Got Questions?

When purchased online, General Admission tickets cost just $25 for one day per person. Or purchase a two-day pass for only $35!​

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Children ages 5 & under are free (make sure to grab their wristband). Children 6-12 are just $5 for a General Admission wristband.

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You must have either a Big Ohio Book Con badge or wristband to ride the free shuttles.

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Online tickets close on May 5! General Admission tickets will still be available at the door for $5 more per ticket. Make sure you purchase your tickets online to lock in the lowest price!

Your General Admission badge gets you access to:

• First-come, first-served seating at Breakout Panels at the Medina Convention Center

• Meet 100+ authors

• Shop vendors

• Participate in Bookish Activities to win prizes

• Free onsite parking

• Free shuttle service to and from the 3 Con locations around town

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Your ticket price also comes with a Big Ohio Book Con lanyard and official badge to enter the Con! And it's yours to keep!​

Many traditionally published headlining authors will join the Big Ohio Book Con speaking on Main Stage panels located next door at Williams-on-the-Lake. You can choose to add on Main Stage tickets and hop on the shuttle to attend panels.

• Friday, June 5: Enjoy a Pre-Con Cocktail Event with drinks and refreshments, 2 exclusive panels with select headlining authors, and a special book fair featuring signed books from authors who couldn't make it to the Con but still want to support. $75 per person add-on to General Admission badge. 21+ only. Location: Williams-on-the-Lake.

• Saturday, June 6: Six Main Stage panels across a diverse set of topics and genres await at Williams on the Lake. Add-on panel seats to your General Admission badge and listen to your favorite authors, then you can purchase their books, meet them and get your book signed. $20 per panel per seat add-on to General Admission badge.

Main Stage panel ticket holders are guaranteed to not be cut off in the signing lines. That means you are guaranteed to meet the authors speaking on the panel, buy their books, and get them signed.

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You are also offered one free BOBC bookplate per author to be signed if you so choose!

You can opt to have your badge shipped to you by selecting shipping at checkout when you purchase your tickets.

You can pick up your badge for free on the days of the Con.

Or you can pick your badges up from May 11-June 5, 2026 at Black Cat Books & Oddities (420 South Court St.) during store hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Main Stage tickets will be emailed to you!

You may bring in one outside book per panel to be signed. Authors' backlist and current books will be available for purchase to be signed. You are also given the option of one free BOBC-branded bookplate per panel author with your ticket. Extra bookplates also will be available for purchase for a small fee.

Maybe! Some headlining authors will choose to head over to the General Admission venue next door to meet readers, and sell and sign books.

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Some headlining authors may not be able to join the General Admission area due to scheduling conflicts and travel plans.

Yes! There will be smaller panels and activities located at the General Admission venue that are included with your badge. These seats will be first-come, first-served. The official Breakout Panel and Activity Schedule drops in February 2026.

You know it! Over 100 indie authors across a diverse range of genres will be set up and waiting to meet you, and sell & sign their books in the General Admission venue!

Yes! Food trucks will line up right outside the venue. Feel free to grab a bite at any of the many diverse trucks we've curated for the Con each day.

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Businesses around town will also participate in Bookish Specials all weekend. Be sure to refer to your BOBC Guide for more fun around town at other area attractions.

Yep! You wanted the Big Ohio Book Con 2026 to be bigger and better! That's why the convention has 3 neighboring locations for you to enjoy. Just park your car at the Medina Convention Center (for free), then hop on one of the free shuttles when it's time to seek out a new activity. Shuttles run Saturday and Sunday all day during the Con.

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Locations:

• Medina Convention Center (General Admission Venue) | 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Ohio 44256

  • This is where you'll park and check-in for your General Admission badge​

  • Meet indie authors and bookish vendors here

  • Sit in on a Breakout Panel (first-come, first-served seating)

  • Participate in a bookish activity to win prizes

  • Shop bookish vendors

  • Meet headlining authors who are available to stay and sign!
     

