Latest News

Jane Floweth, a much-loved Ilkley Literature Festival volunteer, has died in hospital after being critically injured in a car crash in Bradford. For many years Jane was the support volunteer for Ilkley Young Writers group, giving up every Monday evening to help staff and teenagers at the sessions. She was…more

One of Britain’s best-loved radio presenters, Simon Mayo will be discussing his life and career as well as his debut adult novel in the first Ilkley Literature Festival event of 2018 at the Kings Hall on Tuesday 24 April. The host of BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime show and co-presenter of…more

Ilkley Literature Festival is hitting the big screen as the setting for a new independent film staring Derek Jacobi, Roger Allam and Anna Maxwell Martin. ‘Ilkley’, which starts filming this week, is a black comedy directed by Harry Michell, who also co-wrote the script with Jamie Fraser. ‘Ilkley’ is the…more

Trustee with Special Responsibility for Finance Ilkley Literature Festival is looking for an enthusiastic and committed person with a strong financial background, which is likely to include an accountancy qualification and/or senior financial management experience, to join our Board in the role of Trustee with Special Responsibility for Finance. Click…more

Entries can now be made to the 2018 SI Leeds Literary Prize, a trail-blazing award for new writing by black and Asian women. The biennial award is now in its 4th edition and has helped support a new generation of writers, including previous alumni Amita Murray, Mahsuda Snaith, Minoli Salgado,…more

Words in the City is a weekend festival of poetry and spoken word taking place in Leeds City Centre from 11-13 May 2018, organised by Ilkley Literature Festival. Our partner venues The Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds Central Library and The Leeds Library provide the perfect settings for a weekend of inspiring…more

2017 has been a busy and exciting year for Ilkley Literature Festival. We ran a Spring Series of events at the Kings Hall with fascinating speakers including Sally Wainwright, Our year-round programme of work for children and young people continued with Young Writers Groups in Ilkley and Bradford, Story Explorers…more

We are very excited to confirm that Words in the City will be returning in May 2018, with a new home right in the centre of Leeds! Words in the City is our poetry and spoken word weekend bringing together a diverse, exciting collection of voices to celebrate the magic…more

1stPlace: Sarah Mackey – Mrs Peacock and the Broad Bean Baby 2nd Place: Julie Lydall – Heft and Ballast 3rdPlace: Graeme Hall – The Jade Monkey Laughs Highly Commended: Gerard McKewon – Last Rabbit Standing JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Natasha Pulley General Comments The standard of the shortlist was extraordinarily high. There…more

RESCHEDULED EVENT: Armando Iannucci: Hear Me OutTuesday 21 November 7.30pm, Kings Hall, £14/10 As one of the biggest names in British comedy, Armando Iannucci is the master of satire and biting political commentary who created Alan Partridge, The Thick of It and Veep as well as new film The Death…more