Join us for a life changing weekend celebrating the creativity and imagination of Black authors and story tellers in the fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction genres. Lit Legends Weekend is more than a festival, it’s a curated safe space for the melanated mind to discover and enjoy black literature, cinema, and more.
September 25-27, 2026 Venue: TBD Washington, DC
Tickets Available October 2025
The 2026 Theme is...
Melanated Minds
Celebrating the Black Imagination
Melanated Minds: A Celebration of Black Imagination isn’t just a theme. It is the evidence that we as a people have followed Octavia Butler’s instruction to “write ourselves in” to places that have historically held no home for us on the page. The Black imagination continues to defy the limited expectations of those who refuse to accept the effortless brilliance of our people. Black creativity is unquantifiable. The inaugural Lit Legends Weekend is dedicated to celebrating that. From folktales, magical lands, and prophecies foretold to werewolves, aliens, ghosts, and beyond, we want to shine a light on the melanated minds that created these valuable stories and the melanated minds that read them.
Lit Legends Weekend Line Up
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The Lit Legends Cosplay Contest
Step into the spotlight in your boldest, most iconic cosplay look. Become your favorite book character and
Fae’d Away Comedy Show & Game Night
Get ready to laugh-out-loud fun
The Lit Legends Top Shelf Book Fair
Discover a curated marketplace featuring works from Black authors across fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal genres. Engage with writers, explore new worlds, and take home stories that resonate.
Check Ya Shelf Panels & Author Talks
Participate in dynamic discussions with leading Black voices in speculative fiction. Topics include world-building, ancestral narratives, futurism, and more.
Melanated Movie Night Film Festival
Experience screenings of films that delve into Black speculative narratives, followed by insightful Q&A sessions with creators.
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Legendary Lit Book Ball
Catch a vibe in your best cosplay or in your finest threads