The 10th anniversary of the UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival comes to Salford, 24th to 27th September 2026.

Taking place from 24 to 27 September across Salford and MediaCity, the UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival forms part of Salford’s centenary celebrations, with many events across the weekend free to book.

Festival highlights include live recordings of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, Loose Ends, Start the Week, poetry programme The Verb and a presentation of Simon Armitage’s adaptation of Gilgamesh; a special conversation between Simon Armitage and John Cooper Clarke; a curtain raising collaboration with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Radio 3’s Words and Music; performances from internationally renowned spoken word artists and an outreach programme.

For the full festival programme, visit the Contains Strong Language website.