Brighton Book Festival 2025: What’s On and Why You Should Go

Brighton
Written By City Girl

If you love books, big ideas, and brilliant conversations, Brighton Book Festival 2025 should be top of your list this summer. Taking place from 17th – 22nd June 2025, this inclusive literary festival brings together bestselling authors, emerging writers, activists, and families for five days of storytelling, creativity, and connection.

Whether you're a reader, writer, parent, or just looking for inspiring things to do in Brighton, this year’s festival has something for everyone.

What is Brighton Book Festival?

Founded in 2022 by Afrori Books and The Feminist Bookshop, Brighton Book Festival is the UK’s most inclusive literary festival. Its mission is clear: "Make the marginalised mainstream." Now in its fourth year, the 2025 festival features 17 in-person events and 4 global online sessions across venues in central Brighton.

It’s a celebration of voices often excluded from mainstream publishing—offering a vibrant, empowering alternative to traditional book festivals.

Full Festival Programme

Tuesday 17th June

6pm: The Jhalak Prize Winners with Sunny Singh (Online)

Wednesday 18th June

7pm: Sancho & Me – For One Night Only with Paterson Joseph performs The Secret Diaries of Ignatius Sancho

Thursday 19th June

Is That My Voice? with Meera Ghanshamdas, Daniel Hahn & Jon Cho‑Polizzi

Or get a full Writers’ Day Pass (£19) for the following…

*Individual event prices if you don’t get the all-day pass

Friday 20th June

4.30pm: Poetry Workshop with ALFO. the poet & Ty’rone Haughton (£12)

7pm - 9pm: Poetry Café with Roy McFarlane, AFLO., Ty’rone Haughton, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa & Miss Yankey (£12)

Friday at 7pm: Another Nation with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström & Nicolas Padamsee (Online)

Saturday 21st June

10am: Cosy Crime with Mel Pennant, Paula Sutton & Hannah Hendy (£8)

10.30am: Cash Rich with Bola Sol (£10)

11am: Romantasy with Bea Fitzgerald, Molly X. Chang, Esmie Jikiemi‑Pearson & Isabella Silvers (£8)

1pm: Don’t Go In There with T.L. Huchu, Xueting C. Ni & Sarah Maria Griffin (£10)

3pm: The Longlist with Dr. Nussaibah Younis & Dorothy Koomson (£10)

4pm: Conspiracy Theories with Dr Daniel Yon & James Ball (£5) (Online)

5pm: Telling the Untold with Richie Brave, Jason Allen‑Paisant, Ekow Eshun, Iggy London & Jason Okundaye (£12)

Sunday 22nd June

11am: Taking Up Space with Corinne Fowler, Peter Kalu & Ayanna Lloyd Banwo (£8)

1pm: My Body, Your Agenda with Midwife Marley, Uttama Kirit Patel & AFLO. (£10)

3pm: Happily Ever After with Natasha Bowen, Natty Mark Samuels & Wendy Shearer (£10)

5pm:Keep Up the Good Fight with Dr Shola Mos‑Shogbamimu, Gina Tonic & Dr Keio Yoshida (£12)

Family Festival, Sunday 22nd June

The Brighton Book Festival have partnered with Brighton and Hove libraries to bring you this all-day family festival! It’s taking place at Jubilee Library and all under 16s get a free launch.

Online Events (Available throughout 18–22 June)

Tickets & Passes

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