Chester Literature Festival
21 May – 15 June 2025
Chester Literature Festival is back — and for the first time, it’s blooming into life in spring!
Chester Literature Festival 2025 is here, and this year we’re celebrating our first ever springtime festival. We’ve got a busy lineup of events, performance and workshops taking place right across the building, including plenty of free and drop-in events to make sure everyone is welcome.
With headline appearances from much-loved voices including Ruth Jones, Daisy Buchanan, and Reverend Richard Coles, we’re inviting audiences to explore the power and joy of reading as a vital tool for wellbeing.
A growing body of UK research highlights the real-world benefits of reading: just six minutes of reading can reduce stress by up to 68%, and 74% of adults report a positive impact on their mental health from regular reading. In a time when more people are seeking ways to unwind, feel connected and find space for reflection, Chester Literature Festival offers a timely reminder of how stories can support and sustain us.
Chester Literature Festival is supported by
Aaron & Partners Solicitors
“Aaron & Partners Solicitors are delighted to be sponsoring Chester Literature Festival. The ability to understand language and use words effectively are essential skills for lawyers and it is our privilege to support Storyhouse in bringing some of the UK’s best literary talent to Chester for this annual celebration of the written and spoken word.”
All Events
Anya Lautenbach - The Garden Fairy
Join us for books, poems, talks, events, workshops, gigs, performances, activities…
Words can appear in many different forms, and so our literature festival is never just one thing. Each year we celebrate all things written, spoken, sung and signed with a programme spanning right across different genres, formats and art forms.
From book talks and poetry performances, to workshops and activities, there’s plenty to explore across the festival when it takes over our building.
Words are at the heart of what we do…and at the heart of our building too!
At the heart of the festival is Storyhouse Library — a welcoming, free-to-access space open from 8am to 11pm every day, designed to be used by everyone. The library is more than just a place to borrow – it’s a calm and creative environment to browse, discuss and read books.
Inside our building, the walls are adorned with poetry, and our library bookshelves wind their way across three floors. No matter who you are or what you’re interested in, the library has something to offer everyone and is always completely free to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chester Literature Festival is one of the longest-running annual literature events in the country.
It was launched in 1989 by the volunteer organisation Chester Arts 89 and city booksellers who programmed a week of literary activity including a reading by the niece of novelist D H Lawrence.
This is the 14th year that the festival has been programmed by Storyhouse, and along with visiting names, special artists in residence have included the late Benjamin Zephaniah, Lemn Sissay, Imtiaz Dharker and Ted Hughes Prize-winner Hollie McNish.
No. Each event at the literature festival will need to be booked individually – free events may also require you to book a seat as our capacity can be limited.
Chester Literature Festival is programmed by Storyhouse and takes place throughout the building, and sometimes across the city.
All of our theatre and event spaces can host events during the festival – check each individual event to find out where it will take place.
Chester Literature Festival is proud to be sponsored by Aaron & Partners Solicitors.
For more information on corporate opportunities for Chester Literature Festival, click here.
If you’re already a Storyhouse Card Member, simply make sure you’re logged into your account before booking your tickets.
If you’d like to become a member – click here and sign up for £4.99 a month and you’ll be able to access exclusive priority booking, discounted tickets, no booking fees and more.
Don’t worry – if you still have a question about Chester Literature Festival or any of the events taking place, click here and submit your query using the form provided.
Alternatively, you can call our ticketing team Mon-Sat 11am-7pm on 01244 409 113 or you can drop us a message on Facebook.
