Literary Events - UK

Alderney Literary Festival

The Alderney Literary Trust promotes the enjoyment of literature on our lovely Channel Island of Alderney. Every year in the Spring, we hold The Alderney Literary Festival, a long weekend dedicated to exploring and enjoying history through books. ...

When: March

Where: Alderney

Guernsey Literary Festival

The festival attracts speakers from a wide range of disciplines, from literature to politics, from history to sport, from the environment to food, from biography to travel. We also organise a full education and community programme, together with workshops for local writers with renowned visiting aut...

When: May

Where: Guernsey

Berwick Literary Festival

Berwick Literary Festival – The Friendly Festival in a Walled Town is a celebration of words, written spoken and performed which takes place in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland yearly in October. ...

When: October

Where: Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Bibury Literary Festival

Bibury Literary Festival (BibLit) is an annual event that brings authors and book lovers together into the heart of the English countryside. ...

When: April

Where: Bibury

Birmingham Literature Festival

The annual event is a project run by Writing West Midlands, the literature development agency for the region, and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation. Taking place every year in October, the Birmingham Literature Festival is a leading festival in the Midlands, showcasing the v...

When: October

Where: Birmingham

Books by the Beach

An exciting in-person event with a fantastic programme of top authors visiting Scarborough. ...

When: June

Where: Scarborough

Boston Book Festival

We have a full schedule of events ranging from poetry to chicklit, from children’s books to historical fiction, and everything in between. There’s bound to be something to suit you, whether you are an avid reader, or just read when you are on an aeroplane on your way to the sun. Come and meet th...

When: September

Where: Boston, Lincolnshire

Bridport Literary Festival

This vibrant annual festival brings a variety of authors to different venues in and around Bridport. Perfect for all book lovers, the festival has a wide literary range, from nationally acclaimed and prize-winning authors, to local gems who represent the creative community of West Dorset. Speakers i...

When: November

Where: Bridport

Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival

The Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, set up in 2008, is now one of the leading cultural events in Devon and the South West. Set on the stunning Jurassic Coast, we run five days of events in September featuring some of the most exciting writers, thinkers, experts and opinion-formers, as well as ...

When: September

Where: East Devon

Burnham-On-Sea Book Festival

Expect talks, workshops and readings across several genres, including crime, historical, young adult, children’s, literary and non-fiction. Events will be held at The Princess Theatre and Burnham Library and will include local authors and well-known figures on the literary scene. The festival ...

When: May

Where: Somerset

Buxton Festival

Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the UK’s leading arts festivals, Buxton Festival is a summer celebration of the very best opera, music and literature at the heart of the beautiful Peak District.

The festival features the most promising up-and-coming, and also internationa...

When: July

Where: Buxton, Derbyshire

Cambridge Literary Festival

Cambridge Literary Festival (CLF) began as Cambridge Wordfest in 2003, when we had our first annual Spring Festival. We began hosting Winter Festivals in 2008. Cambridge Literary Festival soon became a much-loved and regular highlight drawing large audiences from Cambridge and the rest of the UK. ...

When: April

Where: Cambridge

Capital Crime

Our fresh and innovative festival programme features leading crime and thriller creatives. Capital Crime welcomes some of the world’s favourite authors and filmmakers to London. We bring the best of everything crime and thriller to fans....

When: September

Where: London

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Cheltenham Literature Festival is the world’s first literature festival, leading the way in celebrating the written and spoken word, presenting the best new voices in fiction and poetry alongside literary greats and high-profile speakers, while inspiring over 9,000 school children with a love of b...

When: October

Where: Cheltenham

Chipping Campden Literature Festival

A much loved literature festival in the heart of the Cotswolds and only a 20 minute drive from The Old Post Office. Our programme covers fiction, poetry, and non-fiction including biography and memoir, and we have events on royalty, spying, fraud, history, politics, celebrity, journalism, nature, ru...

When: May

Where: Chipping Campden

Chipping Norton Literary Festival

ChipLitFest has earned its reputation as one of the friendliest and most innovative festivals, bringing a wide-ranging array of writers, poets, public figures and creative people to the town and drawing large and lively audiences from a wide area....

