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Free events for Thursday, 04/09/26
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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!
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25 free poetry readings, book signings, author readings in New York City (NYC) Thu, 04/09/2026 - 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 | Award-Winning Poets Share Their New Work for National Poetry Month


Enjoy a National Poetry Month book talk with Jean Gallagher and Tracy Zeman! Get ready for an exciting evening as amazing literary bards share insights and inspirations behind their latest works and celebrate the legacy of fellow poet Lewis Meyers. This is a perfect chance to dive into great conversations and meet fellow poetry lovers. Don’t miss out on this fun, yet intimate gathering with Jean and Tracy with special guest author Ellen Doré Watson. Mark your calendar and come ready to talk with some exhilarating wordsmiths about the magic of poetry!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 9
5:00 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 09, 2026, 04/09/2026, Award-Winning Poets Share Their New Work for National Poetry Month

Author Reading | Poetry and Essays on Culture and Identity


Steve Zeitlin, a folklorist, discusses his latest book of poetry and essays, which explores themes of culture, identity, and storytelling. He is joined in conversation by publisher Jim Bergman, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 9
6:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 09, 2026, 04/09/2026, Poetry and Essays on Culture and Identity

Poetry Reading | Evening of Local Poetry


Enjoy an evening of poetry with local poet and playwright Galinsky, with "Five Minute Features" from a dozen poets of all styles.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 9
8:00 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 09, 2026, 04/09/2026, Evening of Local Poetry

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 9
8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 09, 2026, 04/09/2026, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 9
8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 09, 2026, 04/09/2026, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)

Author Reading | Bilingual Literary Evening featuring Award-Winning Writers Garth Greenwell & Luis Munoz


NYU's Creative Writing MFA programs in English and Spanish host a joint event featuring students and alums reading their work in any genre (in the language(s) chosen by the author*), alongside headlining authors, Garth Greenwell and Luis Munoz. Garth Greenwell is the author of Small Rain, which won the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Award and the PEN Oakland / Josephine Miles Literary Award, and was longlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He is also the author of What Belongs to You, which won the British Book Award for Debut of the Year, was longlisted for the National Book Award, and was adapted into an award-winning opera by the composer David T. Little. His second book, Cleanness, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and was longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize, the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and the Prix Sade, among others. Luis Munoz has published the books Septiembre, Manzanas amarillas, El apetito, and Correspondencias. He has received, among others, the Ciudad de Cordoba, Generacion del 27, Ojo Critico, and El Publico awards. *In the case of texts not in English, a translation by a partner will also be read.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Apr 10
5:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 10, 2026, 04/10/2026, Bilingual Literary Evening featuring Award-Winning Writers Garth Greenwell & Luis Munoz

Author Reading | Hear New Material from Emerging Writers


The City Reading Series highlights emerging writers from the MFA and MA programs at the City College of New York.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Apr 10
6:30 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 10, 2026, 04/10/2026, Hear New Material from Emerging Writers

Poetry Reading | Major Poets & Emerging Voices Share Their Work


Lincoln Center’s inaugural Poet-in-Residence, Mahogany L. Browne curates thought-provoking evenings of spoken word, spirited conversation, poetry, and presentations of new work, presenting major poets and emerging voices on the New York literary scene. Featured artists to be announced soon! There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, Apr 11
7:30 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 11, 2026, 04/11/2026, Major Poets & Emerging Voices Share Their Work

Author Reading | Beauty Doesn’t Reach Me: Investigating Ernst Toller’s Life and Legacy


Richard Byrne presents his new book, exploring the life, exile, and mysterious death of German antifascist dramatist Ernst Toller. Drawing on long-neglected archives, Byrne uncovers hidden secrets, from abandoned ashes and Manhattan leftist politics to Hollywood gossip and Toller's final days in New York. The event offers an intimate look at Toller's art, personal struggles, and enduring cultural impact.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 16
6:30 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Beauty Doesn&rsquo;t Reach Me: Investigating Ernst Toller&rsquo;s Life and Legacy

