Literature Events in the North

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

We’ve got laughs and we’ve got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Our favourite purveyors of fine avant-garde fayre Peter Barlow’s Cigarette are back with invited guests in May, and hot on their heels are 13 fantastic performers, including JR Carpenter and Iris Colomb, at the inaugural Manchester Experimental Poetry and Arts Festival.

Indeed, festivals are a feature, with literary delights a-go-go at Chorlton Arts Festival, the return of The Embassy of Utopia at Festival of Libraries, featuring multilingual city poet Nóra Blascsók, and a special spring preview of Manchester Literature Festival.

There’s Pride In Trafford and Polari at Huddersfield Literature Festival, featuring Rosie Garland and Oke Nzelu, and while we’re in Yorkshire, we’re checking out Chemistry, with guests Helen Ivory and Luke Samuel Yates, and we’re popping to Poetry at the Dusty Miller.

Thumb through our Bookshops in Manchester Guide and explore more in the UNESCO Manchester City of Literature, plus our literary places in LiverpoolLeeds, Sheffield and Cumbria.

Our top picks

Poetry at the Dusty Miller

Poetry at the Dusty Miller at The Dusty Miller, 3 June 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Since its first outing in December 2023, Calder Valley reading series Poetry at the Dusty Miller (in the Coiners’ Room in the Mytholmroyd pub) has been inviting three or four guests to read each month, gathering considerable steam.

Tom Branfoot. Photo Eleanor Hall, Museum of the Home
Tom Branfoot. Photo Eleanor Hall, Museum of the Home

Roy Macfarlane at Manchester Poetry Library

Poetry Reading Series: Roy Macfarlane in conversation with Helen Mort at Manchester Poetry Library, Manchester, 29 May 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

As part of the Poetry Reading Series at Manchester Poetry Library, on 29 May, Canal Laureate Roy Macfarlane will be in conversation with the series curator and award-winning poet Helen Mort.

Roy Macfarlane
Manchester Translation Series.

Chemistry at The Chemic

Chemistry at The Chemic Tavern, Leeds, 30 May 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month for Chemistry 19, the headliners are Helen Ivory and Luke Samuel Yates.

Luke Samuel Yates
Luke Samuel Yates

Manchester Literature Festival 2025

Manchester Literature Festival at Contact Theatre, Manchester and online, Until 16 July 2025, From £8.00 - Book now

Now in its 20th year, Manchester Literature Festival returns this autumn, running city-wide across a variety of venues in October. If you can’t wait until then, fear not – there’s a special programme of spring events!

Robert Macfarlane. Photo courtesy MLF
Robert Macfarlane. Photo courtesy MLF

John Hegley at Waterside Arts

John Hegley at Waterside, Manchester, Until 30 May 2025, From £8.50 - Book now

Celebrated poet and musician John Hegley is back at Waterside Arts with his latest show, An American In Luton, which contains a good deal of yet-to-be-published material alongside some back catalogue favourites.

John Hegley. Photo by Suzi Corker
John Hegley. Photo by Suzi Corker

Festival Of Libraries in various venues

Festival of Libraries at Manchester Central Library, Manchester, 4–8 June 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Festival Of Libraries is a five-day multi-venue celebration of Greater Manchester’s libraries, returning for the fifth time in 2025 and running from 4 to 8 June. We’re really looking forward to The Embassy of Utopia, back due to popular demand following 2024’s UK premiere, and featuring newly crowned multilingual city poet Nóra Blascsók.

Ruth season at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House online

Ruth - Online Events Season at Elizabeth Gaskell's House, online, Until 19 November 2025, From £6.00 - Book now

Throughout 2025, the team at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is taking a deep dive into Ruth, one of the famous 19th-century author’s most shocking texts.

Ruth book cover with 10 year branding
Elizabeth Gaskell's House 10 Year Anniversary

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House 10 Year Anniversary

Elizabeth Gaskell's House 10 Year Anniversary at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester and online, Until 4 October 2025, From £0.00 - Book now

Throughout 2025, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is celebrating its tenth anniversary, having first opened to the public a decade ago. From a close brush with dereliction to being awarded official accredited museum status in August 2024, it’s been an important decade in the building’s almost 200-year history.

