HarperCollins Hosted Creators at Annual Book Event

The publisher invited 95 content creators to New York City for a three-day weekend focused on professional development.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Books

Bold vector editorial illustration of hardcover books stacked to form a stylized city skyline on a flat surface. — HarperCollins hosted 95 content creators in New York City last weekend for its third annual Shelves and the City professional development event. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe book-related social media influencer events have a positive impact on the reading community?

HarperCollins held its third annual Shelves and the City event last weekend, bringing 95 book content creators to New York City. The gathering marked the first brand-sponsored influencer trip for the book community.

Why it matters

The event aimed to offer book creators professional opportunities comparable to other influencer sectors while supporting advocates for the right to read. It signals an increasing investment by major publishers in the digital creator economy.

The event hosted 95 creators whose follower counts span from 2,000 to 1.2 million. This third annual gathering featured the first-ever brand sponsorships from Nuuly and Eye Buy Direct.

The players

HarperCollins

This is a major global publishing company that produces works across various genres and is part of the News Corp media conglomerate.

Brooklyn Public Library

This is a prominent public library system serving the borough of Brooklyn through a network of branches and community programs.

Nuuly

This is a clothing rental subscription service owned by URBN that provides customers access to various apparel brands.

Eye Buy Direct

This is an online retailer specializing in affordable prescription eyewear and sunglasses.

The details

The weekend program included volunteering at the Brooklyn Public Library, a scavenger hunt in Williamsburg, a karaoke pajama party, and a Romantasy Ball. HarperCollins designed the experience to mirror professional trips common in other influencer industries.

February 2026: Cosmo Reads hosted an event in Atlantic City.
September 18-20, 2026: HarperCollins held the Shelves and the City event.

Industry Dynamics

The transition to influencer-led book marketing represents a shift away from traditional publicity toward creator-driven campaigns. This professionalized retreat model positions publishers to better capture audiences in the fragmented digital media landscape.

Fans of these creators can expect increased behind-the-scenes content and potential collaboration updates on their social media feeds. This event may also shift how creators promote new titles through deeper brand integration and access to publisher resources.

The takeaway

Publishers are increasingly treating book influencers as vital marketing partners by funding professional travel and networking opportunities. Fans should expect more branded digital content as creators gain more direct access to publishing houses.