Programme 2026
Discover the full Lincoln Book Festival 2026 programme and join us from 1–4 October for four days of inspiring conversations, unforgettable stories and creative events across the city. Celebrating the National Year of Reading, this year’s festival invites you to ‘Go All In’ and rediscover the joy of reading for pleasure, whatever your interests. Whether you’re a lifelong booklover or simply curious to try something new, there’s something for every reader to enjoy.
We are delighted to offer over 35 events as part of the 2026 edition, including best-selling authors Peter James, Mark Billingham, Olivia Ford and Rachel Elwiss Joyce. There are literary prizes, ‘BookTok’ discussions, doodling delights, memoirs, Danish memories and the chance to take part in Lincoln’s Big Read – a special citywide book club.
In addition to the core festival programme hosted at the Lincoln Arts Centre, our partners are presenting an amazing festival fringe. Visit larkbooks.co.uk and shelfeditions.com to find out all about their action packed programme spanning folklore to comics, quizzes to picture books. And don’t forget to head over to Lincoln Central Library for more festival fringe events.
Festival Guide
Tickets for most Lincoln Book Festival 2026 can be purchased online, in person or over the phone from the Box Office at the Lincoln Arts Centre on the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Campus. Tickets for some festival fringe events are booked directly from the hosting venues. To view the full programme for Lincoln Book Festival 2026 and book tickets, visit the Festival Guide on the Lincoln Arts Centre website.
View 2026 Festival Guide
Festival Fringe
Lincoln’s brilliant independent bookshops contribute to a vibrant festival fringe with more than 35 events located around the city in the 2026 programme. Check out the websites of Lindum Books, Lark Books and Shelf Editions for details on their events and activities during the festival and throughout the year.
Shelf Editions Events
Library Events
Join debut novelist P. M. Emerson for a fascinating talk on Suppression, a powerful historical novel inspired by the Lincolnshire Rising of 1536. Drawing on extensive research and a real monk’s testimony from the National Archives, the novel brings to life a dramatic period of rebellion, faith and change in Lincolnshire’s history. Part of the festival fringe, the event takes place at Lincoln Central Library on Freeschool Lane from 11am-12noon on Saturday 3rd October. Tickets cost £3, available from the library.
Ticket Enquiry
