Manchester Festival of Libraries returns with a literary extravaganza this June

Manchester’s Festival of Libraries, the largest of its kind in the country, has announced its full programme ahead of next month’s 2025 edition.

All 133 of Greater Manchester’s libraries will be taking part in this year’s festival, which runs from Wed 4 Jun – Sun 8 Jun. The programme features a variety of literary events for all ages, including author talks, exhibitions, writing workshops, comedy shows and music masterclasses.

Organised by Manchester City of Literature, the festival connects the city and its communities to other UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world.

2025’s Festival of Libraries arrives at an exciting time for the region: John Ryland’s Library is marking its 125th birthday, a future looking transformation is taking place at Portico Library, the restoration of Grade II listed Chorlton Library has recently been completed and Stockport has just opened a brand new library, the Stockroom.

Just some of the highlights from this year’s programme include a homecoming ‘Inspired by Libraries’ discussion with Heart radio host and presenter Yasmin Evans at the Stockroom on Fri 6 Jun, during which Yasmin will share more about the impact of literature on her life.

Award-winning poet, author, performer and curator, Vanessa Bell, presents the UK premiere of Monuments at Alliance Francaise de Manchester on Fri 6 Jun. Audiences of five at a time will be invited into a short, looped twenty-minute performance in which voices, texts and photos meet around a real territory, Newfoundland, and an imagined road trip.

 A series of Pop Poetry workshops will be taking place in Irlam (Wed 4 Jun), Oldham (Thu 5 Jun), Urmston (Fri 6 Jun) and Edgeley (Sat 7 Jun). During these quickfire sessions, participants will be invited to create their own poems, which will then be inputted into a digital zine to be printed and displayed at local libraries the following week.

Elsewhere, Manchester Central Library hosts a fascinating conversation between Mercury Prize-winning frontman of Elbow, Guy Garvey, and long-time BBC 6 Music host, Shaun Keaveny, on Thu 5 Jun. The two will be embarking on an exchange that covers themes of community, creativity, working-class identity, music, memory, radio, and the role that places like libraries play in shaping our cultural lives in their own inimitable ways.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-26, will be chatting about the importance of reading for young people, writing for Dr Who and working alongside Danny Boyle on the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games at Leigh Library on Wed 4 Jun.

Also joining the programme will be Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, which is marking the 10th anniversary of its restoration and opening to the public with the bold new exhibition, I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell, as part of a project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.  It takes place at Manchester Central Library from Wed 4 Jun – Mon 30 Jun.

Three young writers – Georgia Affonso, Princess Arinola Adegbite and Guruleen Kahlo – have been awarded writers’ residencies at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, and it is their endeavours that take centre stage.  They began their journey having never read Elizabeth’s work, but by spending time at the house, they have been immersed in her writing and role as a social reformist.

For younger audiences, Mexican Storytime at Instituto Cervantes takes place on Sat 7 June. Children will hear the story of La leyenda de los ojos del bosqu and have the opportunity to craft a traditional “penacho” (headdress) inspired by Mexican culture.

Alongside the public events, there is also a schools programme including workshops with UK Comic Laureate Bobby Joseph and internationally renowned comics creator Francis Desharnais. Taking place at Bolton Library and Wigan Library respectively, these events give Greater Manchester schoolchildren the opportunity to be inspired by ground-breaking figures in the world of comics.

For more information about this year’s Manchester Festival of Libraries, and to see the full 2025 programme, click the button below.