8 Literature Festivals Worth Travelling For
Sometimes it feels like writers live on an island, far away from their readers, living unattainable lives. These festivals help bring authors in from the wild, so readers and budding creatives can interact and learn from practitioners of the craft. After a visit to one of these events, you may be inspired to get out that dusty manuscript and plug away at it again. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
8 Festivals Around the World Dedicated to Books
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Bradford Literature Festival | University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Jaipur Literature Festival | Jaipur, India |
| Singapore Literature Festival | New York City |
| Southeastern Young Adult Book Festival | Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN |
| Lit & Luz Festival | Mexico City and Chicago |
| Bangalore Literature Festival | Bengaluru, India |
| West PA Authors Book Festival | Mercer, PA |
| Durham Book Festival | Durham, UK |
The Positive Effects the Lit & Luz Festival Has on Authors
Important Literacy Statistics
- 12%: Percentage of world population that could read and write in 1820
- 86%: Percentage that could read and write in 2015
- 2/3: Illiterate people worldwide who are women
- 85%: Juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system that are functionally illiterate
- More than 60%: Prison inmates who are functionally illiterate
- 90%: Welfare recipients who are high school dropouts
- 2/3: Students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade that end up in jail or on welfare
- 53%: Percentage of fourth grade students who said they read for recreation
- 20%: Percentage of eighth grade students who said the same
- 30 million: Number of U.S. adults who cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third-grade level
- 1/6: Young adults who drop out of high school
Discussion of First Novels and Nation Building at Bangalore Literature Festival
In Depth
A passion for great stories or moving verse can unite people across cultures, borders, and generations. Lovers of literature the world over delight at the chance to swap book recommendations or talk about their favorite authors, and in many places this enthusiasm has resulted in the creation of entertaining festivals, where creators and fans can come together to mingle and share ideas. Presented here, in no particular order, are eight engaging celebrations of reading, writing, and the creative use of language.
Leading off at #1 is the Bradford Literature Festival, a celebration of culture and the written word located in the UK's West Yorkshire. Centered around its hometown's award-winning City Park, the Festival features works from both established and emerging writers, performers and poets. Audiences have the opportunity to interact directly with acclaimed authors and speakers, and to ponder the way that writing intersects with other creative forms such as music and theater.
Believing strongly in inclusion and accessibility, the Bradford Literature Festival offers discounted pricing for those with financial difficulties. The organization also serves the community with open events like Family Fun Days, and provides free educational programming for students. They are firmly committed to social justice, featuring speakers on topics such as feminism and cultural identity. Supporters of BLF can make a donation or help out as volunteers.
Supporters of BLF can make a donation or help out as volunteers.
Next on the list is #2, the Jaipur Literature Festival, which hosts an enormous variety of renowned authors, journalists, humanitarians, and intellectuals in the historic Diggi Palace in Rajasthan's capital city. It has expanded to include events around the world, from Adelaide to London. Wherever it appears, the Festival's program makes exuberant use of color, sound, and speech to celebrate the written word and its role in India's past and present.
The Festival is held in concert with the Jaipur Music Stage, which features performances including both traditional Indian forms and acts from around the globe, and the Jaipur BookMark publishing conclave. Attendees at the event can view exhibitions of fashion, music, and dance, displaying the region's rich cultural heritage; they also have the chance to witness a lively exchange of ideas between celebrated thinkers on the issues of the day.
Our #3 entry is the Singapore Literature Festival, held on alternating years in New York City, which unites authors from across nations in discussions about writing and its impact on society. The event features talks and panels from writers including Ng Yi-Sheng, famed for works like his poetry collection Last Boy, and Stephanie Burt, a noted literary critic, activist, and creator.
The event features talks and panels from writers including Ng Yi-Sheng, famed for works like his poetry collection Last Boy, and Stephanie Burt, a noted literary critic, activist, and creator.