When: April

Where: Chipping Norton

Chiswick Book Festival

The Chiswick Book Festival brings together top authors and their readers for a week of history, poetry, biography, creative writing, fiction, thrillers, gardens, food, wine, politics and children’s books. The Festival is a non-profit-making community event, raising money for three reading-related ...

When: September

Where: London

Chortle Comedy Book Festival

The Chortle Comedy Book Festival is a comedy book festival run by the UK comedy website Chortle, and is Britain's only book festival devoted entirely to comedy....

When: January

Where: London

Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature

A literary festival with a theological slant, the Festival of Faith and Literature seeks to encourage a love of literature as it relates to faith, and to create a thoughtful and relaxing space in which to consider works of literature and their religious and moral themes....

When: February

Where: Oxfordshiire

Cliveden Literary Festival

Established in 2017, the Festival has featured a stellar international cast of novelists, historians, screenwriters, film directors, actors, spies, generals and politicians. Hailed by Alain de Botton as ‘the most dignified and beautiful literature festival on the planet’ and described by Ian McE...

When: September

Where: Cliveden,

Crimefest

CRIMEFEST is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. Drawing top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world, it gives all delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly, informal and i...

When: May

Where: Bristol

Deepings Literary Festival

Deepings Literary Festival is a festival for everyone who enjoys words – the written word, the spoken word, the recited word and the sung word too. Over three days at the end of April, the Deepings will host a stellar cast of writers of both fiction and non-fiction, storytellers and folk singers....

When: April

Where: Deepings

Deptford Literature Festival

Celebrating the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance, the Festival features a host of talented writers, artists and organisations based in the area. It’s a literature festival with a difference, with the local community at its heart. Everyone is ...

When: March

Where: London

Durham Book Festival

The North East’s biggest literary event. Author talks, readings, performances, new commissions and the announcement of the Gordon Burn Prize....

When: October

Where: Durham

English Riviera Literature Festival

The English Riviera Literature Festival offers a packed programme of literary-themed events, creative activities for children and adults, fascinating author talks and readings as well as a chance to meet published and aspiring writers....

When: March

Where: Devon

European Writers Festival

This is a unique opportunity to come together to enjoy some of the best European prose and poetry in English translation, and to ensure that the cultural networks and exchanges between Britain and Europe continue to thrive as we forge new paths and tackle the challenges of our times....

When: May

Where: London

Falmouth Book Festival

Falmouth Book Festival is more than just another book festival. We want to reach out into the local community: into primary and secondary schools, clubs and organisations, and to local businesses - in fact, to anyone who wants to get involved. There will be events with authors in conversation, prese...

When: October

Where: Falmouth

Farnham Literary Festival

Author talks, panel discussions and readings offer a relaxed opportunity to hear about new or popular works and to hear about writers’ motivations and interests, while at workshops you can develop your own writing skills and explore your creativity. There is also a competition for budding poets - ...

When: March

Where: Farnham

Felixstowe Book Festival

A community literary event celebrating Suffolk and bringing together renowned authors and readers. ...

When: June

Where: Felixstowe

Fishbourne Literary Festival

The day will include book signing, sales and a second-hand book fair, plus gifts and a promises tree and a prize draw. Lunch will be available in the church hall. Tea, coffee and cake will also be available throughout the day....

When: March

Where: Fishbourne, West Sussex

Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature

Taking place in various locations in Fowey, Cornwall’s premier literary festival features a diverse range of authors, speakers, musicians, and artists. Organised by the du Maurier Festival Society, it is staged in the beautiful riverside town of Fowey, which was home to Daphne du Maurier and S...

When: May

Where: Cornwall

Henley Literary Festival

Henley Literary Festival is established as one of the UK’s biggest book festivals. The 2019 festival was our biggest yet with 170 events for adults and children. The line-up included former Prime Minister Theresa May, comedian Paul Merton, cookery legend Mary Berry, England’s greatest batsman Si...

