About Manchester Literature Festival 

Manchester Literature Festival (MLF) is a celebration of imagination, ideas, stories, and voices from around the world. It is part of Manchester’s rich cultural tapestry and is committed to bringing together the most exciting storytellers, poets, and thinkers for everyone to enjoy.  

MLF’s vision is for everyone to discover a love of literature in all its forms. To provide a welcoming and inclusive space where people can connect with each other; experience events that entertain, surprise and move them; and be inspired to become the writers, readers and activists of the future. 

 Manchester Literature Festival began trading in 2006 and was built on the legacy of its successful predecessor, Manchester Poetry Festival. It produces a two-week festival each October in a variety of prestigious and atmospheric venues across the city, as well as a Spring programme of events and a year-round Creative Learning programme, nurturing the next generation of readers, writers and creative practitioners. MLF’s main activities include:  

Photograph of Jung Chang by Jon Parker Lee

Programming Events 

Through an annual 16-day Festival in October and a Spring programme of events, MLF showcases some of the most exciting and inspirational writers, thinkers and other cultural figures from around the world. Recent events have included:  

• One of the most compelling young voices in contemporary fiction, Rebecca F. Kuang discussing her dark fantasy novel Katabasis. 

• Booker Prize-winning author Kiran Desai discussing her critically acclaimed new novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.  

• Author of cult novel Convenience Store Woman, Sayaka Murata discussing her new novel Vanishing World.  

• Zadie Smith discussing the wide-ranging themes explored in her new collection of essays Dead and Alive with Katie Popperwell.   

• Retail pioneer Mary Portas discussing the importance of community and women’s voices in business with Ellah P. Wakatama.  

• Jung Chang discussing the long-awaited sequel to her internationally bestselling memoir Wild Swans. 

• Led By Donkeys activists Ben Stewart and Oliver Knowles inspiring audiences with insights into their impactful political protest. 

• Gary Younge delivering his powerful inaugural Faber lecture Pigeonholded: Creative Freedom as an Act of Resistance. 

• Iconic Swedish singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry in conversation with Booker-prize winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo. 

Commissioning Writers 

Manchester Literature Festival provides new commissioning and writer in residence opportunities for both established and emerging writers.  Recent commissions include:  

• Multilingual Manchester City Poets Charlotte Shevchenko Knight and Nóra Blascsók were co-commissioned by MLF and Manchester UNESCO City of Literature to produce new poems on the themes of Welcome and Sanctuary. 

• Poet Jason Allen-Paisant created three new poems inspired by paintings and garments in Manchester Art Gallery’s collection and Dandy Style exhibition. 

• Clare Shaw produced a series of poems responding to her interaction with the landscape and local people during her time as Carbon Landscape Poet in Residence across Lancashire Wildlife Trust sites. 

• Andrew McMillan, Hafsah Aneela Bashir and Reshma Ruia were co-commissioned by MLF and Manchester Poetry Library to create new poems paying homage to Manchester and their personal connections to the Oxford Road Corridor. 

Inspiring activities for Children and Families 

Through a year-round Creative Learning programme, MLF provides opportunities for children, young people and their families to develop skills, confidence and social connections through creative activities. Current projects include: 

Little Reads – fun, interactive workshops using drama, dance, songs and craft to bring stories to life.  Targeted at pre-school children and their parents/carers, these monthly sessions are delivered in libraries and community centres in some of the most socially deprived districts of Greater Manchester.  

Media Cubs – each year MLF teams up with Media Cubs to provide media training opportunities for primary school aged children and an opportunity for them to report live from one of the Festival’s Family events. In 2025 they produced a video report from the Manchester Literature Family Birthday Bash at Central Library. 

About the Festival Team 

Manchester Literature Festival is run by a dedicated team of two Co-Directors (Cathy Bolton & Sarah-Jane Roberts), a Children and Young People’s Programme Manager (Miriam Wild), a Marketing & Audience Development Manager (Claire Saville) supported by a small cohort of freelance staff. The team are all passionate about storytelling, literature, culture and events and have a background in independent publishing, arts journalism, cultural marketing, education and community work as well as Festivals.