The UK is full of book festivals, and as we head into the summer, they’re popping up all over the country and are perfect for your book club to have a day, weekend or even week out.
Book festivals are a brilliant opportunity to hear from your favourite writers, discover new ones, and meet other like-minded booklovers. You’ll be sure to walk away with a bag full of new books to enjoy!
We’ve put together a list of some of our team’s favourite festivals. Can’t see one near you? You can watch events from some of the festivals below online, so you can join in from the comfort of your own home.
1. Hay Festival, 22 May–1 June 2024
Based in the booktown of Hay-on-Wye in Wales, the Hay Festival welcomes some of the biggest names in the world every year and brings together diverse voices to listen, talk, debate and create, tackling some of the biggest political, social and environmental challenges of our time While this year’s Festival has already taken place you can watch highlights at Hay Festival Anytime, including Stephen Fry, Sathnam Sanghera, Marian Keyes and David Nicholls.
2. National Crime Reading Month, throughout June 2024
Run in collaboration with us at The Reading Agency, National Crime Reading Month promotes crime reading right across the genre through bookshops, libraries and venues such as museums and theatres, as well as online. It aims to bring new books for existing readers and new readers to the world’s most popular and best-selling genre. Events are hosted across the country.
3. Bradford Literature Festival, 28 June–7 July 2024
The Bradford Literature Festival has a vision of creating a fairer society and changing lives through world-class culture and literature. At the heart of BLF is a commitment to artistic brilliance and contemporary discourse, combining renowned literary figures with up-and-coming voices to curate dynamic programmes that spark dialogue and delight audiences.
4. Ledbury Poetry Festival, 28 June–7 July 2024
Ledbury Poetry Festival is an inclusive, international and inspiration celebration of poetry and spoken word over ten fabulously busy days, live in Ledbury and online to the world. Award-winning poets stand alongside upcoming talents in a thrillingly electric mix of events and workshops, music, exhibitions and bike rides.
5. Primadonna Festival, 26–28 July 2024
Held in Stowmarket, Suffolk, Primadonna is a book festival for people who don’t think book festivals are ‘for them’. The lineup gives prominence to women, Black and Asian artists, the LGBTQIA+ community, working class and disabled people: everyone is welcome at Primadonna.
6. Edinburgh International Book Festival, 10–25 August 2024
The Edinburgh International Book Festival aims not just to open up conversations but to broaden them too: existing as a space where nuanced discussion happens, and ideas can settle. This year’s lead theme is ‘Future Tense’, bringing together a range of events and topics which offer the option of a truly different way of looking at things. Many events are available to watch online.
7. Queen’s Park Book Festival, 31 August–1 September 2024
The Queen’s Park Book Festival is a vibrant and exciting celebration of literary arts in the heart of London. Previous speakers include prize-winning authors, directors and acclaimed actors. The Festival’s unique Community Tent is dedicated to nurturing local talent, championing local voices and empowering under-represented groups in the community.
8.Wigtown Book Festival, 27 September–6 October 2024
Held in Scotland’s national book town, the Wigtown Book Festival has a programme of over 250 events and activities for all ages, including music, theatre and visual arts. As well as their festival in the autumn, they run events year-round for readers and writers.
9. London Literature Festival, October 2024
Held at the Southbank Centre, the London Literature Festival unites readers of every age to celebrate the written and spoken word. Over 10 days each autumn, the festival features talks, discussions and in conversations with well-known writers, up and coming authors, and those making waves in written and spoken word.
10. Wimbledon BookFest, 17–27 October 2024
Wimbledon BookFest brings the very best of global art and culture to South London for a festival in October, as well as year-round events and an education programme reading over 14,000 children each year. They also run the Merton Big Read, a shared reading scheme which aims to bring the community together through books and stories.