Author Reading | Prize-Winning Author Shares His New Novel, My Lover, the Rabbi


Wayne Koestenbaum, an American artist, poet, and cultural critic who has received an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature, My Lover, the Rabbi.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 16
7:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Prize-Winning Author Shares His New Novel,&nbsp;My Lover, the Rabbi

Poetry Reading | Pushcart Prize-Winning Poets Share Their New Work


A reading by Cameron Awkward-Rich, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, and Carey Salerno, followed by a reception/signing with books for sale. Cameron Awkward-Rich is the author of three poetry collections: Sympathetic Little Monster, Dispatch, and An Optimism. Cameron’s creative work can be found in POETRY, American Poetry Review, Kenyon Review, and elsewhere, and has been supported by fellowships from Cave Canem, The Watering Hole, and the Lannan Foundation. Gabrielle Calvocoressi is the author of The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart, Apocalyptic Swing (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize), and Rocket Fantastic, winner of the Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry. Calvocoressi is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships including a Stegner Fellowship and Jones Lectureship from Stanford University; a Rona Jaffe Woman Writer's Award; a Lannan Foundation residency in Marfa, TX; the Bernard F. Conners Prize from The Paris Review; and a residency from the Civitella di Ranieri Foundation, among others. Carey Salerno serves as the executive director & publisher of Alice James Books where she has been dedicated to broadening the spectrum of the American poetic voice since 2008. She is the author of The Hungriest Stars, Tributary, Shelter, and a co-editor of Lit From Inside: 40 Years of Poetry from Alice James Books. She is the recipient of a 2025 Pushcart Prize and a 2025 Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Jersey State Arts Council.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 16
7:00 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Pushcart Prize-Winning Poets Share Their New Work

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 16
8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)

Author Reading | 2 Authors Share Their New Books


Enjoy a reading and conversation with Richie Hofmann, author of the collection The Bronze Arms, and Benjamin A. Saltzman, author of Turning Away: The Poetics of an Ancient Gesture. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Apr 17
7:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 17, 2026, 04/17/2026, 2 Authors Share Their New Books

Open Mic | Hear from Emerging Writers or Perform Your Own Work


Hear original work by local, emerging writers of all genres, or share some of your own pieces! All performers welcome! Hosted by novelist Ed Lin. Sign ups start from 7:30PM. 5-minute time slots.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Apr 17
8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 17, 2026, 04/17/2026, Hear from Emerging Writers or Perform Your Own Work

Author Reading | Award-Winning Author Maya Kucherskaya Shares Her New Book, An Incident at the Masquerade (+ Q&A)


Russian writer, literary scholar, and educator Maya Kucherskaya presents her book, An Incident at the Masquerade, reads excerpts from her new, as-yet-unpublished prose and the essay "How Does a Writer Live in Russia Today?", and answers audience questions. Kucherskaya is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including the bestselling short story collection A Modern Patericon: A Reader for the Despondent, the psychological novel Aunt Motya, and The Rain God. Her biographical study, Nikolai Leskov: The Neglected Genius, is a groundbreaking work. Her recent publications include the collection of Christmas stories, An Incident at the Masquerade. Kucherskaya is a laureate of multiple prestigious literary awards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Apr 21
5:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 21, 2026, 04/21/2026, Award-Winning Author Maya Kucherskaya Shares Her New Book, An Incident at the Masquerade (+ Q&A)

Author Reading | Book Launch: Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian 


Lily Kim Qian launches her debut graphic memoir, Until We Meet Again. This gorgeously painted YA graphic memoir by debut author Lily Kim Qian tells the story of a young woman's search for belonging as her immigrant family moves between Canada and China.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Apr 21
7:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 21, 2026, 04/21/2026, Book Launch:&nbsp;Until We Meet Again by&nbsp;Lily Kim Qian&nbsp;

