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Barnsley Book Festival returns for its third chapter — and this one’s a real page-turner.
From riotous history to darkly funny fiction, northern identity and razor-sharp spoken word, the 2026 festival by Barnsley Libraries, supported by Arts Council England has a line-up that proves reading is anything but quiet, writes Graham Walker.
With headline names including Greg Jenner, Ajay Close, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Rowan McCabe, Pete Brown and Prof Joann Fletcher, the festival dives headfirst into stories that unpick our past, interrogate the present and celebrate the voices that shape who we are.
Running from Saturday, February 14, to Saturday, March 7, the festival, returning for a third year, will take over libraries and venues across the borough with a bold programme of talks, readings, workshops and live performances.
FULL PROGRAMME: Take a look at the full programme – CLICK HERE.
As 2026 marks the National Year of Reading, this year’s festival leans into books that challenge, entertain and spark debate — from history that refuses to stay in the past, to fiction that’s sharp, funny and fearless, and poetry that hits as hard as it makes you laugh.
The exciting programme of authors, poets, creatives and speakers includes bestselling writers and emerging voices to spoken word artists and local talent, as the festival builds on its growing reputation for championing stories and making them accessible to everyone.
The 2026 festival will also see the return of the electrifying LiveWire spoken word night, hands-on creative workshops, and ever-popular Barnsley Book Sale — perfect for discovering your next great read.
Festival highlights include:
Step Into History: An evening with historian Greg Jenner, the creator and host of the hit podcast You’re Dead to Me, and consultant behind the award-winning Horrible Histories TV series, at Barnsley Civic, Saturday, February 28, 7.30pm to 9pm.
What Doesn’t Kill Us: Author Ajay Close in conversation with Hannah Trevarthen, discussing her action-packed, darkly funny, prize-winning novel What Doesn’t Kill Us, at ibrary @ the Lightbox, Wednesday, February 25, 6pm-7:30pm.
An Evening With Graeme Macrae Burnet: Join the author as he discusses the tenth anniversary of the Booker-shortlisted His Bloody Project and his new novella, Benbecula, in-conversation with Becki Pritchard, at Library @ the Lightbox, Wednesday, March 4, 6pm-7:30pm.
Hard Knocks: Rowan McCabe presents a show of poetry and comedy about making mischief, that lifts the lid on some of the most funny and challenging moments of being the world’s first ‘Door-to-Door Poet’ , at Barnsley Civic, Friday, March 6, 7:30pm-9pm.
How the Working Men’s Club Shaped Britain: Barnsley-born author Pete Brown discussing his recent work – a BBC Radio 4 book of the week that gives an enlightening, affectionate and intoxicating history of the Working Men’s Clubs in Britain, at Penistone Paramount, Monday, February 23, 6.30pm-7.30pm.
A Cleopatra Conversation: Barnsley born BAFTA-award winning TV Egyptologist Prof Joann Fletcher in coversation with journalist Graham Walker will celebrate her books, career and new Experience Barnsley exhibition, Cleopatra & the Queens of Egypt, with a sold out talk and books signing at Library @ the Lightbox, Saturday, March 7, 5pm-6:30pm.
Coun Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Barnsley Book Festival, said: “Barnsley Book Festival has become a much-loved fixture in our cultural calendar, and I’m so excited for it to return next week. The festival is all about bringing people together through a love of reading, and we’re proud to have a programme that reflects the voices of today while inspiring the readers and writers of tomorrow.”
The festival is supported by Arts Council England as part of the National Portfolio Organisation programme.
