Skip to content 
In less than two months, Phictly is hosting its first-ever Global Digital Book Festival, and it is shaping up to be something we are genuinely, embarrassingly proud of.
We started Phictly because we love books. The festival is that love made real, and watching it come together has been one of the most rewarding things we’ve done as a team.
Here’s what we’ve built, and what’s waiting for you on July 25.
The lineup is here, and it’s stacked.
Over 80 authors have confirmed they’ll be at the festival on July 25. Romance, romantasy, fantasy, literary fiction, YA, sci-fi, horror, memoir, children’s, nonfiction, poetry. They’re all represented. We’re talking authors who make BookTok lose its mind, authors who write books that quietly change your life, and debut authors you’re going to be telling everyone about by the end of the year.
The full lineup is live on our festival page and it’s growing every week. Go see who’s coming — you’re going to want to clear your calendar.
What actually happens at a digital book festival?
Great question, and one we’ve thought about a lot. The day is built around connection. Real, genuine, face-to-face connection between readers and the authors they love. Inside the Phictly app, you’ll browse author booths, join live sessions, watch panels and workshops, and with a VIP ticket, hop into private two-minute video calls with individual authors.
 Enter the festival |  Browse the lobby |  Manage your queue |
 Get ready |  Meet your author |  After the call |
Here’s a taste of what the day looks like:
- Live author Q&As and panels
- Craft workshops on character development, worldbuilding, and more
- A trends talk on where romance is heading
- A writing spice craft talk (yes, really, and we are very excited about it)
- Live author readings across genres
- A curated vendor marketplace with bookish small businesses
Whether you show up for the authors, the sessions, or just the vibe of being surrounded by people who love books as much as you do, there is something for you.
And the best part? No flights. No hotels. No lining up at 7 AM. You can do all of this in your pajamas with a cup of tea. We fully support this.
VIP tickets: get two minutes with your favorite author. For real.
If there is one thing we want you to know about the festival, it’s this: VIP ticket holders get private, face-to-face two-minute video calls with individual authors. Just you and them. No crowd. No comment section. A real conversation.
Here’s what comes with a VIP ticket:
- Private 2-minute live video calls with the authors of your choice
- Signed bookplates or signed books from select participating authors, included in the cost of your ticket
- Access to exclusive VIP-only sessions
- Early access to author booth queues
- A curated VIP experience package
VIP spots are limited. There are only so many two-minute windows in a day, and authors book up fast. If you’ve ever wanted to tell your favorite author what their book meant to you, this is the moment. And it’s a lot more fun than hoping they see your Instagram comment.
We’re still building.
Here’s the honest update: we have over 80 authors confirmed, a full day of programming in place, a title sponsor, and a vendor marketplace in the works. We’re also in conversations with some incredible partners who care about independent authors and the reading community the same way we do.
Is everything perfect? No. Is it a little chaotic in the best possible way? Absolutely. We are a small team building something that hasn’t quite existed before: a true digital festival experience for book lovers, inside an app built for this community from day one.
We’re announcing new authors and sessions every week. So if you haven’t checked the lineup lately, go look again. It keeps getting better.
How to be part of it.
The festival is free to attend: you just need to register and show up inside the Phictly app on July 25. If you want the full experience, including those private author calls, you’ll want a VIP ticket.
Tell your book club. Tell your Bookstagram. Tell the person in line at the bookstore who looks like they’d get it. The more, the merrier. This community has always been built by the people in it.
We’ll see you on July 25.
Get your ticket → phictly.com/bookfest
Free to attend · VIP tickets unlock signings, giveaways, and swag bag · July 25, 2026 · 10 AM–6 PM EST · Inside the Phictly app
“`