Ilkley Literature Festival

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Ilkley Literature Festival

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The north of England's longest-running literature festival, taking place each October.

20/10/2026

We wouldn't be anywhere without our wonderful audience members. We're so glad that you enjoyed this years programme - we hope to see you all again next year!

Dates for your diary 2027: Fri 8 – Sun 24 October

Photography by Rich Bunce

19/10/2026

ILF26 is officially over! Thank you so much to the brilliant authors, their teams, and our sponsors for making this year's festival one to remember.

It's not too early to start planning for next year...
Dates for your diary 2027: Fri 8 – Sun 24 October.

Photography by Rich Bunce

18/10/2026

It's finally here - the last day of ILF 2026! Check out what's on today - Saturday 18th October! You can still book tickets for many events at ilkleylitfest.org.uk

18/10/2026

Today is the last day of Ilkley Lit Fest 2026! This is your last chance to book - today our focus is on fiction, and there are still plenty of events waiting to make your Sunday perfect.

Head to ilkleylitfest.org.uk (link in bio) to see what you can still 📖 book 📖 for today!

Photo by Rich Bunce

17/10/2026

Sunday is a story lover's paradise at ILF26. We still have some tickets left for a few of our fabulous fiction events.

Start off with Alys Cummings and Tom Hindle talking about the ways in which the 'golden age' of puzzle mysteries (a la Agatha Christie) influenced their work. Next, head to hear about 'Family Curses' with Reeta Chakrabarti and Oyinkan Braithwaite. Finish off your afternoon with our Big Festival Book Club with Marcia Hutchinson on her novel, The Mercy Step (shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2026).

Book online at ilkleylitfest.org.uk (link in bio)

17/10/2026

Ageing as a runner is no joke: as comedian and writer Paul Tonkinson can attest. In running, as in life, you are gradually overtaken by a stream of younger people wearing clothes you couldn’t get in to. What most runners don’t do in their mid-50s is commit to competing in the Marathon des Sables, an ultra-marathon through the heart of the Sahara Desert. Tonkinson has done the training, suffered the (repeated) injuries, applied the toe jelly and located the mandatory whistle. Can he do it?

📍 Ilkley Grammar School
⏰️ 6.15pm
📆 Saturday 17 October
🎟️ Book online at ilkleylitfest.org.uk (link in bio)

17/10/2026

A thought-provoking talk last night with Jeremy Hunt. Jeremy was interviewed by the fabulous Ruth Pitt. Thankyou to our event partner One Space for bringing this great event to life.

17/10/2026

Poet laureate (and born and bred Yorkshireman!) Simon Armitage joins us tonight in the King's Hall to talk about his new verse translation of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh originated in Ancient Mesopotamia nearly 4,000 years ago, yet its themes of power, loyalty, love and loss resound with contemporary relevance. Simon Armitage’s fresh and propulsive version brings Gilgamesh alive as poetry.

📍 King's Hall
⏰️ 7.30pm
📆 Saturday 17 October
🎟️ Book online at ilkleylitfest.org.uk (link in bio)

17/10/2026

Check out what's on today at ILF - Saturday 17th October! You can still book tickets for many events at ilkleylitfest.org.uk

16/10/2026

Fabulous w**e and chatting about crime with Olly Smith last night! Thankyou to Olly, our interviewer James Nash, and our lovely sponsor Martinez Wines for a great event 🍷

**es

Address

2nd Floor, Fairfax House, 38 The Grove
Ilkley
LS299EE

Telephone

+441943601210

Website

http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/

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