On July 25, readers around the world met 80+ authors face-to-face in live private video sessions, got books signed, and experienced literary magic - all from their phones. The first Phictly Global Digital Book Festival is officially in the books.
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The Experience
VIP attendees met authors face-to-face, joined live video sessions, and got their books signed. Here's what the day looked like.
Private 2-minute live video sessions with beloved authors. Real, personal, and unforgettable. Not a livestream - just readers and their favorite writers.
Attendees added personalized signed bookplates and signed books when joining author queues - signed live on camera and shipped straight to their doors.
No tiers, no priority passes. Every attendee had the same shot at meeting their most-wanted authors, and spots went fast all day long.
Live 5-minute sessions with bookstores, subscription boxes, and bookish brands, plus event-only deals and direct connections.
Giveaways with signed books and bundles throughout the day, plus a digital swag bag packed with deals from our partners.
Readers joined from around the world with nothing but a phone and an internet connection. 80+ authors, one festival, one day. No flights. No hotels. No barriers.
The Authors
From NYT bestsellers to BookTok sensations - these are the authors who joined us on July 25.
The Experience
From entering the festival to live author sessions - here's what the day looked like in the app.
What's Next
The 2026 festival is a wrap, but more Phictly events are coming. Apply now to be first in line when the next lineup forms.
Apply for a free booth at a future Phictly event. Connect with fans through live 2-minute video sessions, offer meet & greets or signed bookplates, and sell books through Bookshop.org affiliate links.
Represent a traditionally published author who'd be a great fit for a future event? Submit your interest and we'll follow up with details as the next festival takes shape.
Bookstores, subscription boxes, coffee brands, and bookish businesses - showcase your products at a future event with live 5-minute meet & greets and a full catalog booth.
⚠️ A note on scams
Scammers have been impersonating our team and reaching out to authors. All official Phictly emails come from an @phictly.com address. If a message comes from any other domain requesting payment, it is not from us. When in doubt, forward the message to us directly before responding.
80+ authors. Live video sessions. Real signings. The first Phictly Global Digital Book Festival was one for the books - and it won't be the last. Join the newsletter and download the app so you're ready when the next one is announced.
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