For a century, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has served as the global archive of the Black experience, preserving the unbreakable threads that connect Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States. The rhythm of the drum, the power of the written word, and the visual brilliance of graphic storytelling are converging on the historic streets of Harlem.
Schomburg Centennial Festival
Schomburg Center Literary Festival
Black Comic Book Festival
Schomburg Center (founded by a Puerto Rican)
135th St Block Party
between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvds.
Harlem
Sat, June 13, 2026 | 11am – 7pm
FREE
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the institution marks its 100th anniversary by throwing open its doors for the landmark Schomburg Centennial Festival. For the first time ever, the center is merging its two most celebrated annual gatherings—the Schomburg Center Literary Festival and the Black Comic Book Festival—into one massive, all-day explosion of Global Roots culture.
Spanning five indoor stages and a sprawling outdoor street festival along West 135th Street, this free event is a vital celebration of Afro-Diasporic identity, Afro-Latin history, and community storytelling.
One of the interesting things about the Centennial Festival is the acknowledgement of Afro-Indigenous solidarity. Americans may not realize it, but across the Americas, we escaped the colonizers together, so we are mixed. South of the border, the strongest Black and Indigenous communities openly acknowledge this relationship.
Schomburg Center Literary Festival: Reading the Diaspora
The literary segment of the Centennial Festival remains anchored in its foundational mission: Reading the African Diaspora. This year’s curation spotlights the complex, overlapping histories of global Black and Latin communities, tracking how literature maps our shared global roots.
Afro-Indigenous Solidarity Panels: Academic and literary heavyweights, including Kyle Mays, will lead urgent conversations on the historic and contemporary alliances between Black, Afro-Latin, and Indigenous communities across the Americas.
Marquee Author Talks: Icon Walter Mosley joins a powerhouse lineup of contemporary visionaries like Sasha Bonét and Haitian-American novelist Dimitry Elias Léger to discuss migration, memory, and writing the diaspora.
The Toni Cade Bambara Spotlight: Film screenings and panel discussions will honor the life and enduring legacy of author, filmmaker, and activist Toni Cade Bambara, a towering figure of the Black Arts Movement.
The Black Arts Movement was a flowering of Black culture between around 1965 and 1975. It was the Harlem Renaissance 2.0. But it didn’t just influence American culture, it influenced global culture. It showed communities around the world that they could be proud of all their colors and speak up in their own defense through music, dance, literature, and all the arts. This is how we do it.
The Black Comic Book Festival Track: Visualizing Our Mythology
By absorbing the famous Black Comic Book Festival into the Centennial celebration, the Schomburg Center emphasizes that sequential art, comic books, and graphic novels are essential modern literature. This track brings high-energy “Blerd” (Black Nerd) culture to the heart of Harlem.
The Very Black Cosplay Showcase: The crown jewel of the comic track returns. Watch as fans and creators showcase incredible, custom-built costumes that bring Black, Brown, African, and Afro-Latin superheroes, anime icons, and sci-fi protagonists to life.
Illustration and Animation Workshops: Hands-on sessions led by industry professionals will teach aspiring artists the fundamentals of character design, storyboard structure, and how to independently publish diverse graphic novels.
The 135th Street Marketplace and Centennial Block Party
The energy of the Centennial extends far beyond the walls of the library. Outside, West 135th Street transforms into a vibrant, open-air cultural bazaar and festival ground.
The Creator & Author Marketplace: Stroll down the block to meet independent authors, Caribbean and Latin American craft artisans, and indie comic creators. You can buy signed books, limited-edition graphic novels, and diaspora-centric merchandise directly from the artists.
The Centennial Block Party: No Harlem celebration is complete without a sound system. The festival culminates in an outdoor neighborhood block party. Live DJs will spin a global, diaspora-spanning soundtrack—weaving together old-school Hip-Hop, classic R&B, Afrobeat, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms to keep the community dancing into the evening.
Plan Your Visit: Travel and Transit Directions
With large crowds expected for the outdoor street market and indoor panels, taking public transit to Harlem is highly recommended:
By Subway: Take the 2 or 3 train directly to the 135th Street Station, which exits right in front of the Schomburg Center. Alternatively, take the B or C train to 135th Street and walk three blocks east.
By Bus: The M7 and M102 buses stop directly at Lenox Ave/W 135th St. The M2 bus stops one block west at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
Celebrate 100 years of revolutionary archiving, storytelling, and global roots culture. Secure your free tickets today, grab your favorite books for the signing lines, and dress to impress for the cosplay showcase!
One More Important Thing
Our American right to vote is under attack. Gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is particularly heinous. It was created for a reason. That reason still exists and lately has been getting worse.
If we don’t restore some balance to the Federal Government in the November Midterm Elections, our American Democracy is probably finished. We can’t go back to where we were, but we the people can preserve our democracy.
It’s really important to vote and help get out the vote. Ironically anti-Democratic forces are doing everything they can to block our right to vote, so we can be ruled by a king and an oligarchy.
It’s essential not only to register to vote, but to make sure your registration is still valid. Many people have been thrown off the roles without reason. These attacks are targeted at us. Register, check your registration, and get voter information at vote.org
Get Tickets
The Block Party street fair is free with vendor booths. Indoor events are free with registration, but they fill up fast.