Returning for its fifth year, and winner of Best Event at the Manchester Culture Awards in 2024, Festival of Libraries is the biggest festival of its type in the country, bringing together all 133 of Greater Manchester’s libraries and more.

Reminding us of how precious libraries are to communities, equality, discovery and culture, the festival is filled with exhibitions, performances, installations, workshops, Family Friendly activities and international collaborations.  It is made possible thanks to the support of Arts Council England.

Manchester is home to some of the finest historic libraries in the world, including Chetham’s Library, The Portico Library, Manchester Central Library and The John Rylands Library, which celebrates its 125th birthday this year.  It will do so with the unveiling of a new Collections Gallery where 40 objects that echo the history and evolution of the library’s collections will be displayed, and a new Special Exhibitions Gallery, where The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955 – 1985 exhibition will be located.  The new galleries will open at The John Rylands Library on Thursday 15 May and will be featured as part of the Festival of Libraries programme.

Reflecting the breadth of libraries in Greater Manchester, at the same time as one of its libraries reaches a grand old age, a bold new chapter is beginning in Stockport.  Stockroom will open this spring – reimagining what a modern library can be.  Designed with and for local people, but open to all, Stockroom will feature a children’s creative learning space, a café bar, archives, and an event space hosting a vibrant year-round programme.  More than just a library, there’s room for everyone: to make noise, meet friends or find a bit of peace, play, take part, think and do new things.  Details of how Stockroom will celebrate the Festival of Libraries will be revealed as part of its much-anticipated launch.

The full programme for the Festival of Libraries 2025 can be found below. You can click on each event to find out more information and book tickets where required.

Festival of Libraries’ partners for 2025 include: Archives+, Central Library, Chetham’s Library, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Poetry Library, NHS Libraries, The Portico Library, Working Class Movement Library, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Institute Cervantes Library, Levenshulme Old Library, Z-arts, Greater Manchester libraries (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), Spinningfields, Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester Cathedral, People’s History Museum and more.