By Sara Bright
If you love books, authors, and literary events, then you should mark your calendar for the best literary festivals happening in 2024. These festivals are not only a great opportunity to meet your favourite writers, discover new books, and enjoy lively discussions, but also to explore new places, cultures, and experiences. Whether you are looking for a local or a global festival, a traditional or a contemporary one, a niche or a mainstream one, there is something for everyone in this list. Here are the top literary festivals you don’t want to miss in 2024.
Hay Festival
The Hay Festival is one of the most famous and popular literary festivals in the world, attracting thousands of visitors and hundreds of speakers every year. The festival takes place in the picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye, on the border of England and Wales, which is known as the “town of books” for its abundance of bookshops and libraries. The festival celebrates literature, arts, and ideas, with a diverse and eclectic programme of events, ranging from readings, interviews, debates, workshops, concerts, and exhibitions. The festival also has a strong focus on sustainability, diversity, and education, with initiatives such as the Hay Festival Foundation, the Hay Festival International, and the Hay Festival Academy. The Hay Festival 2024 will run from 23 May to 2 June, and will feature some of the most acclaimed and influential writers of our time, such as Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and David Mitchell.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest and most prestigious book festival in the world, hosting over 900 events and welcoming over 250,000 visitors every year. The festival is part of the Edinburgh Festival, the world’s largest arts festival, which transforms the Scottish capital into a vibrant and cosmopolitan cultural hub every August. The festival is held in the beautiful and historic Charlotte Square Gardens, where a tented village of bookshops, cafes, and stages hosts a wide range of events, from talks, panels, workshops, performances, and signings, to children’s activities, exhibitions, and parties. The festival also showcases the best of Scottish literature and culture, as well as the latest trends and developments in the global literary scene. The Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024 will run from 10 to 26 August, and will feature some of the most renowned and innovative writers of our time, such as Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, Hilary Mantel, and Colson Whitehead.
Jaipur Literature Festival
The Jaipur Literature Festival is the largest and most vibrant literary festival in Asia, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of speakers every year. The festival takes place in the stunning and historic city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, which is known as the “Pink City” for its colourful and ornate architecture. The festival celebrates the rich and diverse literary heritage of India, as well as the contemporary and emerging voices from around the world. The festival offers a variety of events, from lectures, discussions, readings, and debates, to music, dance, poetry, and art. The festival also fosters a spirit of dialogue, exchange, and collaboration, with initiatives such as the Jaipur BookMark, the Jaipur Music Stage, and the Jaipur Writers’ Ball. The Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 will run from 24 to 28 January, and will feature some of the most brilliant and inspiring writers of our time, such as Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Orhan Pamuk.