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The Festivals

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* Genres are for dedicated festivals only. All festivals may have an element of these. 

McLellan Book Festival

3rd - 6th September 2026

Its aims, in partnership with other organisations on the island, are to foster the visual, literary and performing arts on Arran, to further opportunities for professionals in the arts, create experiences which raise skills and awareness and improve access at community level, develop opportunities for young people and encourage new work, both on Arran and beyond through the annual McLellan Poetry Prize and the McLellan Arts and Book Festivals.

Arran

Scotland

MeetCute

4 July 2026

Welcome to the uk's first romance book festival!


Meetcute book fest started in 2024 in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Our first year was in the Bushey Rose Gardens, and it was a free festival for writers and readers of romance. Joined together in our love of the genre, we celebrated with over 200 of us, watching 30 authors on 6 panels, 5 Q+As, 3 workshops, and some excellent stalls, cocktails and treats.



Bushey

Hertfordshire

England

Mere Literary Festival

12 - 18 October 2026

The Literary Festival of Mere in Wiltshire, UK has been held annually since 1997 and features unmissable events, where esteemed interviewers sit down with our authors to delve deeper into their work, ideas and inspirations. 


Expect lively discussion, thoughtful insight and the unique chemistry that only a great conversation can spark.

Mere

Wiltshire

England

Milton Keynes Children's LitFest

2027 TBC

A dedicated day festival for children's workshops, author talks and discovering the fun of reading!


Milton Keynes Literary Festival is a fabulous festival of books, words, writers and ideas. Our year-round programme includes in-person and online author presentations and interviews, community and bookshop-based events, writing workshops and masterclasses, events for children, themed evenings of local and regional writing, literary walks, writing competitions and print/ebook anthologies with launch events.

Milton Keynes

Buckinghamshire

England

Milton Keynes Literary Festival

2027 TBC

Milton Keynes Literary Festival is a fabulous festival of books, words, writers and ideas. Our year-round programme includes in-person and online author presentations and interviews, community and bookshop-based events, writing workshops and masterclasses, events for children, themed evenings of local and regional writing, literary walks, writing competitions and print/ebook anthologies with launch events. 


Our Raising Voices project is now curating poems, stories and non-fiction about our city to create an interactive audiovisual StoryMap. Visit the website to read more.

Milton Keynes

Buckinghamshire

England

Moffat Crime Fest

2026 TBC

A new crime festival in Moffat, showcasing local authors and global bestsellers.

Moffat

Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland

Monty LitFest

TBC 2027

One of our key aims is to showcase writers who live in, write about and are passionate about Wales and the Welsh Borders and the diverse range of subjects and topics that matter locally. But, more than anything, we want to help connect writers with their readers.


We are committed to programmes that celebrate a diverse range of writing and appeal to a wide range of audiences. Our summer weekend festival takes place in the historic town of Montgomery.


 Also home to the Jill Kibble Monty Minifest for children's writers. All details at montylitfest.com

Montgomery

Powys

Wales

Monty Mini Fest

TBC 2027

The Jill Kibble Monty Minifest for children's writers is back for 2026! Our festival gives children the chance to meet the authors and illustrators who bring books to life and to explore just how much fun the world of books can be.

Montgomery

Powys

Wales

Morpeth Book Festival

2027 TBC

Just when you think the Morpeth Book  Festival can’t get any better another one comes along to prove you wrong! The fourth editoin of the event takes place in March with a fantastic line up. See you there!

Morpeth

Northumberland

England

Nairn Book and Arts Festival

29 August - 6 September 2026

Nairn Book and Arts Festival is the annual celebration of literature, art, music, drama and film in the Scottish Highlands. Staged in the historic seaside town of Nairn on the beautiful Moray Firth, each year the festival presents a unique and innovative programme of events. 

Nairn

Nairnshire

Scotland

Newark Book Festival

9 - 12 July 2026

Starting in 2017 as a two-day event that brought authors, illustrators and readers together, Newark Book Festival is now a firm favourite and a cultural highlight in the Market Town's annual calendar! A rich and diverse collection of events for everyone who loves a good story, whether it’s fantasy and fiction, crime and thriller, history, nature, music or comedy. 

Newark

Nottinghamshire

England

Newcastle Noir

2026 TBC

We do hope you can join us to celebrate another international crime fiction festival of deliciously dark criminal delights in the Toon!

In conjunction with our long-standing partner in crime Newcastle City Library, we have brought together a fine range of author panels featuring 40 local, national and international authors, including Mari Hannah, Trevor Wood, Kate Rhodes, Martin Edwards, Nina Bhadreshwar and Ørjan Karlsson.

