Spanning young voices, classic texts, contemporary fiction and poetry rooted in both heritage and experimentation, MACFEST’s 2026 Festival of Words and Books offers a rich programme of online and in-person literary events running from spring through to midsummer.
From school-led performances and linguistic debate to children’s literature, Sufi verse and global novels, this season-long celebration gathers writers, poets, scholars and emerging voices from across the UK and internationally to celebrate dialogue and storytelling as a vital nexus of cultural exchange.
Presented in collaboration with Manchester City of Languages, this thought-provoking digital panel explores how language reflects identity, culture and social class by bringing together communities from a broad spectrum of lived experiences.
Drawing on shared background and academic insight, the panelists examine dialect, the politics of standard language, the ways linguistic diversity is often marginalised and the ways in which respect – or lack thereof – is key to these dynamics.
Hosted by linguist and author Yaron Matras, the discussion challenges language hierarchies while celebrating the rich mosaic of voices that shape contemporary society.
On Sun 19 Apr, award-winning author and illustrator Nadine Kaadan joins MACFEST for a profoundly inspiring conversation about writing children’s books across languages and cultures, pride in heritage and the challenges faced in her industry.
Reflecting on her journey from Arabic storytelling to global English-language publishing, Kaadan discusses representation, empathy and belonging, unpacking her ethos that ‘racism ends on the bookshelf’, alongside the importance of addressing trauma, war and displacement in children’s literature.
This scholarly yet accessible session invites audiences to explore the dazzlingly comprehensive volume Gazing at Mecca and Medina: Premodern Representations of the Ḥaramayn, a fascinating collation of insights into how Mecca and Medina have been depicted across time through art, writing and architecture.
Presented by Dr Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, this absorbing deep dive examines the diverse portrayals of Islam’s holiest cities with a talk and a short screening from the Treasures of Islamic Art series featuring a rare ziyāratnāmah (Hajj certificate).
Staged in partnership with Manchester Lit & Phil, this in-person literary evening further celebrates the role of poetry in bridging cultures and ‘illuminating the rich tapestry of our city’ at Central Library.
Featuring live readings from Nasima Bee, Nóra Blascsok, Pamela Galloway and Peter Kalu, the event explores identity, migration and belonging through first-hand stories rooted in memory, struggle and hope, inviting audiences to reflect on Manchester’s defiantly multicultural complexion.
On Sun 17 May, this online Mushaira brings together poets from the UK, USA, India and Denmark for an afternoon of multilingual recitals spanning verse in Urdu, Arabic, Bengali and English.
A highlight of the wider MACFEST schedule and their Ramadan and Eid programme, the afternoon session explores spirituality, identity and human connection through the spoken word, with international contributors including Sadaf Mirza, Dr Malik Al Nasir DLitt, Harmesh Manghra and Paul Wadud.
This June, Dr. Javeria Khadija Shah leads an evocative exploration of Punjabi Sufi poetry, examining how mystics such as Bulleh Shah used kalaam as a sacred poetic form to express devotion, resistance and longing with timeless transcendence.
Through selected readings and historical insight, the session traces how these verses continue to resonate across generations and diasporic communities today.
From varied mythology and colonial power to booming commerce and intriguing mysticism, Poet Shadab Zeest Hashmi explores the history of tea through readings from her acclaimed collection, Tea Terra.
Set against the backdrop of the Silk Road, the poems reflect on tea as both cultural connector and geopolitical catalyst, blending literary reading with historical reflection in an engaging online talk.
On Sun 12 Jul, esteemedscholar and filmmaker Professor Akbar Ahmed discusses Ibn Tufail’s staggeringly influential twelfth-century philosophical novel Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān, examining its ongoing legacy and striking parallels with Daniel Defoe’s legendary adventure story, Robinson Crusoe.
Exploring themes of self-discovery, knowledge and influence, the session sheds light on a foundational text in global literary history, often regarded as ‘the most important story you’ve never heard of’.
MACFEST’s Festival of Words and Books concludes with a powerful live conversation with award-winning novelist Diana Abu-Jaber, exploring literature’s role in navigating identity, memory and cultural belonging.
Reflecting on her acclaimed novels and memoirs, Abu-Jaber discusses writing between cultures, the enduring power of storytelling to bridge personal and political worlds and the nuances of Arab-American heritage.
macfest.org.uk/whats-on
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Thu 27 Feb 2020
The festival opens with an uplifting showcase of emerging talent, as young people from schools across Greater Manchester and beyond lead a literary and poetic journey shaped by curiosity and exchange on Tue 31 Mar.
Across an hour of free cross-cultural communication, students from Levenshulme High School, Whalley Range High School, Newman College, Manchester Academy and Stretford Grammar School share original writing and spoken word pieces which foster connection across borders and demonstrate the unifying power of language.