Literary Leicester

Literary Leicester is the University’s annual free literary festival, open to all. Brought to you by the School of Arts, Media and Communication and the Centre for New Writing, the festival hosts events at the university and right across the city, in cinemas, theatres, community halls, schools and more. Since 2008, up to 5,000 attendees a year join us to participate in events with Booker Prize winners, celebrated cultural commentators, novelists, poets, historians, biographers and much more. We discuss important, fun and fascinating contemporary topics across a wide range of subjects. In our multicultural city, our ongoing themes include inclusivity, diversity and accessibility. We are a festival for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Literary Leicester 2025! Save the dates for Literary Leicester 2026, taking place 18 to 21 March 2026!

In addition to our annual festival, we also host a variety of events throughout the year. Check out our events page for details.