February is a big month for bookworms in California, with two massive antiquarian book fairs on back-to-back weekends.
Luckily for those of us in San Francisco, the California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns for its 57th rendition at Pier 27 from February 27th to March 1st, 2026.
One of the largest antiquarian book fairs in the country, the fair alternates annually between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The highly anticipated event comes on the heels of Rare Books Pasadena, another major book fair that will descend on the Raymond Theatre from February 21-22, 2026 — read Secret L.A.’s article for more details about that one.
57th California International Antiquarian Book Fair
The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) presents the 57th California International Antiquarian Book Fair, where over 100 expert exhibitors will take over 2 floors of the cruise terminal at Pier 27.
For three days in San Francisco this month, visitors can peruse collections of rare books, maps, ephemera, drawings, manuscripts, autographs, modern first editions, and more treasures from around the globe.
Some of the Bay Area’s most respected local bookstores and institutions will set up booths, including the American Bookbinders Museum, UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library, and Argonaut Book Shop.
Guests will also have the opportunity to attend several speaker presentations, including a deep-dive into LGBTQ+ rare books, co-sponsored by the GLBT Historical Society; and a presentation of student works from the San Francisco Art Institute Archives, co-sponsored by SFMOMA.
Attending the fair at Pier 27
🗓️ Dates: Friday, Feb. 27 (4-8pm), Saturday, Feb. 28 (11am-7pm), and Sunday, Mar. 1 (11am-4pm)
📍 Location: Pier 27, 27 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
🅿️ Parking: Free parking is first-come, first-served at Pier 27.
🎟️ Tickets: Ticket options range from $10-25. Admission is free for students with valid student ID, as well as librarians, curators, and related nonprofit workers who register in advance.
🌐 Website: The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America