Anguilla - England
ANGUILLA
Anguilla Lit Fest
Location: The Valley
Date: May 24-28, 2012
The four-day Anguilla Lit Fest celebrates Anguilla’s literary heritage. It features a welcome cocktail party, breakfast and lunch presentations, special sessions with the authors and fun-filled evening soirees. In addition, attendees are given a full day to create their personal Anguilla Experience or to reconnect with their individual creative muse.
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne Writers Festival
Location: Melbourne
Date: August 23 – September 12, 2012
Despite its name, this is a festival for readers. It began in 1986 when it was set up to raise awareness of the importance of writers and their work to Australian society, and to foster an interest in literature. Since then it has grown to a full fledged ten-day event that encompasses keynote speakers, book launches, readings, signings, professional sessions for writers, free workshops and presentations, breakfasts, book clubs, children’s afternoon teas and numerous other events..
BALI
Ubud Writers and Readers Festival
Location: Ubud
Date: October 3-7, 2012
With six days of discussions, creative workshops (batik, yoga, puppet making), book launches, a gala opening, literary luncheons and dinners, a wonderful children’s program, poetry, live theatre, films, music and dance with writers from more than 16 countries appearing, this is one fantastic festival.
BRAZIL
Book Biennal
Location: São Paulo
Date: August 9-19, 2012
A ten-day event that includes numerous activities in the Literary Café, Discussion Forum, Young Arena, Poetry Mezzanine, Readers Corner, Nobel Events, three pavilions, and much more.
Rio Book Fair
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Date: September 1-11, 2013
Several hundred authors who participate in panels, discussions, readings, and signings, and vendors come together to share the world of books with attendees. The fair also offers unique activities for children; the Literary Café with discussions about books, literature and current issues; Books on Scene where literary characters come to life; and a Women Only area where writers, journalists and celebrities discuss all manner of topics from a feminine viewpoint.
CANADA
For up-to-date information on Canadian literary and book festivals, the Canada Council for the Arts has a good list of Literary Readings, English Literary Festivals, and French Literary Festivals with contact information. In addition, the Small Press Book Fairs blog lists all Canadian small press book fairs. If you live there, it is worth bookmarking and checking on a regular basis.
Banff Mountain Book Festival
Location: Banff
Date: October 27 – November 4, 2012
This festival focuses on celebrating “the world’s best mountain and adventure travel stories” by offering presentations of authors of such books, a book fair featuring mountain literature, as well as maps, archival material, antiquarian books, and book signings, and literary luncheons.
Blue Metropolis Festival
Location: Montreal
Date: April 18-23, 2012
This five-day gathering of writers, literary translators, musicians, actors, journalists and publishers from all over the world calls itself the “world’s first multilingual literary festival.” The events are offered in English, French, Spanish and other languages and include the awarding of the Blue Metropolis International Literary Grand Prix at the opening night gala and the Arab Literary Prize, writing workshops, presentations, lectures and panels, a poetry soirée, a “translation slam,” and much more.
BookFest Windsor
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Date: October 25-27, 2012
BookFest is different in that it celebrates all facets of the book. Along with author readings, interviews and signings there are workshops on the joy of reading, freedom of expression, book arts, book collecting and publishing—as well as lectures on various aspects of book history and production.
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
Location: Eden Mills, Ontario
Date: September 16, 2012
This lovely festival features open-air readings and book signings by writers, live music, exhibitors, and festival food in a tented food court. There is also an Rides for Readers program to ensure that members of literacy groups are able to attend. Leading up to the day is a Youth Writing Workshop hosted by outstanding Canadian authors.
Festival Frye
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
Date: April 23-29, 2012
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Northrup Frye in 2012, this festival is the only bilingual international literary festival and the largest literary event in Atlantic Canada. Its mission is to “foster the discovery and enjoyment of reading and writing by bringing together authors with audiences of all ages, creating an annual bilingual celebration of words.” To that end, nearly 400 authors participate in a festival that also offers, workshops, book clubs, dialogues, readings, debates, and lectures in schools, cafés, restaurants, bars, theatres, shopping malls, and libraries.
International Festival of Authors
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: October 118-28, 2012
The IFOA brings together the best writers of contemporary world literature for eleven days of readings (including those by the finalists of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Governor General’s Literary Awards, and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize), interviews, lectures, round table discussions, public book signings by 112 authors, and the awarding of the Harbourfront Festival Prize.
