Take your favorite aspects of walking into a book store and multiply them by 50. This is how ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events, is taking the acclaimed consumer book event out of New York City and into Chicago for the first time on May 14, 2016. The one-of-a-kind interactive experience where storytelling and pop culture collide will be held at McCormick Place as the bookend to the annual Book Expo America (BEA) trade event. Headlined by best-selling authors and the world’s hottest Hollywood talent, BookCon will bring books to life through a series of Panels, Autographing sessions, Author Q&As and more.

The initial guest list for BookCon 2016 includes a mix of Hollywood talent and traditional authors, highlighting the event’s scope and personality. It includes a discussion with multi-talented comedian Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids) where he will talk about his upcoming book, Moone Boy 2: The Fish Detective, with co-author Nick V. Murphy. Additional events will feature mega-sellers Leigh Bardugo (author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Six of Crows and The Grisha Trilogy) and Danielle Paige (Stealing Snow). The latest entrant into the late night battles – Samantha Bee (Daily Show) – will also make an appearance to talk about her middle grade novel, Cracking Up. This is only the beginning of the power-packed line-up being curated for BookCon 2016. ReedPOP will continue to add and announce guests and content up until the show.

“I can’t wait to get back to BookCon. It’s like a huge party for book lovers and there’s no better place to connect with readers,” says Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Six of Crows.

BookCon is designed to appeal to the modern-day book lover with an appreciation for broader pop culture and where these worlds intersect. BookCon will feature a vibrant Show Floor with the world’s most influential publishers including ABRAMS, Chronicle Books, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster and many more. In addition to over 250 Exhibitors, the Show Floor will house the Downtown Stage, home to innovative content like Q&As, trivia and illustrator events.

“BookCon 2015 proved that both Fans and the industry crave an event that connects authors to Fans in unique ways,” states BookCon’s Show Manager, Brien McDonald. “Now, we’re bringing that experience to Fans in a new city and fully expect Chicago to embrace us as our home for BookCon 2016.”

BookCon 2015 in NYC drew 18,000 fans (an 80-percent increase over 2014’s inaugural show) and showcased 300 Guests and 250 Exhibitors. The show included appearances by renowned actors and authors alike including: Julianne Moore, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, John Green, Jason Segel, Judy Blume, R.L. Stine and many others.

As an original consumer extension of BEA, BookCon will have unprecedented access to the world’s most accomplished authors and most influential publishing houses.

BEA, North America’s largest gathering of book industry professionals from around the globe, and BookCon, the consumer extension of the show, combine to make the ultimate event destination for the publishing industry and booklovers worldwide. BEA is widely known as the leading business event for publishers, booksellers, digital content creators, traditional and self-published authors, media, rights professionals, and movie and television executives who attend to discover new voices, learn about trends shaping the book industry, and network with those who have a passion for books and reading. BookCon is the ultimate Fan event where storytelling and pop culture collide – offering Fans unprecedented access to authors, publishers, celebrities and creators of content that influence everything we read, hear and see. Tickets for BookCon will go on sale on Thursday, November 12 at 12:00 PM CST.