2026 Jewish Arts & Bookfest

Kick off Jewish American Heritage Month at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life with the 2026 Jewish Arts & Bookfest, celebrating the diversity of Jewish art, culture, and storytelling 

Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

In person at UC Berkeley's Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720  

This year's festival features a lineup of over 30 storytellers and artists in panel discussions, book talks, performances, and family-friendly workshops.

• Headliner: Emmy-winning filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth, renowned civil rights strategist Eric K. Ward, and activist Dion Garcia reflect on insights from 1980s and 1990s punk culture in confronting the rise of antisemitism and hate in society today.
• Wide-ranging Panel Sessions: Topics range from the intersection of Jewish, Latin, and Arab identities to Torah in the Tarot and from Soviet Jewish stories to diversity in American comic books.
• Vibrant Performances: Step into the Parisian salons of the Steins with a dramatic reading or get a front-row seat to “the world’s only Indian Jewish stand-up comedian.”
• Creative Discussions & Readings: Explore Yiddish literature and visual symbols, get an inside look at the award-winning film Among Neighbors, or join discussions on whether a poem can be Jewish and how Jewish authors and illustrators revolutionized children’s picture books.
• Family-Friendly Series: In partnership with the JCC East Bay, the festival offers programming for families with children, including portrait photography, bookmaking, and papercut art
• Festival Shuk [Marketplace]: Browse an expanded collection of vendors whose work engages Jewish heritage and culture.
• And much more!

All the details and the full schedule can be found at magnes.berkeley.edu/jewish-arts-and-bookfest 

Tickets on sale now!

ADULTS: $40.00 Use promo code EarlyB5 for $5 off!

YOUTH: $5.00 (Under 18)

STUDENTS: $5.00 (Current student ID required for entry)

MUSEUMS FOR ALL: $5.00 (EBT/SNAP card required for entry)

Tickets can be purchased online at https://secure-tickets.berkeley.edu/31647 

The Jewish Arts & Bookfest is presented in partnership with J. The Jewish News of Northern California, JCC East Bay, New Lehrhaus, and Jewish Community Library.