The University of Liverpool’s Liverpool Literary Festival will return in 2026, with the full line-up announced and tickets now available.

Taking place from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026 at the Victoria Gallery & Museum, the festival will include a series of talks, readings and discussions bringing together authors and audiences to explore contemporary writing and literature.

This year’s programme features acclaimed writers including BBC broadcaster Samira Ahmed, award-winning author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, bestselling crime writer Clare Mackintosh and Liverpool poet and performer Roger McGough.

Festival Director Professor Greg Lynall, Head of English at the University of Liverpool says: “The Liverpool Literary Festival has grown into a major cultural highlight for the University, that has welcomed thousands of readers and world-class writers.

“We are incredibly proud to once again bring such a fantastic line-up to Liverpool. From debut novelists to established authors, the festival offers audiences the opportunity to go beyond the page – hearing authors share personal insights into their work, engaging in Q&A sessions, and having their books personally signed after each talk.”

Liverpool Literary Festival 2026: Full Line-Up

Roger McGough: In Conversation

Friday 16 October
6pm
£12

How To Get Away With Murder with Rebecca Philipson

Saturday 17 October
10am
£8

The Republic of Memory with Mahmud El Sayed

Saturday 17 October
11.30am
£8

Winnie M Li: What We Left Unsaid

Saturday 17 October
1pm
£8

Alexandra Potter: So, I met This Guy…

Saturday 17 October
2.30pm
£10

Thomas Glave and Stephen Small: In Conversation

Saturday 17 October
4pm
£10

Samira Ahmed on A Hard Day’s Night

Saturday 17 October
5.30pm
£12

Short Story competition winners – staff and student categories

Sunday 18 October
10am
FREE

Frank Shovlin: John McGahern: A Writing Life

Sunday 18 October
11.30am
£8

Debut novelists Lauren Mooney and Saul Leslie: In Conversation

Sunday 18 October
1pm
£8

The John McGahern Annual Book Prize

Sunday 18 October
2.30pm
FREE

Benjamin Wood: Seascraper

Sunday 18 October
4pm
£10

Bestselling crime author Clare Mackintosh in conversation

Sunday 18 October
5.30pm
£12

A British Childhood with Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Sunday 18 October
7pm
£12