Book Festival Season: The Literary Events to Know This Autumn
There’s something special about autumn and books. As the evenings draw in and reading becomes an even more appealing way to spend a few hours, book lovers across the UK are coming together to celebrate stories, authors and the joy of reading.
October is particularly exciting for the literary calendar, with festivals taking place across the country, from major international literary events to specialist crime-writing festivals and celebrations of local authors.
Whether you love fiction, crime, poetry, history, children's books or simply discovering your next favourite author, here are some of the literary events worth knowing about this autumn.
📚 Cheltenham Literature Festival
9–18 October 2026
One of the biggest events in the literary calendar, Cheltenham Literature Festival returns from 9–18 October. Known as the world's longest-running literature festival, it brings together leading writers, thinkers and performers for ten days of conversations, debates, workshops and live events.
The 2026 programme includes more than 100 events, spanning fiction and poetry alongside history, wellbeing, politics, pop culture, creative workshops and more. There's also a strong focus on making literature accessible, with more than 30% of the festival's activity available for free.
This year's festival also features The Correspondent by Virginia Evans as its Big Read, following its success in winning the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction.
For anyone who loves discovering new authors, hearing writers talk about their work or simply being surrounded by other book lovers, Cheltenham is a highlight of the autumn literary calendar.
Worth knowing: The festival also includes dedicated family and young adult programming, making it a great option for readers of all ages.
🏙️ Birmingham Literature Festival
8–12 October 2026
Closer to home for many Midlands readers, Birmingham Literature Festival takes place from 8–12 October.
The festival brings world-class writers to Birmingham while also championing writers from across the region and showcasing the wealth of writing and literary talent found throughout the Midlands.
It's a great reminder that you don't necessarily need to travel across the country to enjoy a literary festival. Birmingham's central location makes it an easy autumn day out for readers across the Midlands.
Whether you're interested in meeting authors, discovering new writing or supporting regional literary talent, it's one to have on your radar this October.
📖 Manchester Literature Festival
9–25 October 2026
Running for more than two weeks, Manchester Literature Festival offers an impressively varied programme for readers of all kinds.
The 2026 festival includes events with authors including Maggie O'Farrell, Kate Atkinson, Emily St. John Mandel, Elif Shafak, Lee Child and Jackie Kay, alongside poetry, children's events, book clubs, creative writing and conversations covering everything from history and politics to culture and society.
For crime and thriller fans, Lee Child: My Life in Books is one to look out for, while fans of darker fiction can also explore events such as Hong Kong Ghost Stories and Brutalist Ghost Stories.
With such a wide-ranging programme, Manchester is a particularly good choice if your reading tastes refuse to fit neatly into one genre.
🔎 Murder One: Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival
15–18 October 2026
If your idea of the perfect book event involves murder, mystery and plenty of twists, Murder One should be on your list.
Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival returns to Dún Laoghaire in Dublin from 15–18 October for its ninth year. The festival brings together crime writers for author events, readings, workshops and masterclasses.
The 2026 programme covers everything from police procedurals and psychological suspense to supernatural mystery and darker crime fiction. There's even an Essentials of Crime Fiction masterclass exploring what makes a crime novel compelling.
It's a perfect fit for anyone whose TBR is dominated by detectives, unsolved cases and unreliable narrators.
Looking for your next crime read? Explore the Lowplex Books Crime, Thriller & Mystery collection.
🌟 Norwich Book Festival
24–30 October 2026
Rounding out October's literary calendar is Norwich Book Festival, taking place from 24–30 October.
The seven-day celebration brings together readers, writers, bookshops and literary organisations across Norwich, England's first UNESCO City of Literature. The 2026 programme features more than 50 events, with something for all kinds of readers.
The programme includes bestselling authors such as Adele Parks, Kate Mosse, Louise Doughty, Jill Dawson and Joanne Harris, alongside events exploring fiction, memoir, history, children's books and more.
There's plenty for crime and thriller fans too, with events featuring Sophie Hannah and Harriet Tyce, making it another great destination for mystery lovers.
The festival also includes the Norwich Independent Book & Zine Fair, giving visitors the chance to discover new authors and independent publishing.
🍂 Why We Love Book Festival Season
Book festivals are about so much more than simply buying books.
They're a chance to hear the stories behind the stories, discover authors you might never have picked up otherwise and meet other people who are just as enthusiastic about reading.
And with so many different events taking place this autumn, there's something for every kind of reader — whether you're drawn to bestselling fiction, crime and thrillers, poetry, history, fantasy or children's books.
October is also a particularly fitting time to celebrate reading in 2026, the National Year of Reading, with festivals such as Norwich Book Festival putting the joy and importance of reading at the heart of their programmes.
📚 Inspired to Find Your Next Read?
From bestselling authors and gripping crime series to timeless classics and beautiful collections, there's always another book waiting to be discovered.
Explore Lowplex Books and find your next read.
Festival dates and programmes are correct at the time of writing. Please check individual festival websites for the latest event information, ticket availability and programme updates.
