Latest News

Give to our fundraising appeal to help people with hearing loss enjoy more ILF events, and Crowdfunder could DOUBLE your donation! There are 11 million people with hearing loss in the UK, that’s around one in six of us. Of this number there are around 50,000 children with hearing loss…more

We know you’ll join us in sending long-time Ilkley Literature Festival friend, supporter and creative collaborator Simon Armitage our warmest congratulations on receiving the UK’s highest literary honour. We are delighted to be able to reveal that the Poet Laureate will be opening the 2019 festival with a reading of…more

We are pleased to announce that our hotly anticipated annual poetry and short story writing competitions are now open for entries. 2019 Walter Swan Poetry Prize Now in its fourth year, the Walter Swan Poetry Prize is open to all writers of poetry aged 18 and over. Previous prize winners…more

Our children’s poetry competition is open for entries and this year, inspired by the 50th anniversary of the moon landings we are asking for poems on the theme of Discovery. This can be any kind of discovery, not just scientific – it could be a personal discovery of a new…more

Booking is now open for our annual Primary Schools Matinee event. Primary Schools Matinee with Robin Stevens Tuesday 1 October 2019, 1.30pm, The Kings Hall, Ilkley Robin Stevens is the author of Murder Most Unladylike series. Featuring detective duo Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, these hugely popular books are the…more

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated to our Snow Stone appeal in December we are very pleased to say that we raised enough money to complete the necessary repairs. Lettercarver Pip Hall completed the work (in both rain and shine) between 18 – 21 March and you can…more

We are inviting applications from new and emerging writers for a selection of opportunities at this year’s Festival. The popular Festival Fringe returns this year with a new look and format. Taking place over one weekend (5 – 6 October), the Fringe will be a smorgasbord of delights and surprises…more

We hope you have all had a wonderful start to 2019. Planning for the main Festival and Words in the City is already well underway and we are delighted to announce our first events of 2019: Salley Vickers – The Librarian Salley Vickers returns to Ilkley with her latest subtle,…more

After 16 amazing years as Artistic Director Rachel Feldberg will be moving on from Ilkley Literature Festival this December. Rachel joined the festival in 2002 and since then has grown the event to a thriving 17 day festival, welcoming leading authors, poets and writers from across the world to the…more

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