The Brighton Book Festival is back — and bigger than ever. Take part in workshops and immerse yourself in conversations about books, ideas and community as we celebrate voices that challenge, inspire, and reflect the world we live in.
From powerhouse panels and author Q&As to hands-on workshops, poetry slams, and children’s storytelling, this year’s festival champions inclusivity, creativity and the radical joy of reading.
The City Girl Network are proud community sponsors of the Brighton Book Festival this year, and are encouraging our whole community to get involved!
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…
10am - 12pm: Writers Workshop with Sharlene Teo (£10*)
12.30pm: Speed Industry Networking (£5*)
2.30pm - 3.30pm: AuthorPreneurship (free)
4pm - 6pm: Emerging Authors (£5)
6.30pm - 8pm: Meet the Industry with Rochelle Dowden‑Lord & Lemara Lindsay‑Prince (£8)
*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.
11am - 1145am: Arts & Craft with Afrori Books (free)
11am - 11.30am: Winning Ways with Jeriah Boateng and special guest (free)
11.30am - 12.30pm: Climate Change for Children with Mikaela Loach (free, suitable for age 9+, free lunch)
11.45am - 12.30pm: StoryTime (free)
1.15pm - 2.15pm: Open Mic hosted by Brighton Girl of the Year Kaia Allen-Bevan (free)
2.30 - 3.30pm: History’s Most Epic Fibs with Athena Kugblenu (£6)
Online Events (Available throughout 18–22 June)
Tuesday at 6pm: The Jhalak Prize Winners with Sunny Singh
Is That My Voice? with Meera Ghanshamdas, Daniel Hahn & Jon Cho‑Polizzi
Friday at 7pm: Another Nation with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström & Nicolas Padamsee
Saturday at 4pm: Conspiracy Theories with Dr Daniel Yon & James Ball (£5)
Tickets & Passes
Individual events: £0–£15
Writers’ Day Pass: £19
Saturday Day Pass: £25
Weekend Pass: £45
Full Festival Pass: £70
Online Pass: £15
Disclaimer: Please note that the City Girl Network are not organisers of this event and this page is purely here for advertising purposes. We cannot be held liable for any injuries that take place.