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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Are you looking for literary events like book readings, book signings, poetry readings? Then you came to the right place. Start using these unique New York City opportunities today!
Are you looking for literary events like book readings, book signings, poetry readings? Then you came to the right place. Start using these unique New York City opportunities today!
Join the Club!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
19 free poetry readings, book signings, author readings in New York City (NYC) Wed, 08/19/2026 - and on...
Not a day goes by in New York City (NYC) without a free poetry reading or a book signing or a book reading by a famous or not yet famous author. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!
Poetry Reading | Poetry Open Mic: Share Your Work or Listen to Emerging Writers
Participants can share their original work for up to five minutes. Space is limited to 15 readers; show up on time to get a slot!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Aug 20
5:30 pm
Free
5:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Live Music & Poetry (Outdoors)
An evening of poetry and music in the park! This event features Jenny Xie, Safia Elhillo, and musician Kyle Lux.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Aug 21
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | An Evening of Poetry in the Garden
Enjoy an outdoor poetry reading hosted in partnership with McNally Jackson. Submit your work at the link provided to read at the event!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sun, Aug 23
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Lyric & Narrative Poetry with Emerging Writers (+ Q&A & Signing)
Poets Rayne Alarcio, AJ DiBetta, Leelah Holmes, Colleen Bąk, and spencer jude perez perform in an evening of contemporary poetry exploring identity, memory, family, transformation, and belonging. Through lyric, narrative, and experimental forms, these emerging writers offer work that examines queer and trans experience, personal history, imagination, and the ways we make meaning of ourselves and our communities. The event will feature readings from each poet, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.
Rayne Alarcio — Starving the Wolf
AJ DiBetta
Leelah Holmes
Colleen Bąk — Pins and Needles: Love Letters to a Dead Magician; Breadcrumbs
spencer jude perez — SUN—MOON—RISING
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Aug 26
7:00 pm
$5, tickets required
7:00 pm
$5, tickets required
Poetry Reading | An Evening of Poetry in the Park
Award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets. Danielle Ofri is a physician, author, and editor-in-chief of Bellevue Literary Review, the award-winning journal devoted to creative writing about health, illness and healing. Thomas Dooley is the author of Trespass, a National Poetry Series selection.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Sep 1
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Reading | Storytelling Party & Open Mic
No Name Comedy/Variety Show producer Eric Vetter brings New York’s best established and emerging authors and storytellers to this bookstore for this storytelling party. This event is curated and co-hosted by author/storyteller Michele Carlo, the author of FISH OUT OF AGUA: My life on neither side of the (subway) tracks. The show will also include a “Magic Hat Open-Mic” where audience members can sign up for a chance at four minutes of stage time to share their own stories.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Sep 1
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | James Beard Award-Winning Magazine Hosts Live Story Readings & Conversations with Contributors (Outdoors)
The literary food magazine Cake Zine curates an original reading series from a set of notable New York City writers about the past, present, and future of the city's ever-changing food scene. The readings will be followed by a one-of-a-kind open writing group, guided by Cake Zine's authors. Original stories read by: Melissa Lozada Oliva, Fran Tirado, Stephanie Wambugu, Savannah Sobrevilla Conversation with: Phoebe Tran and Aliza Abarbanel Seating opens 30 minutes before showtime and is available on the grass or benches.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Fri, Sep 4
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | James Beard Award-Winning Magazine Hosts Live Story Readings & Conversations with Contributors (Outdoors)
The literary food magazine Cake Zine curates an original reading series from a set of notable New York City writers about the past, present, and future of the city's ever-changing food scene. The readings will be followed by a one-of-a-kind open writing group, guided by Cake Zine's authors. Original stories read by: Hilary Leichter, Mychal Denzel Smith, Nicolaia Rips, Eric Kim Conversation with: Ifrah F. Ahmed and Aliza Abarbanel Seating opens 30 minutes before showtime and is available on the grass or benches.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sat, Sep 5
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | An Evening of Poetry in the Garden
