Literature lovers get ready for the return of York’s most bookish festival.
York Literature Festival is back for 2026! The annual literary celebration will return from Saturday 28 February to Monday 30 March.
More than 45 events will take place throughout the month at venues across the city – including Theatre@41, York St John University, St Peter’s School, Joseph Rowntree School, and York Explore Library and Archive.
We’ve put together a guide of 17 highlighted events happening at this year’s festival, with Pulp guitarist Mark Webber, activist, writer and journalist Laura Bates, TikTok sensation spoken word poet Isabella Dorta, York’s first Festival of Hauntology, an interactive murder mystery event, and acclaimed fantasy writer Susanna Clarke.
YorkMix spoke with the chair of Board of Trustees for the festival, Dr Rob O’Connor, and Festival Programming Director 2026, Chloe Hanks, to find out what they’re most looking forward to this year.
“I have to champion the poetry,” said Chloe. “I joined the Board three years ago as a poet and as a host of the local spoken word open mic Howlers. I really wanted to build on the poetry representation in the programme.
Poetry-forward events include the International Women’s Day Poetry Showcase, Writing Women in York, and The Poets Behind the Press.
“I’m really excited about the slightly more geeky stuff,” said Rob. “We have the Festival of Hauntology, the folk horror weekend, we have a panel on climate science fiction. I’m also a massive music fan, so Mark Webber from Pulp is very exciting. I think that’s going to be a great interview, and great insight into Brit pop and the music scene in the 90s through the noughties.”
“We should also mention Laura Bates,” Chloe added, “because how could you not! I think it’s one of the most important books out there at the moment in terms of AI and feminism and misogyny in the digital age.”
As well as her evening event at St Peter’s School, Laura Bates is also hosting an event for the school students on the same day.
“One thing that, historically, that I’ve always been really proud of at the festival is highlighting debut writers,” said Rob. “We always make sure we have some guests on the programme that are presenting their first work – we think it’s really important.”
“Manish Chauhan’s debut book, which is launching at the end of the festival is so incredible,” said Chloe. “And he’s going to be interviewed by Sam Reese, who’s a very successful local shirt story writer.”
“Organising the festival is tough work,” said Rob. “But it’s always worth it, because when the events are happening and you see people having a good time; you see people engaging, asking questions; you see authors signing books for their readers; you see them talking to each other, interacting; you see smiles on people’s faces. It’s always worth it.”
York Literature Festival is sponsored by York St John University. For more information and to see the full programme of events, visit the York Literature Festival website.
York Literature Festival 2026 highlights
Your Life is Manufactured: Tim Minshall in Conversation
Join Tim Minshall, Professor at the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing, on an illuminating journey through the world of manufacturing and its transformational influence on our lives – and the world around us.
Tim will be in conversation with the York Literature Festival team to discuss the things around us and how they impact our world, be it the thousands of litres of water it takes to make a single pair of jeans or our smartphones that travel the world six times to reach us.
- St Peter’s School Memorial Hall, Clifton, York, YO30 6AB
- Sat 28 Feb
- 6:30pm
- £12
- Tickets
Climate Sci-Fi Fiction Panel with Fly on the Wall Press
Join us for an innovative panel discussion with Isabelle Keynon, CEO of Fly on the Wall Press. Isabelle will be joined by two of her authors, Amy Lilwall and John Ironmonger to discuss Cli-Fi as an emerging genre and writing in response to the current climate crisis.
- York Medical Society, 23 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW
- Fri 6 Mar
- 6pm
- £12
- Tickets
Writing Women in York: A Poetry Workshop with Janine Bradbury
A poetry workshop led by Janine Bradbury, BBC New Generation Thinker and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Writing and Culture at the University of York. In this poet-led session, participants will be invited to consider poetic practice and how this relates to absences in historical archives.
- Thetare@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Sun 8 Mar
- 1pm
- £10
- Tickets
International Women’s Day Poetry Showcase
For the third year running, join local poet Chloe Hanks in welcoming four vibrant voices from the local and surrounding poetry scene in celebration of International Women’s Day. This year, we we will be joined by York based poet Kayleigh Campbell, author of Sailor’s Blue from Broken Sleep Books, spoken-word poet Minal Sukumar, Bloomsbury author of An Interesting Detail, Kimberly Campanello and Bloodaxe’s Helen Ivory with Constructing a Witch.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Sun 8 Mar
- 7:30pm
- £12
- Tickets
Elly Griffiths Launches The Killing Time
Join us at Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, an atmospheric and historic space in the centre of York to hear bestselling author Elly Griffiths detail what is next for detective Ali Dawson. When Ali notices that evening that her cat, Terry, has gone missing, she decides to go back in time just long enough to prevent Terry from escaping through his open cat flap. A dangerous plan which backfires, and she finds herself once more in Victorian London, where she meets Jones, as well as Power, and the darkly mysterious Cain Templeton with whom Ali has unfinished business from her previous visit to the past.
- Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, Fossgate, York, YO1 9XD
- Thu 12 Mar
- 7pm
- £15
- Tickets
The Poets Behind the Press
At a time when Independent publishing is innovating the market, join us for a unique panel discussion that puts the poet at the centre of their publishing journey. Join Becca Drake of Little Hirundine Press, Paul Whelan of Acid Bath Publishing and Scarlett Ward of Fawn Press, a three poet panel all of whom have taken the industry by storm by establishing their own presses. Each poet will perform some of their work whilst presenting their publishing efforts, followed by a discursive panel and opportunity for the audience to ask their pressing publishing questions.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Fri 13 Mar
- 7:30pm
- £12
- Tickets
Francis Spufford in Conversation: Celebrating Nonesuch
Join us for an evening with Francis Spufford as he introduces us to his newest protagonist, Iris Hawkins, an ambitious young woman in the stuffy world of City finance set during the terrors of the London Blitz. What was supposed to be one night of abandon draws her instead into an adventure of otherworldly pursuit – into a reality where time bends, spirits can be summoned, and history hangs by a thread. Soon, there are Nazi planes overhead. But Iris has more to contend with than the terrors of the Blitz. Over the rooftops of burning London, in the twisted passages between past and present, a fascist fanatic is travelling with a gun in her hand.
- Joseph Rowntree School, Haxby Rd, New Earswick, York, YO32 4BZ
- Fri 13 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
The Wildsmith Workshop with Liz Flanagan
Join Liz Flanagan, a novelist from Hebden Bridge as we explore the stories of Rowan the Wildsmith! Encounter dragons, witches and all manner of mythical beings throughout this exciting storybook workshop.
Children will be encouraged and inspired to write their own stories using inspiration from their own lives!
- York Explore, Library Square, Museum St, York, YO1 7DS
- Sat 14 Mar
- 11am
- £1
- Tickets
Can You Solve the Murder?
Antony Johnston, author of Can You Solve the Murder?, hosts an interactive murder mystery event tasking you with bringing out your inner detective. You will be split into teams to uncover hidden clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together the puzzle to identify the culprit. Don’t miss this immersive event!
- The Crescent Community Venue, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Mon 16 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
An Evening with Jasper Fforde
Bestselling author Jasper Fforde joins us for a talk on writing, being published and his advice towards aspiring writers. Fforde is known for his unique blend of comedy, science fiction, and satire, which often plays with literary conventions. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked for two decades in the film industry as a focus puller. His first novel, The Eyre Affair, launched his career in 2001 and introduced the literary detective Thursday Next, the protagonist of his most famous series.
- Tang Hall Explore Library, The Centre @ Burnholme, Mossdale Avenue, York, YO31 0HA
- Tue 17 Mar
- 6pm
- £8
- Tickets
I’m With Pulp, Are You? An Evening with Mark Webber
Mark Webber, guitarist from Pulp, joins us to discuss I’m With Pulp, are You? The book is a visually rich chronicle of the band’s history from the perspective of a fan turned manager turned guitarist. 40 years of archived material comes to life on the pages of a unique and highly anticipated music memoir.
- The Crescent Community Venue, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Tue 17 Mar
- 7pm
- £15
- Tickets
Laura Bates – The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny
Activist, writer, speaker and journalist Laura Bates joins us at St Peter’s Memorial Hall to deliver an eye-opening keynote showcasing the subject of her latest bestseller, The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny.
Covering topics such as workplace sexual harassment to school sexism, women in tech to online abuse, Bates’ is an urgent and captivating voice against gender inequality. Do not miss this talk where Bates’ will present her stance on AI and what she deems sexism in “a new age”.
- St Peter’s School Memorial Hall, Clifton, York, YO30 6AB
- Wed 18 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
Fantasy Fiction: Susanna Clarke in Conversation
Eighteen months after receiving her honorary Doctor of Letters from York St John University, bestselling Fantasy Fiction author Susanna Clarke will join festival chair Rob O’Connor in conversation on genre, writing and her celebrated works which are much loved across York and beyond.
- St Peter’s School Memorial Hall, Clifton, York, YO30 6AB
- Fri 20 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
York Festival of Hauntology – Folk Horror and the Urban Wyrd
York Literature Festival and the Hauntology & Spectrality Research Group have partnered to launch York’s first ever Festival of Hauntology as part of our programme in March 2026.
Over the 21-22 March, authors from across the country will gather to celebrate Folk Horror and the Urban Wyrd. Including appearances from Ramsey Campbell, Dan Coxon, Lucie McKnight Hardy, Andrew Michael Hurley and Lucy Rose.
Weekeend passes have now sold out, but tickets for individual events are still available.
- York St John University
- Sat 21 – Sun 22 Mar
- 7pm
- From £5
- Tickets
Isabella Dorta – I Don’t Think I’m Straight: Queer Poems to Celebrate You
TikTok sensation and much loved touring spoken word poet, Isabella Dorta, is back in York to celebrate her newest book, I Don’t Think I’m Straight. Join us as we enjoy a vibrant and emotive performance and take advantage of the opportunity to leave with a signed copy. This collection will guide you on an empowering journey to explore sexuality with courage and understanding.
- Spark SHOW, Spark, 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB
- Sun 22 Mar
- 6pm
- £15
- Tickets
Super Nintendo: Why Do We Game?
Join us at the Crescent Community Venue to welcome Keza MacDonald, video games editor at The Guardian, with her first full-length book, Super Nintendo, an innovative exploration of Nintendo’s history, stitched together with consideration of why people love gaming so much.
- The Crescent Community Venue, 8 the Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Mon 23 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
Manish Chauhan – Belgrave Road
Manish joins us at SPARK to discuss his debut novel. Described as a ‘classic tale of star-crossed love,’ Belgrave Road has potential to tug at the heart strings. This is a love story of two people working side by side but living worlds apart. Can Mira and Tahliil find a way to be together, and will finding each other set them free?
- The Crescent Community Venue, 8 the Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Thu 26 Mar
- 6pm
- £8
- Tickets
