Battlefield BookFest is Back!

Tickets are now on sale for the American Battlefield Trust’s second annual Battlefield Bookfest! Festivities will take place at Gettysburg History’s Beyond the Battle Museum from November 12-13, 2026. 

  

The Battlefield BookFest is a two-day event that celebrates our nation’s past through historical books and their authors. It has grown out of the American Battlefield Trust Prize for History, our annual book prize which encourages authors to embrace historic battlefields as physical resources and sites for learning.  

 

Over the course of two days, renowned historians, bestselling authors and history buffs will gather in Gettysburg, Pa. to engage in discussions about some of the most critical themes to the construction of American identity. 

  

The inaugural Battlefield BookFest in 2025 was a sell-out hit, welcoming more than 150 guests. After such a rewarding first year, the Trust is delighted to continue Battlefield BookFest as an annual tradition! 

  

The Trust has put together an incredible line-up of speakers, scholars and authors for you this year. Although 2026 American Battlefield Trust Prize for History winner Rick Atkinson will receive his award at a private event in October, three of this year’s outstanding finalists will join in on the BookFest fun, including Richard Bell, Mark Lender and Damian Shiels. 

 

A major event highlight will be the presentation by multiple New York Times-bestselling novelist Jeff Shaara, an alumnus of the Trust’s Board of Trustees who remains an ardent preservationist. His latest book, The Unfinished Work: A Novel of Abraham Lincoln, will be released November 10 — making BookFest among his earliest post-publication appearances!  

 

Attendees will also hear from scholars and public historians such as Gordon Rhea, David Powell, Carol Reardon, James Hessler, Andrew Dalton, Tim Smith, Victor Vignola, and the Trust’s own Garry Adelman, Kris White and Sarah Kay Bierle.  A detailed schedule of events and speakers is available on the Trust’s website.  

  

In addition to presentations and discussions from the first-rate list of authors, attendees will also have the opportunity to directly interact with their favorite authors through meet-and-greets and book signings at the end of each day. 

 

And that’s not all! 

  

On November 12 attendees can join the hosts of Boom Goes the History podcast for a live taping of a new episode titled The Ultimate History Book Discussion. The episode will feature a panel of authors, historians and BookFest presenters. The conversation will cover multiple dynamic topics, from the dos and don’ts of historical research to some favorite discoveries and untold stories. 

  

Plus, get ready for the third iteration of our fast-paced trivia competition, GettysNerd 3.0. Join us for a live trivia showdown to crown the “Ultimate GettysNerd,” either as an on-looker, or maybe even as a contestant. Registration for the online qualifier test opens in September 2026. 

  

If these events speak to you and your inner history nerd, secure your tickets now! You can purchase tickets for one day, both days, or for individual sessions. 

  

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 62,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.