A nine-day event celebrating narrative, verse, and live performance is coming to town.

Leeds Lit Fest is scheduled for June 6 through 14 and will present over 50 activities throughout the metropolitan area.

Entering its eighth edition, the festival unites writers, publishers, and artists for an extensive lineup of author readings, creative workshops, panel conversations, and community programming.

The 2026 distinguished speakers include Vince Cable exploring geopolitical transformations in his work Eclipsing the West, John Hegley presenting his piece New & Selected Potatoes, Naomi Wood performing her production Monster, and Kim Moore sharing excerpts from her book The House of Broken Things.

Joe Williams, a literary creator, poet, and advisory committee member, emphasized the event’s diverse character, highlighting the presence of both acclaimed and emerging local voices. One might encounter a national television or radio personality on a given day, followed by an artist with a successful Edinburgh Fringe production the next, and potentially a budding writer delivering their initial public address on another occasion.

The gathering is coordinated by an unpaid organizing committee and backed by collaborative cultural institutions throughout Leeds.