L.A. Times Festival of Books lineup features Chelsea Handler, Stacey Abrams, Amanda Gorman, Jon M. Chu and more

The L.A. Times Festival of Books is backmost and it’s celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The play volition diagnostic readings, signings, screenings and panels with authors and speakers from each walks of life. This year’s lineup includes “Wicked” manager Jon M. Chu, comedian Chelsea Handler, exoneree Amanda Knox, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen, person Stacey Abrams and writer Amanda Gorman.

Scheduled for April 26 and 27, the yearly literate festival brings much than 550 storytellers to the USC field crossed 7 outdoor stages and 15 indoor venues.

Other notable personalities see Big Sean, Joanna “Jojo” Levesque, Blippi, Marcia Clark, Griffin Dunne, Josh Gad, Percival Everett, Ibram X. Kendi, Rachel Kushner, Jim O’Heir, Jenny Slate, Amor Towles, Wilmer Valderrama, Gretchen Whitmer, Veronica Roth, Robyn Hitchcock, Paul Scheer, Amy L. Schneider, V.E. Schwab, Harry Shum Jr., Tika Sumpter, E.A. Hanks and Mamrie Hart.

As a portion of the Ideas Exchange talker series, Gorman volition sermon her representation publication “Girls connected the Rise.” The writer and activist, who gained nationalist fame successful 2021 aft reciting her poem “The Hill We Climb” astatine erstwhile President Biden’s inauguration, has written respective children’s books. Bestselling romantasy writer Rebecca Yarros volition sermon the latest installment successful her Empyrean series, “Onyx Storm.” Giggly Squad podcast hosts Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo are acceptable to bring comic alleviation to the main signifier and chat astir their publication “How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously.”

The fest volition besides debut the archetypal occurrence of PBS Masterpiece’s “Miss Austen,” based connected Gill Hornby’s novel. Hornby and enforcement shaper Christine Langan volition enactment successful a Q&A pursuing the screening.

The cooking signifier volition diagnostic demos from Roy Choi, the cook down Korean-Mexican taco motortruck Kogi who besides wrote “The Choi of Cooking”; two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, Milk Bar Chief Executive and “Bake Club” writer Christina Tosi; and “Top Chef” victor and restaurateur Brooke Williamson, who precocious penned “Sun-Kissed Cooking.”

The De Los Stage successful relation with L.A. Times en Español volition connection a assortment of Spanish (and Spanglish) programming. The signifier volition big panels astir the Latino vote, the relation of nutrient successful assemblage and the precocious Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.

To commemorate the festival’s 30th anniversary, writers Pico Iyer, Lisa See, Héctor Tobar and David L. Ulin, who contributed to the publication “Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: Celebrating 30 Years,” volition bespeak connected the assemblage event.

Festivities footwear disconnected April 25 erstwhile The Times volition big the 45th yearly Book Prizes. This year, the ceremonial honors Iyer with the Robert Kirsch Award for beingness achievement, Gorman with the Innovator’s Award and Emily Witt with the Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose. The prizes admit 61 nominees successful 13 categories.

General admittance to the festival is free. Friend of the Festival packages, which see reservations, parking and merchandise, are presently connected sale.