LitFest
Location: Edmonton
Date: October 17-28, 2012
A unique festival, this one calls itself “Canada’s only Creative Non-fiction Festival” because “the genre has the ability to “inspire and provoke debates on the themes that define our present and may shape our future.” Events include a gala opening on Thursday evening, and panels and author interviews on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Saskatchewan Festival of Words
Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Date: July 19-22, 2012
It says it is neither a convention nor a book fair, but what this multi-day festival does include is performances, workshops, panels, interviews, readings, dramas, cabarets, book signings, and special youth events and adult social events that include novelists, poets, creative non-fiction writers, media figures, comedians, dramatists, singer-songwriters and storytellers.
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts
Location: Sechelt, British Columbia
Date: August 16-19, 2012
More than 20 events—most of them author presentations and panels—plus a “Pebbles Restaurant Salmon Dinner” make this a genuinely fun festival.
Thin Air
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Date: September 21-29, 2012
For a full week in September, more than fifty writers from all over Canada and around the world come together for readings, lectures, interviews, conversations, book launches, and other events in Winnipeg as well as surrounding rural areas. Events for children and adults are conducted in both English and French.
Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: October 12-14, 2012
As the only international antiquarian and collectible book fair in Canada, the TIABF will bring booksellers and bibliophiles together for a three-day event. Attendees will find a wide-ranging selection of books, maps, prints and manuscripts, including travel and exploration; natural history, science and technology, children’s and illustrated, fine press and limited editions, modern first editions and signed volumes, antiquarian and incunabula, as well as interesting and unusual books of all kinds.
Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival
Location: Granville Island
Date: October 16-21, 2012
Another six-day glorious event devoted to the written word, this festival offers plenty of panels, presentations, readings, debates, authors, special events (a Spell Off, Literary Cabaret, a poetry bash, a Sunday brunch, intimate evenings with authors, an afternoon tea), a festival bookstore and much more.
WordFest
Location: Banff
Date: October 9-14, 2012
This is a six-day literary festival with more than seventy writers from around the world and hosts more than sixty separate events in multiple languages. The most spectacular of the events is WordFeast, which will take place on Tuesday, October 11 at the beautiful Hôtel Le Germain.
Word on the Street
Location: Various
Date: September 2012
This multi-city festival has it all—an astonishing array of tents, stages, marquees, young adults events, children’s activities on KidStreet, panels and presentations, talks, lectures and more.
CHINA
Hong Kong International Literary Festival
Location: Hong Kong
Date: October 5-14, 2012
A ten-day program of literary events featuring local and international authors in symposiums, panel discussions, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, family and young adult events, book launches, poetry, university talks, workshops, soirees, and food and literature special events.
Shanghai International Literary Festival
Location: Shanghai
Date: February 29 - March 18, 2012
Sister event to the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, the Shanghai event is China’s largest English-language literary festival, with over fifty authors–including winners of top international literary prizes–featured over three weekends.
COLUMBIA
Bogotá International Book Fair
Location: Bogotá
Date: April 18- - May 1, 2012
Open to both industry professionals (on certain days) and the general public, this fair prides itself on being the “cultural exposition” through an immense gathering of professionals in their various fields gathered together in congresses, workshops, expositions, forums, lectures and book signings. “All of this,” it notes, “has an aim to make Colombia a reader country.” (You can find information about it in English at this travel site.)
Hay Festival Cartagena
Location: Cartagena
Date: January 24-17, 2012
This off-shoot of the famous Hay Festival brings together literature, visual arts, cinema, music, geopolitics, journalism, and the environment in a series of talks, conversations, musical performances, readings, workshops, and film screenings
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague International Book Fair
Location: Prague
Date: May 17-20, 2012
Though the first day is reserved for trade professionals, the balance of the days are open to the public. Among the offerings are book launches, discussions, debates, authors’ and staged readings, a Kids’ Corner, live theatre, film screenings, concerts, a craft market, wine tasting, and exhibitions.
Prague Writers’ Festival
Location: Prague
Date: April 14-18, 2012
This festival offers five days of panels, “conversations” and book signings with world-class authors around an important annual theme.
ENGLAND:
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here). It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month. Here are just a few.
Bath Literature Festival
Location: Bath
Date: March 2-11, 2012
This festival is spread out over a wonderful ten days with more than 100 literary events—discussions, panels, presentations, signings, films, walks, talks, family events and more—involving journalists, novelists, poets, politicians, actors, comedians, scriptwriters and biographers.
Bath Festival of Children’s Literature
Location: Bath
Date: September 18 - October 7, 2012
Ten days of children’s books and readings make this one of the premier events for young readers with authors, illustrators and storytellers offering nearly unlimited events plus a Doctor Who Night and a Super Saturday.
Birmingham Book Festival
Location: Birmingham
Date: October 4-13, 2012
Authors and poets, book launches, text-based music and performances, conversations and panels, Readers’ Day and writers’ workshops (including some unique ones) make up this festival.
