Bradford Literature Festival Returns with Diverse Line-Up

June 10, 2026 Off By

Festival to feature politics, poetry, music and popular culture

The Bradford Literature Festival is set to take place from 3 to 12 July 2026, bringing a varied programme of events to the city. The festival will include appearances from political figures, musicians, actors, writers and academics, reflecting a broad range of interests and cultural themes.

Notable participants and events

The line-up includes Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, music artist Cat Stevens, and Bake Off judge Prue Leith. Former Emmerdale actors Bradley Riches and Jessie Elland will also take part, alongside poet Lemn Sissay, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, and writer Fatima Bhutto.

Additional attractions include:

The world’s smallest travelling cinema
An audience event with DJ and broadcaster Mike Pickering, known for his role at Hacienda
A meet-the-publisher session aimed at aspiring authors
Talks by political columnist Peter Oborne and music journalist John Robb

Academic involvement and festival partnership

The University of Bradford, a strategic partner of the festival, will host numerous events on its campus. University academics participating include Emeritus Professor Paul Rogers, Professor PB Anand from the Peace Studies department, and Professor Hassan Ugail, an expert in artificial intelligence.

Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Braisby highlighted the university’s ongoing support for the festival since its inception in 2014. He noted the event’s appeal to diverse audiences and the university’s role in fostering cultural engagement within the city.