About

The north’s longest-running literary festival returns for its 52nd year.

Politicians, national treasures, journalists, novelists, historians, comedians, and academics head to the spa town across 17 packed days for in-depth discussions, debates, and workshops.

Headliners & highlights include: Jung Chang, Michael Palin, Mary Portas, Alan Davies, Jay Rayner, Hugh Bonneville, Nick Clegg, Ruby Tandoh, Simon Armitage, Lady Hale, Rachel Joyce, and Irvine Welsh.

Ilkley is renowned for showcasing cutting edge poetry since its inaugural festival in 1973, which was opened by W.H. Auden. Poetry highlights this year include readings from Poet Laureate, Yorkshire’s Simon Armitage, a New Northern Poets showcase, and a reimagining of Tony Harrison’s controversial poem ‘V’ 40 years on, from poets including Andrew McMillan and Malika Booker.

2025’s festival themes include: Talking Politics, Doing Justice, The Dark Side of the Internet, Novel Ideas, and In Verse: The Rising of the North. With events covering everything from folklore to fermentation, geology to geopolitics, and cavapoos to comedy, the festival celebrates the power of ideas and the written word. 

IN PERSON | WORKSHOPS | DIGITAL | LIVE STREAM EVENTS