Established in 1973, Ilkley Literature Festival is the second oldest literature festival in the country, and the oldest in the north. It is nationally acknowledged for its artistic excellence and diverse programming, as well as its celebration of the power of ideas and the written word. This year, festivalgoers can expect to experience a top-notch line-up including politicians, national treasures, journalists, novelists, historians, comedians, and academics over 17 jam-packed days from Friday 3 to Sunday 19 October.
Ilkley Literature Festival
The festival brings literature and poetry of national and international significance to audiences of over 22,000 each October, as well as showcasing new work by emerging and mid-career writers. It is programmed and produced by Word Up North, a literature development organisation providing mentoring and talent development opportunities to writers and communities in the north of England.
Headliners and highlights include: Jung Chang, Mary Portas, Alan Davies, Jay Rayner, Hugh Bonneville, Nick Clegg, Ruby Tandoh, Simon Armitage, Michael Palin, Lady Hale, Rachel Joyce and Irvine Welsh. They are joined by – among a plethora of other well-known names and faces – Gyles Brandreth, Vince Cable, Sir Tony Robinson, Edward Stourton, Esther Freud, Rachel Joyce, Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie. See the full programme for details and to book tickets.
Ilkley Literature Festival themes for 2025
Lady Hale brings an eye-opening event on the British justice system in the Doing Justice strand, while sub-postmaster Jo Hamilton brings a fascinating insight into the Post Office scandal. Also expect explorations of racial injustice, and how a fairer world could help save the planet.
Novel Ideas celebrates novels and the craft of storytelling. Catch up with Renton, Sick-Boy, Spud and Begbie as Irvine Walsh discusses Men In Love, his sequel to Trainspotting.
Festival opener Nick Clegg takes an urgent look at the state of the internet. His peek behind the scenes at Meta and Big Tech informs The Dark Side of the Internet, a theme also contemplating screen addiction, the toxic subcultures of the ‘manosphere’.
Other key themes include Talking Politics, Food for Thought, Soft Power and Explore Moor. Other big ideas under discussion include how to save the planet in a climate crisis, explorations in philosophy, and the science of politeness.
Poetry highlights
Ever since its first festival was opened by WH Auden, Ilkley has been renowned for showcasing cutting-edge poetry. This year’s strand, In Verse: The Rising of the North, focuses on the northern poetry scene, with a series of showcases and a free poetry networking event.
Poet laureate Simon Armitage reads from his two new poetry books, Dwell and New Cemetery, and a panel with poets including Andrew McMillan and Malika Booker reimagines Tony Harrison’s V, 40 years on.
Join the festival, join the conversation
General tickets are already on sale and early booking is recommended.
Erica Morris, director of Ilkley Literature Festival, said:
“We’re looking forward welcoming big names and exploring big ideas in Ilkley’s annual celebration of books, reading and writing. There’s a huge range of fascinating subjects this year: from folklore to fermentation, geology to globalisation, and cavapoos to comedy. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our beautiful spa town for what promises to be entertaining and enlightening festival.”
Ilkley Literature Festival is an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation and is supported by Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Call the Box Office on 01943 816714, follow @ilkleylitfest on social media, or check the website for full details of venues, programme and ticket availability.
Adapted from a press release
