"It's our very first year, and we may have gone a little big...43 events, 14 venues, three days!" laughs Emma Lightfoot, one of the festival organisers. "But as a pilot year, we wanted to test the appetite – and we were impressed! Authors, volunteers, and venues have all wanted to get involved."
The ambition behind Ipswich Book Festival reflects the organisers' philosophy of inclusivity, accessibility, and community. Where many book festivals can feel exclusive or financially prohibitive, the organisers of Ipswich Book Festival have built inclusivity into every decision.
Tickets are capped at £12, with most events priced between £3.50 and £10, plus numerous free activities throughout the weekend.
Breaking down barriers
"In the early stages, we were very conscious about language," Emma explains. "Words like literary can sometimes feel exclusive, so instead we've focused on keeping things open and accessible. That doesn't mean we aren't aspirational, but we're rooted in Ipswich – this is about bringing something special to the town we love and work in."
This commitment to accessibility extends far beyond pricing.
The festival specifically includes programming for dyslexic readers, with children's publisher Barrington Stoke speaking on Saturday and Scorpius Books, which publishes dyslexia-friendly books for adults, presenting on Sunday. Young adult authors feature prominently, addressing what Emma describes as an often-overlooked demographic.
"We have young adult authors because we feel this is often overlooked at festivals, and that age group often stop reading," she says. Elle McNicoll, author of Role Model, speaks on Friday, while Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, who wrote Odd Girl Out, appears on Sunday afternoon.
The festival's approach to community engagement has been equally thoughtful. Rather than making assumptions about what people wanted, the organisers reached out directly to local schools, libraries, and community groups, including Gainsborough Library, Northgate High School, Suffolk Mind, ITFC Foundation, the National Literacy Trust, St Joseph's College and St Helen's Primary.
"Instead of assuming what people wanted, we asked them directly: what should a book festival in Ipswich look like?" Emma reflects. "That feedback has been invaluable."
The heart of the festival
At the centre of the programming is The Ancient House, where around 15 local authors showcase their work each day, completely free of charge. Visitors can drop in, browse, and listen to stories from writers across genres and experience levels – from established novelists to emerging voices.
This local author showcase runs alongside a carefully curated programme featuring nationally recognised writers. Friday's lineup includes Charlie Bingham discussing bird magic at the Unitarian Meeting House, Eva Verde in conversation about her publishing journey at St Clements Art Centre, and Roland Allen exploring the history of notebooks at the Ipswich Institute. The evening concludes with Larry Lamb and Camilla Barnes sharing their creative process at The Hold.
Saturday expands the offering significantly, with everything from Coralie Bickford-Smith discussing her iconic Penguin Clothbound Classics designs at DanceEast to Dr Megan C. Hayes exploring the psychological benefits of writing at the Buttermarket. The day includes multiple workshops: Thomas Taylor's Character & Story sessions for children and their adults, brush lettering with Thaksala Haylock, and free Leporello book-making at Stoke Bridge Workshops.
Sunday maintains the momentum with crime writers Tim Sullivan, C.L. Miller, and Vaseem Khan alongside diverse programming that includes Pam Smy's Drawing Ghosts workshop and a poetry writing masterclass with James McDermott.
Beyond the book
"At the heart of the festival is the book – humble in form, but endlessly powerful," Emma says. "We want visitors to see our festival as celebrating words and illustrations, characters and stories, even down to the joy of folding paper to make booklets or bookmarks."
This philosophy manifests in hands-on workshops throughout the weekend. Saturday features a two-hour brush lettering workshop with Thaksala Haylock at Ipswich Library for £5, while Sunday offers a free origami bookmark-making drop-in session at the same venue. The Leporello book-making workshop, repeated on both Saturday and Sunday, invites participants to create their own concertina books.
The programming deliberately spans generations and interests. Families can enjoy Thomas Taylor's Character & Story workshops at DanceEast, while those interested in the business side of publishing can attend conversations with established authors about their journeys from manuscript to publication.
For first-time literary event attendees, Emma offers reassuring advice: "Start with something that sparks your interest. If crime is your thing, come along to hear Tim Sullivan, C.L. Miller, or Vaseem Khan on Sunday. If you love illustration, we have some wonderful artists running events across the weekend."
Testing the appetite
The decision to launch with such an ambitious programme reflects both confidence in the market and strategic thinking about the festival's future. "Maybe we should have turned a few things down, but we're still learning what works," Emma admits. "And who knows...maybe Ipswich wants a festival of this size."
Early community response suggests the gamble could pay off. Last week saw sessions at Northgate High School with patron Ashley Hickson-Lovence, while this week, children's author Onjali Raúf will meet with primary school children ahead of the festival.
"It's been wonderful to sense the potential legacy that this engagement could have," Emma says. "Writing groups, book clubs and local libraries have also been hugely supportive, as well as organisations within the town centre."
Importantly for the town's economy, the festival has attracted interest beyond Ipswich's boundaries, with nearby towns like Manningtree and Hadleigh requesting information about events.
Looking ahead
While celebrating their inaugural year, the organisers are already thinking long-term. "Ultimately, we want people to look forward to 2026," Emma says. "Our aim is for this debut year to make a big enough impression that Ipswich Book Festival becomes a date (the first weekend in October) that people automatically save in their calendars."
This forward-thinking approach acknowledges that building a sustainable cultural institution requires patience and community investment. "Of course, there are community groups we haven't reached yet – but the keyword is 'yet'," Emma notes. "We're here for the long term and will keep reaching out and building connections."
The festival represents something larger than a weekend of literary events – it's about establishing Ipswich as a place where creativity and community intersect, where local voices matter alongside established names, and where accessibility and excellence can coexist.
Your festival guide
For newcomers to literary events, the festival offers multiple entry points. Crime fiction enthusiasts can choose between several Sunday events, while those interested in book design can hear from Coralie Bickford-Smith on Saturday. History buffs might enjoy Roland Allen's notebook discussion on Friday or Michael Robb's exploration of books and bookshops on Sunday.
The workshop programme caters to all skill levels. Saturday's brush lettering session requires no experience, while James McDermott's Sunday writing workshop offers techniques for developing writers. Families can explore story creation with Thomas Taylor or try their hand at origami bookmarks.
Practical accessibility has been built into the festival structure. Events spread across 14 venues mean something is happening near most parts of town. Free events include the daily local author showcases, various workshops, and drop-in sessions. The price cap ensures even ticketed events remain affordable, with most priced well below the £12 maximum.
The festival website (ipswichbookfestival.com) provides full scheduling and booking information, while social media updates offer last-minute additions and changes.
The bottom line
Ipswich Book Festival's ambitious debut demonstrates what happens when you listen to your community and build accordingly. Rather than creating a festival and hoping people come, they asked what Ipswich wanted and delivered exactly that.
"The key is: there are no barriers," Emma concludes. "You don't need to have read the author's book in advance – these aren't book clubs. Just come along, enjoy the atmosphere, and see where it takes you."
Based on the community response so far, the next chapter looks promising indeed.