• Williams on the Lake (VIP Cocktail Party & Main Stage Panel Venue) | 787 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Ohio 44256​

  • On Friday, June 5: This is where the VIP Cocktail Party, Exclusive Panels, and Special Book Fair take place!​

  • On Saturday, June 6: Have an add-on Main Stage Panel ticket? Head next door to this venue for the panel by hopping on a shuttle!​

  • No events scheduled here on Sunday, June 7
     

• The Black Cat Books & Oddities Block | Storefronts 

  • Throughout the weekend, hop on the shuttle and head over to the Black Cat Books & Oddities block

  • Head up to the Square, where small businesses will have bookish specials available for you

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Black Cat Books & Oddities always collaborates with surrounding businesses to extend the fun for our events! Expect the whole town to turn bookish with activities and deals. We will publish the ultimate guide to the Big Ohio Book Con & Medina so you know all the places to go!

All ages are welcome! Children 5 and under are FREE for General Admission and will receive a wristband. Children ages 6-12 are $5 for General Admission and will receive a wristband. You must have either a badge or a wristband to ride the shuttle.

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Friday's VIP Cocktail Party is only open to attendees with add-on tickets who are ages 21 and over.

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Saturday's Main Stage Panel programming is geared toward adults. Tickets can only be added on to a General Admission badge and are the same price for all ages.​

Yes! Parking at the Con's venue (735 Lafayette Rd.) is 100% free! On Friday and Saturday, you may also park at Williams on the Lake (787 Lafayette Rd.) for free!

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There are also free places to park all around Downtown Medina that will be close to the shuttle stop at the Black Cat store. Check back soon for a city parking map!

Yes! For your convenience, you'll be able to purchase copies of authors' books right before you enter the signing line.

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Authors who aren't speaking on panels will also have books for sale throughout the weekend. Make sure you stop by the booths of over 100 local authors to find your next great read!

Medina has plenty of cute Airbnbs and accommodations for rent! Check out the following hotels a short drive to the venue:

• Spitzer House Bed and Breakfast (3 mins to Con)

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Medina (10 mins to Con)

• ​Hampton Inn Medina (11 mins to Con)

• Red Roof Inn Medina (11 mins to Con)

• Quality Inn & Suites Seville (11 mins to Con)

• Motel 6 Medina (11 mins to Con)

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites (12 mins to Con)

• Super 8 by Wyndham Medina (12 mins to Con)

• Hawthorn Extended Stay Seville (12 mins to Con)

• Quality Inn & Suites Medina-Akron (12 mins to Con)

• The Westfield Inn (15 mins to Con)

• Quality Inn Brunswick Cle South (17 mins)

• Comfort Suites Brunswick (18 mins to Con)

• Comfort Inn & Suites Wadsworth (20 mins to Con)

• Holiday Inn Express Wadsworth (20 mins to Con)

• Extended Stay America Copley (21 mins to Con)

• Radisson Hotel Akron/Fairlawn (22 mins to Con)

• Best Western Plus Strongsville (24 mins to Con)

Absolutely! Both houses of Black Cat Books & Oddities will be open regular hours all weekend (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)! And they are a short 4-minute drive down the road from the Con! The shuttle will do pickups and drop-offs all day, so make sure you stop by the stores before you leave town!

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House 1: 420 South Court Street, Medina OH

House 2: 119 Lafayette Street, Medina OH​

All purchased badge and ticket sales are NON-REFUNDABLE.​

Author tables have now sold out. Some vendor spots may still be available. Applications close on December 31, 2025. You can apply on Black Cat's website here!

November 28, 2025
General admission, VIP cocktail party, and Main Stage panel tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on BigOhioBookCon.com! Main Stage Panel Names & Descriptions are released but not the author lineups. You have a chance to snag tickets at a discount for a super limited time!

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December 31, 2025
Author & vendor applications officially close. Applications are available at blackcatmedina.com! Act fast, as vendor & author spots are close to selling out!

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February 1, 2026
The official author lineup & General Admission schedule drops at 9 a.m.! You'll know everything there is to know about all the programming, authors, and vendors!

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May 5, 2026
Online ticket sales close. General Admission tickets will be available at the door for $5 more per ticket. Make sure you get your tickets online to save!