The programme for Norwich Book Festival 2026 is live!
It's the National Year of Reading, and what better way to celebrate than with Norwich Book Festival returning with lots of brilliantly bookish events, celebrating the impact of stories in Norwich, UNESCO City of Literature?
You can now browse the full programme and take your pick from more than 50 events for Norwich Book Festival 2026, set to take place from Saturday 24 until Friday 30 October.
The seven-day celebration of stories will welcome bestselling novelists to the city of stories, including Adele Parks, Kate Mosse, Louise Doughty along with Jill Dawson and Joanne Harris. Fiction fans can also look forward to feminist folktales from Irenosen Okojie and Emma Glass, a sapphic retelling of The Odyssey with Rosie Hewlett, and a deep dive into thrillers with Sophie Hannah and Harriet Tyce (from series 4 of the BBC's: The Traitors). JM Dalgliesh is just one of the line-up we have in store that adds a local angle, as he introduces the latest instalment in his Hidden Norfolk crime series. Got a passion for poetry? Local poet Lewis Buxton will host an inspiring conversation with TikTok poetry sensation David Larbi, famous for finding joy in everyday moments.
The programme also has a rich offer for those who prefer non-fiction, with events ranging from history with Greg Jenner, Dr Kate Lister and Jonn Elledge, to an exploration of the role of the referee in football, and hopeful take on AI. Audiences can take away political insights from Iain Dale, business acumen and leadership pointers from Mary Portas and discover moving personal stories from Hannah Murray and Louise O’Neill.”
Young readers are not left out in this festival, which coincides with the October half-term, as Jacqueline Wilson is set to make a return alongside other children's favourites Rob Biddulph, Greg Jenner and Jarvis; with Sharon King-Chai, whose back catalogue includes collaborations with Julia Donaldson, and will entertain the littlest audience members with her engaging storytelling. Once again, there'll be four days of free family fun with The Imaginarium – the takeover of The Forum's Atrium – where there'll be plenty of 'booktastic' activities to get stuck into.
Ailsa McKay, Norwich Book Festival producer says:
"It’s wonderful to see the growth of Norwich Book Festival since our pilot year in 2024. We’d like to thank our festival patrons, as well as UEA, National Centre for Writing and Norfolk Library and Information Service and our venue and bookselling partners. As always, I really do hope that there’s something for every kind of reader. I look forward to seeing the City of Stories come alive once again in October!"
Browse the events and book tickets on the Norwich Book Festival website. Printed copies of the festival brochure are also now available at The Forum and will be making their way into Norfolk libraries and partnering venues in the next couple of weeks.
Readers can also sign up to the e-newsletter or follow the festival's Facebook and Instagram accounts to keep up-to-date.