This festival is the brainchild of Singapore Unbound, a network of American and Singaporean literary thinkers seeking to expand the cultural exchange between their countries. The group builds on the mission of their flagship event with a monthly reading series, gathering writers and other artists to present their work in an intimate, free-thinking atmosphere. They also run Gaudy Boy, an independent press which publishes authors of Asian heritage for English-speaking audiences.
Next up we have #4, the Southeastern Young Adult Book Festival, which aims to promote literacy in young adults, through direct interaction with established authors. Notable speakers featured at the Festival have included figures like Mason Deaver, celebrated writer of the novel I Wish You All the Best, and Tiffany D. Jackson, whose fiction debut, Allegedly, has been lauded for its vivid portrayal of the juvenile justice system.
The event gives young literary fans the chance to meet and engage with their favorite authors, sparking enthusiasm for the craft and profession of writing. Panels of notable creators discuss topics like the need for representation in literature. Those looking to contribute to the Festival's mission, helping to foster appreciation for the written word, can help out as donors or volunteers.
Those looking to contribute to the Festival's mission, helping to foster appreciation for the written word, can help out as donors or volunteers.
Coming in at #5 is the Lit & Luz Festival, created to support artistic and cultural interchange between residents of Mexico and the United States. Producing annual events in Mexico City and Chicago, this cross-border undertaking features conversations between authors, on subjects like the immigrant experience, or shared LGBTQ history.
Lit & Luz showcases talented voices such as Veronica Gerber Bicecci, author of the experimental novel Empty Set, and Diana del Angel, creator of Procesos de la noche, an investigation into a mass kidnapping perpetrated by Mexican police officers. MAKE Literary Productions, which produces the festival, is a non-profit organization, and welcomes donations in support of their work.
#6 on our list is the Bangalore Literature Festival, a celebration of reading and writing in the Garden City of India. Founded by residents looking to pay tribute to the rich literary tradition of their home, BLF gathers both Indian and international authors, critics, and artists together in cultural conversation. These luminaries discuss subjects from contemporary Hindi authorship, to national identity, to the tension between nuclear powers in the region.
These luminaries discuss subjects from contemporary Hindi authorship, to national identity, to the tension between nuclear powers in the region.
Each year they offer a range of activities designed for children of varying ages, to engage young people's interest in reading. The event also hosts LitMart, a forum allowing aspiring authors to pitch their work to professionals in the publishing industry. The Festival is sponsored by contributions from supporters, known as the Friends of BLF; interested parties can contact the organization about donating.
Item #7 is the West PA Authors Book Festival. Held annually in the city square of Mercer, Pennsylvania, this event features talks from local historians, novelists, and storytellers of all kinds. The participating authors span a variety of genres, ranging from suspenseful thrillers to speculative Christian romance.
Festival guests can browse displays from authors who live and work in the area, asking questions and holding discussions in a relaxed, open setting. The event fosters a family-friendly environment, with a dedicated children's tent and activities for kids, like group story reading. Features frequently include opportunities to learn and practice the craft of writing, such as 2019's workshop hosted by Debra R. Sanchez. Supporters can help fund the gathering by purchasing merchandise, or contacting the organizers about sponsorship.
Festival guests can browse displays from authors who live and work in the area, asking questions and holding discussions in a relaxed, open setting.
Capping off the list is #8, the Durham Book Festival, one of several annual events held in and around the historic city. This recurring celebration of literature plays host to a diverse array of authors, entertainers, and thinkers, with past lineups featuring notable figures like Philip Pullman and Pat Barker. Each year, a particularly acclaimed poet is selected as the Festival Laureate, presenting at the gathering as well as participating in educational programs for local students.
The festival recognizes outstanding talent with the Gordon Burn Prize, awarded to authors who demonstrate fearless creativity. Every year they distribute thousands of copies of a selected work of fiction, to readers of all ages, through their Big Read and Little Read initiatives. Contributors can make a donation to help fund the organization's outreach efforts for children.