Enjoy an outdoor poetry reading hosted in partnership with McNally Jackson. Submit your work at the link provided to read at the event!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sun, Sep 6
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | James Beard Award-Winning Magazine Hosts Live Story Readings & Conversations with Contributors (Outdoors)
The literary food magazine Cake Zine curates an original reading series from a set of notable New York City writers about the past, present, and future of the city's ever-changing food scene. The readings will be followed by a one-of-a-kind open writing group, guided by Cake Zine's authors. Original stories read by: Leslie Jamison, Larissa Pham, Sahir Ahmed, Doreen St. Felix Conversation with: Erik Piepenburg and Florent Morellet Seating opens 30 minutes before showtime and is available on the grass or benches.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sun, Sep 6
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Pushcart Prize Nominated Writers Share an Evening of Poetry in the Park
Award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets. The audience will hear from Cai Sherley, Charlie Lou Evans, JC Andrews, Kaitlin Hsu, and Toni Garcia-Butler.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Sep 8
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer Shares His Poetry (+ Live Music & Dancing)
Experience words and music from around the globe at the World Poetry Salon. This salon will feature a reading by poet Forrest Gander accompanied by dancers Zelda and Georgia B. Smith. A printout will be available for attendees to follow along with Gander's poetry during the reading. Following the reading, Gander will be interviewed by event host Patricio Ferrari. The author of twenty books of his own and as many books of translations, Forrest Gander was born in the Mojave Desert. He has degrees in geology and literature. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the Best Translated Book Award, Gander has been a signal voice for environmental poetics.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Sep 10
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Reading | Socialize with Likeminded Readers (Outdoors)
Grab a book, a picnic blanket, and a friend, and join silent reading sessions with ambient music, followed by lively book discussions with fellow book lovers.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Sep 15
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Prize-Winning Writers Share an Evening of Poetry in the Park
Award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets. This evening features Chelsea Whitton, Dilruba “Ruba” Ahmed, Matthew Yeager, and Sahar Muradi.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Sep 15
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Multilingual Poetry Night: Quantum Age
Discover the concepts of Quantum Age Poetry and Quantum Poetics with this multilingual poetry event exploringinnovative poetic frameworks.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Sep 16
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Poetry Open Mic: Share Your Work or Listen to Emerging Writers
Participants can share their original work for up to five minutes. Space is limited to 15 readers; show up on time to get a slot!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Sep 17
5:30 pm
Free
5:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Hurricane Maria Memorial Poetry & Music
Hear spoken word and live music by Nuyorican Poets Cafe, followed by an Open Mic. Performers will pay homage to the resiliency, contributions, and ancestral wisdom of Puerto Rico.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, Sep 19
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Award-Winning Author Reads from His Latest Story Collection with Translator (English & Spanish)
This event brings together author Roberto Azcorra Cámara and translator Pennell Somsen for a bilingual reading from Medusa reina. Azcorra Cámara's stories delve into the intimacy of relationships, revealing how, even amidst misfortune and missteps, a path remains — sometimes luminous, sometimes dark, always unexpected. They explore romantic love, maternal devotion, forbidden desire, and grief through the lens of memory and urban space, with five stories sharing a recurring protagonist whose arc forms a puzzle for the attentive reader. The stories don't end definitively, leaving the outcome to the protagonists — and to the reader. Azcorra Cámara and Somsen will read selected passages in both Spanish and English, discuss the process of writing and translating, and invite questions from the audience.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sun, Sep 20
2:00 pm
Free
2:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | An Evening of Poetry in the Garden
Enjoy an outdoor poetry reading hosted in partnership with McNally Jackson. Submit your work at the link provided to read at the event!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sun, Sep 20
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Concert | Oscar and Grammy Nominee at One of the World's Most Famous Venues
Regular Price: $45CFT Member Price: $0.00
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