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Manchester is a city of libraries: home to the oldest free public library in the English-speaking world, Chetham’s Library, and to the first public lending library opened after the Libraries Act of 1850. Manchester Central Library is the busiest public library in the UK with 2 million visits per year. The significance of Manchester’s heritage, independent and public libraries was a key part of the city’s bid to be awarded the prestigious UNESCO City of Literature status. To continue to champion Greater Manchester’s diverse library offer, we will be holding the 7th edition of this award-winning festival in June.
We need help from Manchester’s business community to make it happen.
By supporting the Festival of Libraries, you can help bring literature closer to Greater Manchester’s communities, help foster the joy of reading by providing books, digital resources and events to people who need it.
Help us raise up the voices of Manchester’s schools and communities through Literature!
In 2026 the festival saw footfall of 94,400 audience members! We’ve previously scooped up Best Event at the Manchester Culture Awards and been named as the second Most Inclusive Literature Festival in the UK by Inclusive Books for Children. You can continue this excellent impact by supporting the festival.
Participants have not only rated the quality of events highly, there were significant impacts on skills, well-being and attitudes. In 2026 96% of our festival attendees shared that they believe libraries are an essential community service.
Next year, with the chance to hold live events and bring together Manchester’s schools, communities, and literary sector, we are bringing even more activities to more libraries across Manchester, including a new engaging reader programme to Manchester schools as part of a Schools Showcase and also a city-wide ‘Look for a Book’ treasure hunt.
Headline Sponsorship (£10,000 + VAT) This is a wonderful opportunity for a high-profile association with Manchester UNESCO City of Literature and the Festival of Libraries, providing opportunities from the local to the global. With an array of PR and Hospitality opportunities across all of our events this year, this sponsorship offers year-round benefits and exposure.
Benefits include:
Look for a Book Sponsorship (£4000 + VAT) Help young people to enjoy the benefits of their local library and culture on their doorstep.
Your sponsorship will help us to provide engaging events in libraries. In Manchester, 99% of residents live within 1.5 miles of a library.
This year, we are delighted to bring an engaging Reading Programme to Manchester Schools as part of our Schools Showcase. Why not partner with us and champion literacy in Greater Manchester’s Schools, or bring the love of books to every borough of Greater Manchester with our Look for a Book treasure hunt.
Inspired By Libraries Talks Sponsorship (£1800)
Promote a love of reading, literature, writing, and Manchester heritage through specially designed events for Manchester audiences. Previous Inspired by Libraries speakers include: Guy Garvey, Maxine Peake, Jordan Stephens, Michael Rosen and Frank Cottrell Boyce.
For more information please get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help.
Festival of Libraries Highlights 2025
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