When: September

Where: Henley-on-Thames

Hexham Book Festival

Hexham Book Festival is a Not For Profit CIC and delivers an annual festival that takes place in and around Hexham in April/May each year. It has grown significantly since its first Festival in 2006 into an important part of the regional arts calendar. ...

When: April

Where: Hexham

Huddersfield Literature Festival

Huddersfield Literature Festival (HLF) is an award-winning 10-day Festival held annually in March. A blended Festival of 50+ digital, outdoor and venue-based events held online and at accessible spaces in Huddersfield, HLF champions accessibility, diversity and under-represented groups....

When: March

Where: Huddersfield

Jewish Book Week

Jewish Book Week is a literary festival in London, held annually in February and March, that explores Jewish literature, ideas and culture. The festival was founded in 1952 and since 2012 it has been presented at Kings Place....

When: February

Where: London

Lichfield Literary Festival

The Lichfileld Literary Festival is an annual celebration of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more. Held in March, Lichfield Literature Festival sees writers of all styles and genres convene in the ‘creative county’ for a series of talks, workshops and other literature-related events....

When: March

Where: Lichfield

London Book Fair

The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels....

When: April

Where: London

Marlborough Literature Festival

We celebrate the best of writing and literature during our annual festival held in the beautiful market town of Marlborough.

Over the years we’ve had terrific authors such as Lionel Shriver, Howard Jacobson, Alexander McCall Smith, Fay Weldon and Michael Morpurgo. However its not all about...

When: September

Where: Marlborough

Newark Book Festival

Newark Book Festival (previously Books in the Castle) is a literature festival that features and celebrates a range of authors and book events from crime to history and plenty for children and families too....

When: July

Where: Newark, Nottinghamshire

Noirwich Crime Writing Festival

Noirwich is about the reading and the writing of crime fiction. We explore how the genre works and where it is going, thanks to our unique connection with the University of East Anglia’s creative writing department. Our crime writing workshops provide attendees with the opportunity to enhance thei...

When: September

Where: Norwich

North Cornwall Book Festival

North Cornwall Book Festival brings together readers and writers (and a few choice musicians) for a half term holiday of literature, narrative, craft, workshops and concerts in a site of outstanding beauty between the holiday resort of Polzeath and the fishing community of Port Isaac....

When: September

Where: Cornwall

Orwell Festival of Political Writing

The Orwell Festival will be a space for complex debate and diversity of opinion and viewpoints, encourage creativity and clarity of expression, provide a platform for unheard voices, and defend the right to individual conscience, whilst remaining politically impartial.
There will be debates, ...

When: June

Where: Bloomsbury & Online

Oxford Literary Festival

Oxford Literary Festival is a world-class literary event that brings together leading authors and public figures in a magnificent setting in the central university area of Oxford city each year.

The festival events mostly take place around two vibrant hubs in Oxford City Centre, namely the Blackwe...

When: March

Where: Oxford

Penzance Literary Festival

Known for its friendly atmosphere and strong sense of community, the Penzance LitFest celebrates words in all their many forms, and welcomes contributions that will inspire, entertain and inform our enthusiastic audiences. Over four exciting days, we are bringing an eclectic selection of authors, wr...

When: July

Where: Cornwall

Primadonna Festival

Primadonna is a festival of books, ideas and inspiration. We have something for everyone with film, music, comedy, food, drink, DJs and therapies alongside our main programme of talks, interviews and discussions. Our line-up gives prominence to women, people of colour, LGBTQI+ and working-class peop...

When: July

Where: StowmarketSuffolk

Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival

The Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, picked by Harper’s Bazaar as one of the UK’s Best Literary Festivals, has become the hot ticket on the national Festival circuit thanks to its stellar line up of literary names in a beautifully intimate setting....

When: October

Where: North Yorkshire

Rye Arts Festival

Rye’s principal annual arts event, taking place over the weekends and last two weeks in September. It has developed over the past 50 years into one of the most successful and respected small festivals of its kind, dedicated to high quality performances in music, literature, theatre and other art f...

