What’s On

Join us for a book group discussion led by writer and Programme Manager at First Story Naomi Frisby on the gothic masterpiece Wuthering Heights. Read the book, talk about it…more

Writer and historian Colin Grant has travelled the country, listening to stories of migration – foundational tales of arriving in a new land, along with rarely spoken stories of love…more

The chances of living to 100 are better than ever before. What can we do to give ourselves the best possible odds of living well for longer? Join Gyles Brandreth…more

Long before they became bywords for people-pleasing princesses, fairy and folk tales told us everything that women need to learn about the world. Passed down through generations, such stories told…more

Novelist Fiona Mozley grew up in the city of York and was Booker Prize-shortlisted with her debut novel, Elmet. Her latest book, Awake Awake, is narrated by Mary Mooney –…more

Long before they became bywords for people-pleasing princesses, fairy and folk tales told us everything that women need to learn about the world. Passed down through generations, such stories told…more

At a time when democracies seem paralyzed by fear and populations are turning inward, award-winning journalist John Kampfner travelled the world to find countries confronting such challenges with bravery and…more

Workshop participants will explore how poetry captures the shifting, layered nature of the self. Through close reading and guided prompts, you’ll discover how poets use form, detail, and voice to…more

Who would have thought that one of the biggest discoveries in science came about thanks to a pile of old bandages oozing with pus? Authors Dr Kersten Hall and Dr…more

Swimmer Mark Foster is a five-time Olympian, six-time World Champion and eight-time World Record holder. If anyone was going to come out as gay at the height of their sporting…more

After the death of both her parents, whilst clearing out the family home, novelist Louise Doughty made a startling discovery. Inside a black suitcase, she stumbled upon a treasure trove…more

What gets tastebuds tingling more than the smell of coals smouldering on a barbecue? Melissa Thompson is here to get you Fired Up. An award-winning writer and cook, Thompson is a…more

After the death of both her parents, whilst clearing out the family home, novelist Louise Doughty made a startling discovery. Inside a black suitcase, she stumbled upon a treasure trove…more

Lucy Shepherd is an explorer, a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and the youngest ever elected council member of the Scientific Exploration Society. Leading a small all-Indigenous Amerindian team…more

Imagine a future where we grow houses rather than build them; where clothing has opinions; where disease is a thing of the past, and the human lifespan is dramatically extended….more

Discussing his wide-ranging biography, journalist and commentator Peter Ormerod explores the quest for spirituality that powered David Bowie’s creativity from his earliest recordings to his death-defying final album. Bowie’s genre-expanding,…more

Keighley’s own Shahnaz Ahsan is an author, columnist and award-winning food writer. Her new book, The Jackfruit Chronicles, is a heartfelt memoir that delves into the unique flavours and captivating…more

Discussing his wide-ranging biography, journalist and commentator Peter Ormerod explores the quest for spirituality that powered David Bowie’s creativity from his earliest recordings to his death-defying final album. Bowie’s genre-expanding,…more

SHOW ADDITION DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND.  Revealing a never-before-told story from Colditz, the notorious POW camp, David Lascelles traces the journey of the Prominente: scions of the British establishment who…more

Inspired by their coming together at BBC Contains Strong Language festival in Bradford in September 2025, four of the poet cohort return to last year’s City of Culture with new…more