Literary festivals are my kind of adventure: thought-provoking panels, charming book stalls, unexpected author encounters, and the buzz of ideas in the air. One moment I’m sipping coffee while chatting with a debut novelist, the next I’m lining up for a keynote with a literary legend.
I’m under a marquee at the foot of the Alps, notebook in hand, caught between the scent of fresh paperbacks and a breeze off Lake Geneva—all during the dreamy charm of Switzerland’s Le Livre sur les Quais. Who knew a book festival could feel like a vacation for both the mind and soul?
Just a train ride away is the iconic Edinburgh International Book Festival, where I get lost in cobbled lanes between readings and let the city’s literary spirit sweep me up. For pure magic, I’ll always love Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali—set among lush rice paddies and temples, it’s equal parts inspiration and escape. And when I want a deep dive into Southern storytelling, The Southern Festival of Books in Nashville hits all the right notes with its warm hospitality and big ideas.
"Books, bold ideas, and beautiful places? Count me in."
Unique Literary Festivals Around the World:
1. Celebrate Words Without Borders: Experience Global Voices at the Berlin International Literature Festival
The ilb (international literature festival Berlin) is held every September at the modern and spacious Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Schaperstrasse, Berlin. The aim of the festival is to offer locals and visitors unparalleled access to everything new and innovative in the world of literature. You can find out all about the latest trends in prose, fiction, poetry and children and adolescent literature, all under one roof. Up and coming writers are showcased and many new literary works enjoy their premiere reading at the festival. The Festival usually runs for around twelve days and includes daily workshops held at the main venue as well as at several other venues around the city.
berlin international literature festival (ilb), Schaperstrasse 24, 10719 Berlin, Phone: +49-30-25-48-90
2. Meet the Best in Books: If You Love Indie and Iconic Authors, Then Head to the Brooklyn Book Festival
The eagerly-anticipated Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in New York, attracting thousands of bookworms who come to seek out their favorite authors and find new and exciting emerging writers. The festival runs over a week in September, featuring week-long Book End events where you can meet your favorite authors and have your books signed. The main highlights of the festival are the Saturday Children’s Day (at Metro Tech Commons, where children will be entertained for hours listening to delightful children’s book readings and the Sunday Festival Day (at Brooklyn Borough Hall & Plaza) when over 300 local and international authors conduct readings and book signings. Events are held at several locations dotted around the city – visit their website for program details.
Brooklyn Book Festival
3. Dive Into a World of Stories: Explore South America’s Literary Capital at the Buenos Aires Book Festival
The fantastic Buenos Aires Book Festival is the most important literary festival in the Spanish-speaking world and one of the world’s top five literary events. The 20-day festival takes place in late April every year and attracts over one million visitors and participants. Visitors can expect to find close to 500 exhibitors spread out over nine pavilions which cover around 450 square meters in the grounds of the Argentine Rural Society. Before the festival opens to the general public there are two days of intensive professional workshops for literary agents, graphic designers, printers and everyone involved in the literature industry. The book festival offers something for everyone, from educators to young children and just about everyone in between.
Buenos Aires Book Festival, Argentine Rural Society, Buenos Aires
4. Step Into the Story: Join Big Ideas and Bright Minds at the Cheltenham Literature Festival
The annual Cheltenham Literature Festival has been drawing huge crowds of book lovers since 1949 and has become an eagerly anticipated event in Cheltenham. The festival runs for 10 days every autumn (2019 dates are 4th to 13th of October) and visitors to this delightful spa town will find it transformed into a reader’s Mecca where over 600 distinguished local and international authors, poets, actors, debaters and opinion-formers strut their stuff. The fair offers something for everyone – you can attend a reading and book signing, attend a debate, bring the children to see their favorite story-book characters brought to life or simply meander through a treasure trove of wonderful books.
Cheltenham Literature Festival, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UW
5. Challenge and Inspire: Engage With Cutting-Edge Thought at the Conrad Festival
The Conrad Festival is held in Krakow, Poland, every October, where it has achieved the distinction of being the largest literature festival in Central Europe. Although the festival is primarily dedicated to renewing interest in literature (and runs concurrently with the Krakow Book Fair), it also hosts artists, musicians, actors and just about anyone involved in the pursuit of culture. The festival showcases a broad spectrum of international literature side-by-side with Polish authors and each day of the festival is dedicated to a different aspect of literature including poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature. The prestigious Conrad Award is presented to the best local emerging author each year.
The Conrad Festival, Czeczotka Palace, located at ulica Sw. Anny 2, Krakow, Poland
6. Walk Among Literary Legends: Discover the Magic of the Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one of the city’s most popular and vibrant events, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. The festival takes place over 16 days every August and usually features around 900 events where you can meet your favorite authors, listen to heated literary debates and bring the children to attend magical story-telling sessions and educational workshops for children with learning disabilities. Most years the festival attracts over 1000 emerging and established authors, poets and educators, including Braille specialists and remedial teachers. If you would like to hone your own writing skills you will find a variety of creative writing workshops to attend.
Edinburgh Book Festival, Book Festival Village, Charlotte Square Gardens, EH2 4DR
7. Connect Across Cultures: If You Crave Stories from Around the World, Then Attend the Emirates Airline Festival
Held in Dubai at the beginning of February every year, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature strives to foster a love of literature across all ages and backgrounds in the Arab Emirates. From modest beginnings in 2009, the festival has grown from strength to strength and now attracts around 43,000+visitors each year. You will find over 200+ world-famous writers hosting debates, workshops and book signings and there are also many emerging writers contributing their work to the festival in the hopes of winning one of the generous prizes on offer. Visitors have the chance to meet their literary heroes in person and get a signed copy of their work.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Intercontinental, Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE
8. Feed Your Curiosity: Celebrate Ideas, Books, and Art at the Hay Festival
More than just a book festival, the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts brings together some of the most talented authors, playwrights, publishers and book lovers for ten days of pure literature bliss. The original Hay Festival was held in Hay-on-Rye in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales, in 1988 and has become one of the most prominent cultural festivals in the United Kingdom. Over the last 30 years the festival has spread to several corners of the earth including Peru, Spain, Colombia and Mexico. The annual Hay Festival in Wales runs for ten days at the end of May and gives visitors the opportunity to rub shoulders with their favorite local and international authors, attend readings and debates and attend educational workshops.
Hay Festival, Hay-on Rye, Powys, Wales
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
- What are literary festivals?
- Literary festivals are held annually in many corners of the globe and attract huge numbers of readers, writers, playwrights, and publishers who come to spend a week or weekend exchanging ideas with like-minded people.
- Can you meet authors at literary festivals?
- Most of the festivals include opportunities to meet your favorite authors and brush up your writing skills (aided by enthusiastic professional authors).
- Do literary festivals offer activities for children and young adults?
- In order to foster a true love of reading, most of the festivals offer extensive programs of story-telling and other fun activities for children and young adults.
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