NEW ORLEANS — Tulane University has announced plans for a major book festival to be held annually between Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
The first New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University will be March 19-21, 2020. More than 40 authors have signed on so far, including journalist Malcolm Gladwell, novelist John Grisham, humorist Roy Blount, Jr. and Fox News Channel commentator Donna Brazile, the university said Wednesday in a news release.
Most of the festival will be free, with a limited number of ticketed events, university spokesman Roger Dunaway said in an email.
Organizers expect nearly 100 national, regional and local authors to participate, and more than 30,000 people to attend, the university's statement said.
The original New Orleans Book Festival was created in 2010 as a one-day children's festival, expanding from 2015 through 2017 into an all-around book festival. It was founded by Cheryl Landrieu when her husband was New Orleans' mayor. She's co-chair of the new festival.
"We are excited to expand in partnership with Tulane University to create a weekend of events featuring prominent national and local writers and journalists," she said.
The festival will spotlight eight tracks: American society, health and science, food, New Orleans culture, sports, children, fiction and, in partnership with the National WWII Museum, World War II.
There will be panel discussions, moderated conversations, keynote lectures, book fairs and workshops. Each day will include at least one major session featuring a leading author, the university said.
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