When: September

Where: Rye, East Sussex

Stratford Literary Festival

Since 2008 we’ve been bringing you an exciting mixture of debate, ideas, celebrity author events, workshops and humour in spring and winter. We’re also a charity promoting the benefits of reading and writing on education, literacy and well-being in schools, the community and prisons. ...

When: May

Where: Stratford-upon-Avon

Stroud Book Festival

Stroud Book Festival celebrates all things books. Headed up by a team of local authors, literary and cultural professionals, and with Ian McEwan as patron, the festival presents a creative programme of high-quality, entertaining and thought-provoking events to engage this vibrant local community. St...

When: November

Where: Stroud

Thame Arts and Literature Festival

The Thame Arts and Literature Festival is an inclusive, community-driven arts and literature festival that takes place in the picturesque market town of Thame. Events will include Author Talks, Music, Literature, Plays, Readings, Debates and much more, plus several special events for younger readers...

When: October

Where: Thame

The Coast is Queer

Bringing together writers, performers, academics, activists and readers for a weekend of events, workshops, panel discussions and performances to celebrate queer lives and writing. ...

When: October

Where: Brighton and Hove

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Festival

The world class, award winning Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, now in its 15th year, celebrates the very best in crime fiction at the magnificent Old Swan Hotel each July. The Festival is a firm date in the literary calendar and has achieved international acclaim for the programming, ...

When: July

Where: Harrogate

Tottenham Literature Festival

The Tottenham Literature Festival is a bold new event aimed at celebrating Black writers and distinctive children’s literature and it’s taking place right in the heart of one of London’s most diverse boroughs at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre....

When: November

Where: London

Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival

This packed programme of events will bring together some of the nation’s favourite writers, whilst also showcasing exciting new voices and some of the best in children’s literature. ...

When: May

Where: Tunbridge Wells

UEA Live

The University of East Anglia’s first literary festival took place in 1991 and over the last twenty two years we have welcomed a host of award-winning authors, journalists, illustrators, scientists, economists, broadcasters and more....

When: October

Where: Norwich

Wells Festival of Literature

The Wells Festival aims to promote the enjoyment and excitement of books and to encourage a love of the written word by bringing to Wells a wide range of international, national and local writers to entertain, challenge, inspire and inform audiences of all ages and tastes. This extensive selection o...

When: October

Where: Wells, Somerset

WORDS The Marlow Literary Festival

The Marlow Writer's Society hosts a Literary Festival to celebrate the spoken word. There will be a range of presenters and performances, including published authors, drama groups, choirs, and musicians. The event will run all day and into the evening....

When: June

Where: Marlow

WOWFest

Throughout the entire month of May, our annual literature festival, WoWFEST, offers a programme of local, national and international writers, performers, commentators and artists. ...

When: May

Where: Liverpool

Belfast Book Festival

The Belfast Book Festival is Northern Ireland’s leading literary festival and since its inception in 2010, has grown from strength to strength. Now in its 12th year, the annual June event is a unique, diverse and highly creative mix of events as we celebrate bestselling authors and award-winning p...

When: June

Where: Belfast

Rostrevor Literary Festival

Rostrevor Literary Festival is a free event bringing together a diverse range or writers and poets in a special programme....

When: October

Where: Rostrevor, Co Down

Aye Write

Aye Write is Glasgow’s annual book festival, bringing writers and speakers from across Britain and beyond to the heart of Scotland’s largest city. ...

When: May

Where: Glasgow

Bloody Scotland

Priding ourselves as the literary festival where you can let down your hair and enjoy a drink at the bar with your favourite crime writer, we strive to put on entertaining as well as informative events during a weekend in September, covering a range of criminal subjects from fictional forensics, psy...

When: September

Where: Edinburgh

Borders Book Festival

The Borders Book Festival has established itself as a key national literary and arts event. From an audience of just 400 in 2004, it now draws some 34,000 visitors to the magical Harmony Garden and its orchard in Melrose each year. Tranquil herbaceous borders, apple trees and greenhouses are sudd...

