Publicity Speed Dating 2026 in NYC Now Open to SIBA Stores

NAIBA, SIBA's programming partner for the New Voices New Rooms annual conference, has opened one of their signature events to SIBA stores: 

Publicity Speed Dating 2026
Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
In person at the Gotham Comedy Club, 206 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
$35/person, max 2 people per store, 10 store limit

SIBA booksellers are familiar with the virtual version of a "publicity speed date" where booksellers have 15 minutes to pitch their bookstores to a Zoom room full of publishers and publicists. The in-person event is more intense and more rewarding. Publicists are seated at tables. Booksellers visit tables for 15-minute "dates" to introduce their bookstore, share their event capabilities, and make connections to fill their event calendar. These fast-paced one-on-one appointments with each publicist (up to 24 meetings in a single day) offer invaluable time with the people who can help stores improve and expand their events program, and an opportunity to put the store on their radar for future events.

"Nothing compares to time spent face-to-face with an events manager or store owner, passionately telling a publicist about their store events program and finding the perfect fit for authors." (Kit Little, Executive Administrator, NAIBA)

Space is limited to just 10 bookstores. Cost is $35/person, and a bookstore can bring a maximum of 2 people. Attending stores must also bring printed copies of their publicity kits.

Register at NAIBA*
*you do not need to create an account to register

NAIBA also has a link to resources for bookstores looking to refine their publicity kits for 2026.