season in full bloom. It was a beautiful weekend in the “City of Angels.” Thousands assembled on the campus of USC for a free event that celebrated the written word, […] The post 2026 Festival of Books: Tina Knowles, Jayne Kennedy, Garcelle Beauvais, Jurnee Smollett, and More! | PHOTOS appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.

Apr 21, 2026 - 11:12

2026 Festival of Books: Tina Knowles, Jayne Kennedy, Garcelle Beauvais, Jurnee Smollett, and More! | PHOTOS

Ricky Richardson: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

*Los Angeles, CA – The outdoor festival season has sprouted throughout the region. You don’t have to look too far to see proof of the season in full bloom.

It was a beautiful weekend in the “City of Angels.” Thousands assembled on the campus of USC for a free event that celebrated the written word, spoken word, and words that were vocalized.

The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, affectionally known as “Bookchella” for the uninitiated, made a triumphant return to the University of Southern California on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026

The Festival of Books, aka Bookchella, is the largest book festival and cultural event in the country. Organizers were expecting upwards of 155,000 people to attend the festival. The festival was scheduled for 10:00am-6:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am-5:00pm on Sunday.

The festival featured panel discussions, on-stage conversations, cooking demos, and signings involving a variety of literary stars, USC academics and authors, and an eclectic array of celebrities with newly released books.

It was both encouraging and heartwarming to see families with young children as well as groups of school-age kids in attendance. I’m optimistically hopeful that the young people in attendance will grow up to be readers, authors, and, most surely, future TROJANS! I’m just saying…FIGHT ON!

The festival got underway with a rousing and thunderous entrance by the USC Marching Band. This performance was followed by opening remarks by Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, Executive Editor, and USC President Beong-Soo Kim.

WriteGirl Alum and California Youth Poet Laureate Summer Hamzeh recited an original and powerful poem to add to the festivities. The book festival was officially ready to go.

Terry Tang and USC Marching Band: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

USC President Beong-Soo Kim: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

It was quite apparent that the festival had something for everyone to enjoy. Book lovers, music aficionados, and gourmands, aka foodies, strolled around the University Park Campus for the scheduled events on multiple stages.

If that wasn’t enough, the Festival of Books, aka Bookchella, featured hundreds of exhibitor booths composed of small businesses, book publishing companies, and various other foundations and merchants.

Malik Books Booth: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Strategy and Soul Bookstore Booth: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! – The festival consisted of over 500 authors, poets, celebrities, artists, and musicians. I bounced around campus throughout the weekend to see several celebrities, including Valerie Bertinelli, Danica McKellar, Tina Knowles, Tom Selleck, and Garcelle Beauvais on Saturday.

Valerie Bertinelli: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Danica McKellar: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Tina Knowles: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Tom Selleck: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Garcelle Beauvais: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Sunday’s stellar lineup consisted of Blair Underwood, Jayne Kennedy, Fab 5 Freddy, and Jurnee Smollett and concluded with Aja Monet. I caught a glimpse of Lionel Richie after his appearance at the event.

Blair Underwood: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Jane Kennedy and Blair Underwood: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Mark Rozzo and Fab 5 Freddy: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Jurnee Smollett (left): Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Aja Monet: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

The crowd was vibing with Derrick Unlimited, who was front and center on the USC Stage. He showcased his vocal styling on some classic soul and R&B tracks as well as some original material.

Derrick Unlimited: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Snoop Dog’s Doggyland mascot, Bow Wizzle were also on site for selfies with guests. Nikki Grimes and Stacey Wells appeared on the Children’s Stage, and Donika Kelly and Chet’la Sebree on the Poetry Stage.

Doggyland mascot, Bow Wizzle: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Nikki Grimes: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Donika Kelly: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Che'la Sebree: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson — Che’la Sebree: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

I also enjoyed the enlightening and insightful panel, Innovators Award Winner: We Need Diverse Books in Conversation with Glory Edim of Well-Read Black Girl, Caroline Richmond, LeUyen Pham, and Roxane Gay.

Glory Edim of Well-Read Black Girl, Caroline Richmond, LeUyen Pham, and Roxane Gay: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now-Part 2- Saturday, I met many of the authors at their booths as I made my rounds throughout the grounds.

Book author at Festival of Books: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Book authors at Festival of Books: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Book author at the Festival of Books: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Young book author at Festival of Books: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Please forgive me in advance for sharing this information after the fact. You can view what you missed on all social media (videos, photos, and conversations). This can also serve as a subtle reminder that it’s not considered too early to start making plans to attend the 2027 Festival of Books, aka “Bookchella.”

Ricky Richardson is a Southern California based writer, music reviewer and photographer. contact him via: liltampared@netzero.net.

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The post 2026 Festival of Books: Tina Knowles, Jayne Kennedy, Garcelle Beauvais, Jurnee Smollett, and More! | PHOTOS appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.