Next Event:
2-4 October 2026
Sponsored By:
The first King’s Lynn Book Festival will be held over the weekend of 2-4 October 2026. We look forward to your company.
Season tickets are available now, single session tickets will be on sale from 14 July.
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For more than four decades, the King’s Lynn Book Festival has been a cherished part of the town’s cultural life. A small festival with a big heart and a remarkably generous spirit, it was founded in 1985 by poet George MacBeth and Tony Ellis, a passionate reader and a dedicated champion of the arts. From the beginning, the festival was shaped by a simple belief: that writers and readers should be able to meet, talk and share ideas in an atmosphere that feels intimate, welcoming and genuinely human. That ethos has defined the festival ever since.
What began as a poetry weekend soon grew to include fiction, non‑fiction and lively conversations with some of the country’s most respected literary voices. Over the years, King’s Lynn has welcomed an extraordinary range of novelists, poets, historians, critics and commentators – from household names to exciting new talents. Many return again and again, drawn by the warmth of the audiences, the beauty of the historic Town Hall, and the festival’s reputation for thoughtful, unhurried discussion.
Today, under the direction of Sherie Naidoo, the festival continues to evolve while staying true to its founding principles. The newly renamed King’s Lynn Book Festival brings all strands of writing together across one inspiring weekend, offering readers the chance to hear fresh work, discover new perspectives and enjoy conversations that linger long after the final session ends. Local businesses, volunteers and supporters play a vital role in creating the festival’s distinctive atmosphere, helping to ensure that every visitor – whether a seasoned festival‑goer or a first‑time attendee – feels part of something special.
Above all, the King’s Lynn Book Festival remains a celebration of the written word in all its forms. It’s a place where stories are shared, ideas take flight, and the joy of reading is brought to life.
Katie Lilley-Harris, Editor, KL Magazine.
At the 2025 King’s Lynn Literature Festival the first session featured Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter with Professor Emeritus Patricia Fara and scientist and comedian Dr Helen Pilcher, the three writers reflected on Living in an Age of Uncertainty. On the Satuday morning we welcomed Sir Anthony Seldon to discuss with Simon Lewis ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 300 Years of British Prime Ministers’, Simon presents the BBC Radio podcast ‘When it Hits the Fan’ and he and Anthony included the audience in a lively conversation.
In the afternoon session we welcomed three poets, Sarah Day from Australia with Martin Figura and Lachlan Mackinnon presenting their ‘Poetry for This Life’. And in the evening there was a discussion about ‘Unusual Storytelling’ between best-selling novelists, Sophie Hannah, Rachel Hore and Sarah Perry.
Sunday mornings can be a quieter time at a festival, not that Sunday! D.J.Taylor and Kate Macdonald delved into World War II and Literary Culture to mark the 80th anniversary of that war. And they did it with a full house asking plenty of questions. The afternoon showcased different approaches to presenting a life, whether in a full biography or as part of a novel’s structure, Camilla Balshaw, a new voice on the literary scene featured here.
And our last session of the Festival saw the welcome return of a writer who was at the first King’s Lynn Literature festival in 1985, Lisa St Aubin de Teran. Her son Alex MacBeth and her daughter, Iseult Teran joined her on stage as a Family of Writers.