Author Reading | Cultural Critic Lynne Tillman Shares Her New Essay Collection, Paying Attention


Novelist, short story writer, and cultural critic Lynne Tillman shares her new essay collection, Paying Attention.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Apr 21
7:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 21, 2026, 04/21/2026, Cultural Critic Lynne Tillman Shares Her New Essay Collection, Paying Attention

Author Reading | Bestselling German Author Shares the English Translation of His Book, Lázár (+ Signing)


Enjoy a reading by Nelio Biedermann from his book Lázár (translated from German by Jamie Bulloch), followed by a conversation between him and the acclaimed author Daniel Kehlmann. Lázár chronicles the rise and fall of an aristocratic Hungarian family across multiple generations and through historical upheavals. The conversation between Nelio Biedermann and Daniel Kehlmann will focus on the international success of this gothic intergenerational family saga, and examine how the author managed to encompass both a deep historical awareness and a palpable timely resonance. Organizers will sell copies of the book during and after the event, and there will be a book signing following the program.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 22
6:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 22, 2026, 04/22/2026, Bestselling German Author Shares the English Translation of His Book,&nbsp;L&aacute;z&aacute;r (+ Signing)

Poetry Reading | Poetry Salon with Ales Steger & Live Music


Attend a World Poetry Salon event as part of the 2026 World Literature and Arts Festival! Experience words and music from around the globe at the World Poetry Salon, featuring a reading by poet Ales Steger accompanied by musician Jure Tori. A printout will be available for attendees to follow along with Steger's poetry during the reading. Following the reading, Steger will be interviewed by event host Patricio Ferrari.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 22
6:30 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 22, 2026, 04/22/2026, Poetry Salon with Ales Steger & Live Music

Reading | Literary Salon Featuring Catherine Lacey & Ben Lerner


A reading by Catherine Lacey and Ben Lerner followed by a conversation/Q&A with Darin Strauss. The event will conclude with a reception/signing with books for sale. Catherine Lacey's most recent work, The Mobius Book, is half pure fiction and half pure memory. She is also the author of four novels: Biography of X, Pew, The Answers, Nobody Is Ever Missing, and a short story collection, Certain American States. Ben Lerner is the author of four books of poetry (The Lichtenberg Figures, Angle of Yaw, Mean Free Path, and The Lights), four novels (Leaving the Atocha Station, 10:04, The Topeka School, and Transcription), and a work of criticism (The Hatred of Poetry). His newest novel, Transcription: A Novel, is forthcoming in April 2026.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 23
7:00 pm
Free
Readings, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Literary Salon Featuring Catherine Lacey & Ben Lerner

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 23
8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)

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
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Fri, Apr 24
5:30 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 24, 2026, 04/24/2026, Poetry Open Mic: Share Your Work or Listen to Emerging Writers

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Apr 30
8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 30, 2026, 04/30/2026, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)

Poetry Reading | Major Poets & Emerging Voices Share Their Work


Lincoln Center's inaugural Poet-in-Residence, Mahogany L. Browne curates thought-provoking evenings of spoken word, spirited conversation, poetry, and presentations of new work, presenting major poets and emerging voices on the New York literary scene. Featured artists to be announced soon! There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, May 16
7:30 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, May 16, 2026, 05/16/2026, Major Poets & Emerging Voices Share Their Work

Reading | Hedda: A Contemporary Reimagining of Power and Identity


Franky D. Gonzalez, a finalist in its New Visions play development program, presents his new play, Hedda. Inspired by Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and set in a contemporary Dallas suburb, the play follows the unraveling of a carefully constructed life as past relationships resurface. Through tensions around race, ambition, gender, and institutional power, the work offers a sharp exploration of respectability and its personal costs.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 19
7:00 pm
Free
Readings, May 19, 2026, 05/19/2026, Hedda: A Contemporary Reimagining of Power and Identity
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