In addition, on Friday evening, we’re hosting a fabulous proof-drop at the Tyneside Coffee Rooms celebrating Sunday Times bestselling author Essie Fox’s dazzling, unforgettable new novel (this event is free but tickets must be booked via Eventbrite).

Newcastle

Tyne and Wear

England

Newham Word Festival

2026 TBC

Newham Festival of Stories is truly a borough wide celebration, with events taking place at venues around Newham as well as online.

Newham

England

Noirwich

2026 TBC

Established in 2014, Noirwich explores, interrogates and promotes progressive and inclusive crime writing, in person and online.


Noirwich is about the reading and the writing of crime fiction, the critical study and practical application. We explore how this most dynamic of genres works and where it is going, thanks to our unique connection with the University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing department, and the British Archive for Contemporary Writing.


Noirwich is part of a vibrant, world-leading crime writing studies ecosystem, centred at UEA. The part-time MA Crime Fiction is taught online, through flexible and specially designed modules that can work around your schedule. The online elements are supplemented with three short, high-intensity residential periods a year.

Norwich

Norfolk

England

Norfolk & Norwich Festival

2027 TBC

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is a charity (no. 1164424) and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Made up of one of the country’s longest running arts festivals and a region-wide programme of creative engagement that particularly focuses on improving the cultural offer for children and young people.


For 17 days each May, the Festival transforms our public spaces, city streets, performance venues, parks, forests and beaches, bringing people together to experience the same brilliant and inspirational events. The flagship arts festival for the East of England, our world-class programme spans music, theatre, literature, visual arts, circus, dance and free outdoor events.


We bring some of this festival spirit to our year-round work where we collaborate with communities, schools and artists to bring outstanding events and projects that provide inspiration and nurture creativity in those who need our support most.

Norwich

Norfolk

England

North Cornwall Book Festival

TBC 2026

A literary feast for all on the beautiful North Cornish coast.


The North Cornwall Book Festival is Endelienta Arts’ annual literary festival, curated this year by author Tiffany Murray. This intimate weekend-long event includes author events, live music, workshops, an art exhibition, a local artisan market and an ever-popular pop-up café.

St Endellion

Cornwall

England

North London Book Festival

2027 TBC

Welcome to North London Book Festival 2026 – a vibrant literary gathering featuring debut and iconic authors across multiple stages at Alexandra Palace. Expect an inspiring mix of readings, panel discussions, Q&As, workshops, and book signings. It’s a true marketplace of stories for every genre and every reader.


Throughout the festival, you can mingle with your favourite authors, get books signed, and network with fellow readers and writers. Enjoy readings over a bite to eat and a glass of wine.

Alexandra Palace

London

England

Northern Children's Book Festival

TBC 2026

Since 2013 this unique festival has taken place in libraries and schools across the North East. Over two weeks the festival connects over 100 schools and more than 1200 children and young people with some of the UK’s top writers and illustrators to inspire, engage and ignite a passion for reading.

Newcastle upon Tyne and across the north,

England

Off the Shelf Festival of Words

Friday 9 - Sunday 25 October 2026

Delivered by the University of Sheffield, Off the Shelf Festival of Words is one of the most vibrant literary festivals in the North, bringing the best in local, national and international literary talent to Sheffield.Every autumn, Sheffield bursts into life, becoming a vibrant hub for literature and ideas as Off the Shelf Festival of Words takes centre stage.  Prepare to be captivated by an extraordinary line up of live events, offering you the unique opportunity to connect with celebrated authors, artists, and media personalities.


Off the Shelf isn’t just a festival; it’s a cornerstone of South Yorkshire’s cultural landscape. We’re dedicated to bringing you face-to-face with some of the most influential voices shaping our world, forging connections and inspiring new perspectives.

Sheffield

South Yorkshire

England

Orkney Storytelling Festival

2026 TBC

The Orcadian Story Trust was formed in 2000, and – after a break of a few years – has been reawakened to promote and encourage storytelling in Orkney.


The aim of the Trust is to preserve, promote and develop the traditional culture of the Orkney islands through stories and storytellers, and to offer events that are underpinned by a strong local representation and enhanced by visiting storytellers. We also try to preserve and record material that may otherwise be lost to future generations.


Although the main focus of the Trust is on storytelling, we also work to draw together traditional strands of Orkney culture such as music, song, art, dance and drama. Furthermore, we aim to nurture global cultural connections, and support and encourage the storytelling activities of indigenous cultures throughout the world, in particular linking to areas such as Scandinavia, Scotland and Ireland.

Orkney

Scotland

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