Charleston Festival
Location: Charleston
Date: May 25 - June 3, 2012
Subtitled “Where Books, Ideas and Creativity Bloom,” this festival honors the home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury group. A wide and wonderful variety of ticketed events is offered along with a two-day
Cheltenham Literary Festival
Location: Cheltenham
Date: October5-14, 2012
A ten-day festival devoted to books and reading. With 400 writers and 350 events, readings, discussions, special happenings like Voices Off, Word on the Street, UK All-Stars Poetry Slam, Festival Challenge, and much more this is a festival that should not be missed.
Folkestone Book Festival
Location: Folkestone
Date: November 2-10, 2012
Folkestone puts on one of the most popular book festivals in England with a full week of live performances—readings, panel discussions, book signings—from authors and poets. Literary events for adults, young adults, and children abound including the special Book Festival Closing Night. But they also bring in guests from the worlds of history, radio, television, music and comedy.
Guildford Book Festival
Location: Guildford
Date: October 18-27, 2012
This festival offers an exciting line-up of Britain’s best writers and personalities in a wide-ranging celebration of the written word through panel discussions, discussions, book signings, screenings, performances, Quiz Night, musical extracts, children’s programs and workshops, awards, a short story competition and a Presentation Dinner.r.
Henley Literary Festival
Location: Henley
Date: September 224-30, 2012
This “three-day celebration of the written word” offers over 60 events—author conversations, discussions with poets, politicians and other public figures, debates, talks, special lunches, performances for children, workshops and more.
Ilkley Literature Festival
Location: Ilkley
Date: September 28 – October 14, 2012
This festival includes top national and international names, authors events, discussions, workshops, poetry and short story competitions, literary walks, Festival Fringe, readers' events, a popular Open Mic, a Children’s Literature Festival Weekend and special events for National Poetry Day.
Ledbury Poetry Festival
Location: Ledbury
Date: June 29 - July 8, 2012
Britain’s largest poetry festival takes place over ten days during the summer. Featuring contemporary poets, actors and media personalities. The festival includes readings, performances, exhibitions, music, walks & talks, workshops and a wonderful atmosphere in the mediaeval town of Ledbury.
London Literature Festival
Location: London
Date: July 3-12, 2012
For two weeks, you can hear international and prize-winning authors read and discuss work from children's literature to dub poetry, enjoy historians, poets, performers and artists, visit the riverside book market, discover the Saison Poetry Library and take part in debates and reading groups across Southbank Centre, the home of live literature in London. A feast for the eyes as well as the ears.
Lowdham Book Festival
Location: Lowdham
Date: June 1-30, 2012
Spanning a full month, this festival offers events range widely: sports weekend activities, lectures, talks, conversations, children’s programs, afternoon tea, a bar, music and more.
Manchester Literature Festival
Location: Manchester
Date: October 8-23, 2012
The program features readings by regional and international authors and poets, newly commissioned work, and a series of special events including Independents Day, Word on the Street, Manchester Blog Story, Poetry Bed and Spoken Image.
Oundle Festival of Literature
Location: Northamptonshire
Date: March 10-18, 2012
This festival is filled with an array of fascinating events and the opportunity, as they say, to “consider ideas, develop interests, meet favourite authors, encounter new writers and hear about new books or to participate in writing competitions, book swaps, workshops and open mike sessions ” through “a programme of author events, poetry, philosophy, politics, story telling, biography, illustrators and novelists for young and old.”
Small Wonder
Location: Charleston
Date: September 27-30, 2012
The UK’s only festival dedicated entirely to the short story, with a two-day creative writing workshop and an array of thought-provoking talks and debates featuring a selection of contemporary writers.
Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival
Location: Oxford
Date: March 24 - April 1, 2012
More than 550 speakers in nearly that many events over nine days covers various topics in art, fiction, biography, history, language & literature, poetry, science, travel and current affairs. Additional events include those for children, walking tours, and special food celebrations.
Ways With Words Literature Festivals
Each of these festivals aims to bring people together “in beautiful surroundings to make contact with writers, journalists and experts in various fields, to talk, to argue, to listen, to engage and to learn.”
Location: Dartington
Date: July 6-16, 2012
Location: The Lake District
Date: March 1-10, 2013
Location: Southwold
Date: November 8-12, 2012
Location: London
Date: May 2013
Wells Festival of Literature
Location: Wells
Date: October 12-209, 2012
Lectures and talks by authors, poets, journalists, broadcasters and others, readings, literary lunches, children's events, writers’ workshops, and poetry and short story competitions highlight this delightful weeklong festival.
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