When: June

Where: Melrose

Boswell Book Festival

The world’s only book festival dedicated to biography and memoir. Normally held at the magnificent Dumfries House, the Festival has become one of the most prestigious cultural events in Scotland and has attracted a host of writers and personalities such as Judi Dench, John Byrne, Ben Macintyre, M...

When: May

Where: Ayrshire

Colonsay Book Festival

The Colonsay Book Festival is one of the smallest and most remote literary events in the UK, held on the beautiful island of Colonsay in glorious springtime. ...

When: April

Where: Colonsay

Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival

Traditionally held at the Cove Burgh Hall, the festival brings renowned authors to a local audience, and usually runs over a weekend in November....

When: November

Where: Helensburgh

Cymera Festival

Cymera is Scotland’s festival of science fiction, fantasy, and horror writing....

When: June

Where: Edinburgh

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Edinburgh International Book Festival is a distinctive international showcase celebrating the written word, literature and ideas. It brings leading and emerging international, British and Scottish authors and thinkers together to inspire each other and audiences in an extensive programme of public e...

When: August

Where: Edinburgh

Granite Noir

Granite Noir is inspired by the incredible popularity of crime fiction in all its forms, by the fantastic contribution that Scottish writers make, by our love affair with Nordic Noir, on the page and on screen, and most of all inspired by Aberdeen, which is the perfect backdrop for the festival – ...

When: February

Where: Aberdeen

Ness Book Fest

Inverness-based book festival that features emerging voices as well as big names in a free programme of events....

When: October

Where: Inverness

Paisley Book Festival

The Paisley Book Festival has creativity and innovation at the heart of its programming, showcasing some of the best and most diverse voices being published today in Scotland and beyond....

When: February

Where: Paisley

Romance Author & Reader Event RARE22

Meet a mix of traditional and self-published authors of romance fiction. Designed to connect readers and writers, RARE holds multiple events each year in cities around the world....

When: April

Where: Edinburgh

StAnza Poetry Festival

StAnza is Scotland’s annual international poetry festival, bringing poetry in all its forms and many languages to Scottish audiences and worldwide. Since the festival was founded by three local poets in 1998, StAnza has gained a truly international reputation. In 2021 our achievements were recogni...

When: March

Where: St Andrews

Tidelines Book Festival

Tidelines Book Festival aims to cater for all age groups and many different interests, including fiction and non-fiction. In parallel with the festival we run a dedicated schools programme, bringing authors and their books to children and young people. We are the only independent Book Festival in No...

When: September

Where: Irvine, Ayreshire

Ullapool Book Festival

The first Ullapool Book Festival was held in May 2005. It was founded by a group of literary enthusiasts in Ullapool Entertainments, the local voluntary arts organisation founded in 1982.

The aim is to run an annual book festival the purpose of which is to promote and encourage the study, apprec...

When: May

Where: Ullapool

Wigtown Book Festival

Each autumn, the Wigtown Book Festival welcomes a whole host of visitors over the course of its 10 day book festival. Since the first Wigtown Book Festival in 1999, we have expanded to become an energetic arts organisation working through the year to deliver a programme of literature development act...

When: September

Where: Wigtown

Abergavenny Writing Festival

Readings, talks, workshops, and writing activities for all at the Abergavenny Writing Festival. The aim of the event is to get people together to find inspiration, have fun and get writing. There’s always an eclectic line-up of local talent including poets, songwriters, journalists, storytellers, ...

When: April

Where: Abergavenny

Hay Festival of Literature & Arts

The Hay Festival, founded in 1988, offers a fortnight of live and online conversations, debates and performances, and an inspiring, free Programme for Schools. ...

When: May

Where: Hay-on-Wye, Powys

Llandeilo Lit Fest

Literature Festival in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, held every last weekend in April since 2017....

When: April

Where: Llandeilo

Montgomeryshire Literary Festival

The Montgomeryshire Literary Festival celebrates writing in Wales and the Welsh borders, with an annual festival circulating through key locations in Montgomeryshire....

When: June

Where: Montgomery, Powys