By Maria Bregman
If you are a book lover, you will be spoilt for choice in 2024. The UK is home to some of the most diverse and exciting literary festivals in the world, offering a range of events for readers of all ages and interests. Whether you want to meet your favourite authors, discover new voices, join lively debates, or enjoy live performances, there is a literary festival for you. Here are some of the best literary festivals across London and the UK to book now.
London Literature Festival
The London Literature Festival is a must-attend event for anyone who loves words and ideas. The festival, which takes place at the Southbank Centre, features some of the biggest names in literature, poetry, and spoken word, as well as emerging talents and international guests. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 17th edition, with a theme of “Reimagining the Future”. Expect inspiring talks, readings, workshops, and exhibitions that explore how literature can help us envision and shape a better world.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest and most prestigious literary festival in the world, attracting over 900 authors and 250,000 visitors every year. The festival, which takes place in a pop-up village in the heart of the Old Town, offers a rich and varied programme of events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s books, and more. The festival also hosts the prestigious Booker Prize, which awards the best novel of the year. In 2024, the festival will mark its 51st anniversary, with a theme of “The Power of Stories”. The festival will explore how stories can challenge, inspire, and transform us, as well as celebrate the diversity and creativity of Scottish literature.
Hay Festival
The Hay Festival is one of the most popular and influential literary festivals in the UK, attracting over 250,000 visitors and 600 speakers every year. The festival, which takes place in the picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye, known as the “town of books”, offers a wide range of events, from literary talks and interviews, to comedy, music, and film. The festival also hosts the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts, which showcases the best of Welsh and international culture. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 37th edition, with a theme of “Imagine the World”. The festival will invite some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers to share their visions and ideas for the future.
Cheltenham Literature Festival
The Cheltenham Literature Festival is the oldest and one of the most prestigious literary festivals in the UK, dating back to 1949. The festival, which takes place in the spa town of Cheltenham, features over 500 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, history, politics, science, and more. The festival also hosts the Cheltenham Prize, which awards the best debut novel of the year. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 75th anniversary, with a theme of “Celebrating Stories”. The festival will honour the past, present, and future of literature, as well as the role of stories in shaping our lives and society.
Bath Literature Festival
The Bath Literature Festival is one of the most vibrant and diverse literary festivals in the UK, featuring over 200 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comedy, and more. The festival, which takes place in the historic city of Bath, known for its Roman baths and Georgian architecture, offers a mix of literary stars, emerging talents, and local voices. The festival also hosts the Bath Novel Award, which awards the best unpublished novel of the year. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 29th edition, with a theme of “The Art of Living”. The festival will explore how literature can help us live well, cope with challenges, and find joy in everyday life.
Manchester Literature Festival
The Manchester Literature Festival is one of the most innovative and dynamic literary festivals in the UK, featuring over 100 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, spoken word, and more. The festival, which takes place in various venues across the city of Manchester, known for its industrial heritage and cultural diversity, offers a range of events, from intimate readings and conversations, to large-scale performances and collaborations. The festival also hosts the Manchester Poetry Prize, which awards the best portfolio of poems by a single author. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 19th edition, with a theme of “The Power of Words”. The festival will showcase how words can inspire, provoke, and change us, as well as the role of literature in social and political movements.
Oxford Literary Festival
The Oxford Literary Festival is one of the most prestigious and intellectual literary festivals in the UK, featuring over 300 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, philosophy, and more. The festival, which takes place in the historic city of Oxford, known for its world-renowned university and literary heritage, offers a chance to meet and learn from some of the most brilliant minds and writers of our time. The festival also hosts the Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize, which awards the best book-length literary translation into English. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 28th edition, with a theme of “The Future of Humanity”. The festival will examine how literature can help us understand and shape the future of our species, as well as the ethical and moral implications of scientific and technological advancements.
Birmingham Literature Festival
The Birmingham Literature Festival is one of the most diverse and inclusive literary festivals in the UK, featuring over 150 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, spoken word, and more. The festival, which takes place in various venues across the city of Birmingham, known for its multiculturalism and creativity, offers a platform for new and established writers, as well as local and international voices. The festival also hosts the Birmingham Literature Festival Prize, which awards the best book by a writer from the West Midlands. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 26th edition, with a theme of “The Power of Place”. The festival will explore how literature can capture and reflect the essence of a place, as well as the impact of place on identity and culture.
Brighton Festival
The Brighton Festival is one of the most eclectic and vibrant literary festivals in the UK, featuring over 400 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music, theatre, and more. The festival, which takes place in the seaside city of Brighton, known for its artistic and bohemian spirit, offers a range of events, from literary talks and workshops, to live shows and installations. The festival also hosts the Brighton Festival Guest Director, who curates a selection of events based on their own interests and passions. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 58th edition, with a theme of “The Power of Imagination”. The festival will showcase how literature can inspire, challenge, and transform us, as well as the role of imagination in creating and shaping our reality.
York Literature Festival
The York Literature Festival is one of the most historic and cultural literary festivals in the UK, featuring over 100 events, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, history, and more. The festival, which takes place in the ancient city of York, known for its Roman and Viking heritage and Gothic architecture, offers a chance to discover and celebrate the rich literary legacy of the city and the region. The festival also hosts the York Literature Festival H.G. Wells Short Story Competition, which awards the best short story on a given theme. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 22nd edition, with a theme of “The Power of History”. The festival will examine how literature can help us understand and learn from the past, as well as the role of history in shaping our present and future.