Manchester City of Literature’s Festival of Libraries, the county-wide celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries, returns this summer.
The award-winning festival, which is supported by Arts Council England, features a vibrant programme that highlights the library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information, and, of course, reading.
This festival allows citizens to celebrate the important community and cultural roles of libraries across Greater Manchester. It encourages children, young people, migrant communities and vulnerable groups to use the diverse library service offer creatively. Partner libraries around the city host performances, exhibitions, concerts, art installations, workshops, writing classes, and family friendly activities. Writers, artists, illustrators and musicians are commissioned to respond to the vital role libraries play to the people of Manchester.
For 2026 we’re delighted to be joined by Artist in Residence Sophie Woolley who is working with the renowned John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester artists Malandra Jacks and Knotted Hawk plus acrobatics from Vanhulle Dance Theatre. Our signature Inspired by Libraries talks this year will be in conversation with Divina De Campo, DJ Paulette, Bobby Seagull and young comics laureate Mollie Ray. We’ll be joined by multitudes of Comic Artists in partnership with Lakes International Comic Arts Festival and more. Our guest city this year is Barcelona City of Literature. Discover the full programme and book your tickets below.
The Festival of Libraries programme takes place across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester in internationally renowned institutions from the county’s rich tapestry of heritage libraries. This includes Central Library, with its impressive status as the busiest public library in the country, in addition to Chetham’s Library, The Portico Library, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library and Manchester Poetry Library. Greater Manchester’s vital local libraries will also host a range of events within their communities, reflecting Manchester’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature.
Almost all of the events at Festival of Libraries are free to attend, or operate a ‘Pay What You Can’ ticket policy. Festival of Libraries won Best Event at the Manchester Culture Awards 2024 and was named the second Most Inclusive Literature Festival by Inclusive Books For Children in 2025.
