What’s On

This is the place to find literary events happening in Manchester. Use the filter to show the events you’re most interested in, or to see events that are happening within the dates you’re visiting. You can download a PDF copy too, for an easy to read list.

For Organisers: You can submit your own literary events taking place in the city to get listed on our calendar. Plus, we love this free Inklusion Guide for advice on how to make literature events accessible for disabled people.

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Manchester Festival of Philosophy, Arts and Culture: Wisdom Through Tales


Location: Hinterland
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Hinterland Festival: Caitlin O’Ryan, Griot Gabriel and Skye Lilly

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Voices of Resistance at CULTPLEX

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Manchester Festival of Philosophy, Arts and Culture: The Imagination and the World We’ll Create

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Lunchtime Lecture: Sophie Oliver ‘What the Dresses Know’

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Long-running Events

HOSTING A LITERATURE EVENT?

If you are arranging or hosting a literature event in Manchester which is open to a public audience, and would like us share via our network, please get in touch.

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Close Writing: Alice Butler in conversation

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An Evening with Ella Risbridger

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Bookbinding: Paper Magic!

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How NOT to Flee a War

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How to Get Your Poetry Published


Location: Manchester Cathedral
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Ice Flower Herbarium: Dzena Andersone in conversation

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Northern Publishers’ Fair

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Crossing the Border: A Little Ireland Place Writing Workshop

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Slamchester: 15 Nov 2026

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From Aspiration to Implementation: Rethinking Reading for a New Generation


Location: House of Books and Friends
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An Evening with Danielle L. Jensen

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Work In Publishing Week – Sales and Marketing Q & A

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Book Launch: ‘Something Black in the Lentil Soup’ by Reshma Ruia

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Online Event: Elizabeth Gaskell V George Eliot – The Moorland Cottage V The Mill on the Floss

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Lunchtime Play: Mirror of Slavery


Location: Lincoln Square
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“I Hate Chocolate” by Jonny Rodgers – Book Launch

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Online Reading: “Seeing the Other Side” by Allison Symes

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An Evening with Tahmina Begum

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An Evening With Dr Tom Crawford

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Archives Workshop with Cathy Hirst


Location: Manchester Cathedral
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An Evening with Jonathan Coe

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Verbose MCR November

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The Future of Jokes – An Evening with Robin Ince

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John McGahern: A Writing Life – Frank Shovlin in conversation

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Mind Over Slammer: Manchester Heat


Location: Band On The Wall
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A Pair of Bookends: On Air at Simply Books

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Word Central

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The Sun Inn Poets – Reading & Open Mic

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The Age of Hitler – Alec Ryrie in conversation

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An Evening with Richard Coles


Location: St Michael and All Angels Bramhall Parish Church
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An Evening with Jamie Bartlett

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Creative Lab

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Dave Haslam – Creative Journeys: Intimate conversations with artists, actors, writers and musicians

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Slow Reading Group: The Manchester Man

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The Battles to Save the NHS – Piyush Pushkar in conversation


Location: Blackwell's Bookshop
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Online Event: A Victorian Christmas with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley

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Online Event: A Victorian Christmas with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley

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The Christmas Clue – An Evening with Nicola Upson

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National Creative Writing Industry Day 2026

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The White North Has Thy Bones: Dorian Ravenscroft in conversation


Location: Blackwell's Bookshop
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An Evening with Dan Keeling

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A Festive Gathering

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A Victorian Christmas Literary Salon: Dickens, Gaskell & Mulled Wine

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Verbose December 2026

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An Evening With J.M. Dalgliesh


Location: Simply Books
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Milk, Bread, Teeth: Amy Twigg in conversation with Lara Williams

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An Evening with Eloise Rodger

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An Evening with Alice Feeney

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