The Library of Congress announced today that Stephen King will open the Main Stage of the 2016 Library of Congress National Book Festival with a presentation and recognition by the Library of his lifelong work promoting literacy. Tickets will be required for the King presentation. Tickets will be free and will be issued electronically beginning Sept. 14. Please check the Library of Congress website at loc.gov/bookfest for more details.

Tickets are not required for other presentations or activities at the festival.

The National Book Festival will be held Sept. 24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The King presentation will be from 11 a.m. – noon on the festival’s Main Stage, which will be located on the third floor. There will not be a book signing.

“Due to Stephen King’s popularity, we anticipate the volume of interest will exceed seating capacity,” said festival co-director Guy Lamolinara. “A ticketed process will make for the most orderly and fair opportunity for Mr. King’s fans to see this presentation.”

Seating will be first-come, first-served. Ticket holders must be seated by 10:30 a.m. Holding a ticket does not guarantee entry.

There is a limit of two tickets per person. Accessibility accommodations should be made no later than Sept. 19 by calling 202-707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov. ASL services are offered at all book festival presentations.

Other authors slated to appear on the Main Stage are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12:30-1:30 p.m.), Shonda Rhimes (2-3 p.m.), Bob Woodward (4-5 p.m.), Raina Telgemeier (5:30-6:30 p.m.) and Salman Rushdie (7-8 p.m.). Tickets are not required for these presentations.

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Connecticut Center for the Book is the Connecticut Affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.