Drawing Room with 10 year anniversary branding
Elizabeth Gaskell's House

Leeds Lit Fest 2025

Leeds Lit Fest 2025 at Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds, 14–22 June 2025, From £0.00 - Book now

The award-winning Leeds Lit Fest is back, this year running from 14 to 22 June 2025, and bringing together local talent and big-name authors for a lively programme of talks, workshops, performances and spoken word events.

Andrew McMillan and Maria Ferguson
Andrew McMillan and Maria Ferguson

Hannah Copley and Isabel Galleymore at Manchester Poetry Library

Poetry Reading Series: Hannah Copley and Isabelle Galleymore in conversation at Manchester Poetry Library, Manchester, 19 June 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

If ecopoetry is your bag, then this event on 19 June – featuring Isabel Galleymore and Hannah Copley in conversation – will be right up your traffic-calmed, pedestrianised street.

Isabel Galleymore in conversation
Manchester Translation Series

Carcanet online book launch: Passion by David Morley

Passion by David Morley: Carcanet Online Book Launch, online, 25 June 2025, From £2.00 - Book now

Award-winning poet David Morley is launching his latest collection, Passion, giving us extracts from the new book and chatting about it with another great Carcanet Press-published poet, Sinéad Morrissey.

David Morley in a suit with two foxes wearing suits!
Carcanet Press

SLAMCHESTER at 53Two

SLAMCHESTER at 53two, 22 June 2025, From £6.00 - Book now

On 22 June, Manchester welcomes the launch of SLAMCHESTER, a one-night-only spoken word slam hosted by acclaimed Salford poet and co-founder of long-missed cult night Evidently Kieren King, and featuring a special performance by Jardel Rodrigues.

SLAMCHESTER Poster
Twisted Illustration

Say Owt presents Harry Baker at The Crescent York

Say Owt presents Harry Baker: Wonderful 2.0 at The Crescent, Manchester, 29 June 2025, From £13.20 - Book now

World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker is celebrating all things wonderful in his critically acclaimed show Wonderful 2.0, brought to The Crescent on 29 June by regular York spoken word promoter Say Owt.

Harry Baker
Dan Pick

More literature events

Roy Macfarlane
LiteratureManchester
Roy Macfarlane at Manchester Poetry Library

As part of the Poetry Reading Series at Manchester Poetry Library, Canal Laureate Roy Macfarlane will be in conversation with the series curator and award-winning poet Helen Mort.

Free entry
SLAMCHESTER Poster
LiteratureManchester
SLAMCHESTER at 53Two

This June, Manchester welcomes the launch of SLAMCHESTER, a one-night-only spoken word slam featuring a a special performance by Jardel Rodrigues.

From £6.00
Andrew McMillan and Maria Ferguson
LiteratureLeeds
Leeds Lit Fest 2025

The award-winning Leeds Lit Fest is back, this year running from 14 to 22 June 2025, and bringing together local talent and big-name authors for a lively programme.

From £0.00
Luke Samuel Yates
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners are Helen Ivory and Luke Samuel Yates.

Free entry
Tom Branfoot. Photo Eleanor Hall, Museum of the Home
LiteratureWest Yorkshire
Poetry at the Dusty Miller

Poetry at the Dusty Miller is a now regular night with invited readers, organised by Carcanet-published Carola Luther and Judith Willson in the Coiners’ Room in the Mytholmroyd pub.

Free entry
Image by Jonathan Schofield.
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Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

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Literature Events in the North

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade West Kirby

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

The Whitworth
Manchester
Gallery
The Whitworth

This much-loved gallery-in-a-park is open for business, showcasing some of the city’s finest contemporary and historic exhibitions.

Culture Guides

Three men sit next to each other. One's head is bandaged, one holds a torch and one wears a sleepmask.
Cinema in the North

Live scores, midnight movies and the latest from Wes Anderson are just some of our upcoming film highlights.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Experimental performance, thought-provoking new writing and our picks of Manchester International Festival - here’s what’s taking centre stage this summer.

Music in the North

Gigs are coming in hot this spring – from long-awaited returns to one-off happenings you’ll blink and miss if you're not careful.

Experience a unique deep listening art installation inviting audiences to lay down and be bathed in sound and light.
Exhibitions in the North

From city-wide art festivals to open-air sculptural installations, we have exhibitions from all around the North, both indoors and out.