The Festivals

Hear leading voices from politics, history, journalism and culture. Three days of lively debate and great conversation in the heart of Lewes. An exciting chance to meet the thinkers shaping our world.

Founded in 1981, Lichfield Festival continues to be one of the Midlands’ most vibrant and inclusive celebrations of the arts. Each summer, our 11-day multi-arts festival transforms the historic cathedral city of Lichfield into a hub of creativity, presenting over 60 events that span mainstream, contemporary and classical genres. From comedy to classical music, folk to family workshops, our goal is simple: to ensure arts for all.

The Festival has now evolved into a year-round cultural programme that inspires, connects and delights audiences across Staffordshire and beyond. Alongside the flagship Summer Festival, we now present Lichfield Literature Festival; a four-day celebration each March exploring new ideas with 20+ critically-acclaimed writers and debut authors, an Autumnal Chamber Music Weekend; a return to our classical roots with four days of sublime music in intimate venues, and a festive Christmas concert in Lichfield Cathedral in early December.

Lincoln Book Festival connects audiences of all ages and interests with some of the UK’s best-loved writers. Events include intimate talks, readings, panel discussions, workshops and Q&As with acclaimed authors, journalists, academics, cultural commentators and public figures. This is complemented by a varied programme of events for fans of different literary genres and formats, including family-friendly activities.

Since 2006, we have been inspiring young readers from the village of Linton and surrounding communities in South Cambridgeshire. Our biennial festival is packed with FREE fun activities for children aged 2-12: creative workshops, storytelling, presentations by favourite authors, poets and illustrators, hands-on arts & crafts, music…and so much more!

Litfest is a volunteer board-run organisation operating in Lancaster and the surrounding areas. Originally founded in 1978, we’re the UK’s third-oldest literary festival!

We put on a full festival programme every year, and we’re also involved in a whole host of other events and projects. We’ve been lucky to have lots of exciting authors, poets and illustrators involved with the festival over the years, and we can’t wait to continue that legacy in the future.

Literary Leicester is the University’s annual free literary festival, open to all. Brought to you by the School of Arts, Media and Communication and the Centre for New Writing, the festival hosts events at the university and right across the city, in cinemas, theatres, community halls, schools and more. 

Since 2008, up to 5,000 attendees a year join us to participate in events with Booker Prize winners, celebrated cultural commentators, novelists, poets, historians, biographers and much more. We discuss important, fun and fascinating contemporary topics across a wide range of subjects. In our multicultural city, our ongoing themes include inclusivity, diversity and accessibility. We are a festival for everyone.

Four days. One village. Many stories.

What began as an idea has become something we look forward to all year. Familiar faces. New voices. Conversations that stay with you long after the last chair is stacked.

A Childrens day alongside it.

The Liverpool Literary Festival (Held by Liverpool University) is a fascinating weekend of discussions, readings and debates in one of the most dynamic, culturally vibrant cities in the world. 

Pembrokeshire's newest literary festival, held in a beautiful former fishing village nestled on the Cleddau on the edge of the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park.

Because we believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience live literature we’re very proud of the fact that we use the income from every ticket you buy to provide the largest free literature festival schools programme in the UK and this year we’ll provide over 21,000 places at our awesome author and illustrator events free for state primary schools all over London. We’re for love, not profit, all the way.

Barnes is put on by families for families so we’re 100% committed to making sure your tribe has an amazing time. As well as bringing you all your favourite authors and illustrators, we’re always pushing the boundaries of traditional literature festivals to create loads more space for the family-friendliest fun.

At Barnes we programme books as theatre, music, maths, science, art, craft, cookery, film, football, whatever it takes to bring the magic of reading and writing to the kids.

London Literature Festival unites readers of every age to celebrate the written and spoken word.

The longest-running celebration of the written and spoken word of its kind in the capital presents prestigious names alongside rising literary stars, every autumn.

A week long celebration for readers, writers and anyone who loves words. Workshops, crafts, walks, storytelling, a Book Fair, and more!

Louder Than Words Fest has been described as 'The UK's biggest music based literature festival'. We're bringing together authors, artists, poets, performers, lyricists, journalists, DJs, bloggers, publishers, fans and aficionados of music and popular culture for in conversations, panel discussions, meets and greets, workshops and more!

Love Stories Etc… launched in 2024 with a one-day festival held at Manchester Central Library, with panels, workshops and book signings, aimed at encouraging romance readers to discover new authors.

For 2025, there will be events across two days, with an impressive mix of bestselling brand authors, emerging stars and debuts writing in the romance space, including Taylor Dior-Rumble, Beth O’Leary, Mike Gayle, Mhairi Macfarlane, Alexandra Potter, Suzan Holder, Sareeta Domingo, Laura Wood, Justin Myers, Lizzie Huxley-Jones and Jendella Benson confirmed to appear.

We'll be hosting a series of events every weekend, highlighting local authors, poets, and historians. Each weekend, there will be artisan crafts & gifts, well-stocked book stalls, performances, and talks to look forward to.

A Write Highland Hoolie is Scotland’s friendliest book festival. It combines literature, poetry and music under one roof in a unique immersive, unforgettable weekend of fun, friendship and fine food. Guests describe the Hoolie as, ‘great craic’.

​

We hope you will join us. You will be guaranteed A Write Highland Hoolie!

Manchester Literature Festival offers unique experiences for audiences to interact with some of the finest writers and thinkers from across the globe.

It’s a welcoming place where people come together to share their passion for language, to be entertained, to learn and reflect on their connections with place, politics and people.

Manchester Literature Festival is a two-week festival taking place each October in a variety of prestigious and atmospheric venues across the city and complemented by a programme of digital activities.

Big names. Great ideas.
Beautiful surroundings.
And a moat.

Curated by award-winning independent bookshop, The Book Hive.

Manx Litfest’s mission is to foster a vibrant and inclusive literary community in the Isle of Man by organising events that encourage residents to engage with books, reading, writing, poetry, storytelling and illustration and provide the opportunity to meet with people who work in the literary field.

The 2026 programme has something to tempt everyone from lovers of biography, history, memoir, music, politics, nature and gardening. Topics range from Beethoven to Russian spies and Ukraine, from psychiatry to shopping and how to navigate modern day etiquette and our digital world.