York Literature Festival

REFLECTING ON YORK LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2026

The March 2026 festival was one of the best attended festivals we have had to date, and the feedback on the events was consistently kind and generous.  People commented on the great venues, the standard of organisation, and how interesting and thought-provoking our artists were. 

Our thanks go to our amazing festival director. The 2026 programme was organised and delivered by Chloe Hanks, a York-based poet, academic and bookseller and she did an amazing job curating the 2026 festival. Chloe had a major influence on the success of this year’s festival and we are grateful for her efforts!

Chloe Hanks hosting the International Women’s Day Poetry Showcase

As well as our board of trustees, we also had input from a team of York St John University student volunteers, who assisted with the hosting of events and the publicity of the festival, including some amazing photography. Those individuals supporting us at the venues also helped to ensure the festival was a success and we thank you all.

Most importantly, thanks to everyone who came along to our events. We hope you enjoyed it! Come again next year.

March 2027 will be our 20th anniversary, and we are already planning to make it a real celebration of the milestones in our history and in the history of books and publication. Dates will be announced as soon as they are available, so do stay in touch with us!

YORK LITERATURE FESTIVAL GALLERY 2026

See below for a variety of photographs from the 2026 York Literature Festival.

Photo credits: the York St John student volunteers and York Literature Festival team.

Susanna Clarke
Susanna Clarke reading from Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Ronan Hession and Collette Snowden
Ronan Hession in conversation with Collette Snowden
A crowd of people at a literary talk about folk horror
An Introduction to Folk Horror with Rob Edgar and Wayne Knight
Chloe Hanks and Nikkitha Bakshani for Ghost Chili
Laura Bates
Laura Bates
Ramsey Campbell in conversation
Ramsey Campbell in conversation with Rob O’Connor
Andrew Michael Hurley
Andrew Michael Hurley in conversation with Adam Smith
Manish Chauhan
Manish Chauhan in conversation with Sam Reese for the launch of Belgrave Road.
International Women’s Day Poetry Showcase: Kayleigh Campbell, Kimberley Campanello, Chloe Hanks, Helen Ivory and Minal Sukumar.
John Ironmonger and Amy Lilwall: Cli-fi Panel with Fly on the Wall Press. Interviewer: Isabelle Kenyon
Mark Webber
Mark Webber in conversation with Julia Edgar
Lucie McKnight Hardy in conversation with Rob Edgar

While you’re waiting for the next festival…

Author Angela Ranson is launching a new popular history book about our city, named York’s Hidden Treasures.  It will take place on 13 August at 6.30 pm at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green.

The book takes an anecdotal, thematic approach by looking at the city’s history of protection, the passageways that make its city centre so unique, the people (and ghosts!) who have shaped its stories, and the cultural history that has developed through chocolate, coffee and hospitality.

Click here to buy tickets or go to Angela’s website, Angela Ranson Author.

The York Howlers

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, 7:30pm, head down to the Blue Boar for everyone’s favourite poetry open mic night!

Follow them for updates!

Society of Hauntologists

The York Society of Hauntologists is a reading group embracing all things Folk Horror in England’s most haunted city at the Black Swan Inn on the last Wednesday of the month, 7pm.

Head to their Instagram to find out what they’re currently reading:

Follow them for updates!

YLF 27

Sponsored by York St. John University for the 2027 York Literature Festival.

Join Us

We hope that you will join us at our events taking place across our wonderful city.

Ticket Information

To book tickets and for more information about the events, please click here.