'Bold, brave and fun': Ipswich Book Festival is back
A year after arriving with 46 events, nine sell-outs and more than 1,000 tickets sold, the Ipswich Book Festival team has set its sights higher still – announcing 54 events, new venues, a dedicated Schools Week and a theme that promises to go far beyond the page.
Why it matters: In just its first year, the festival drew more than 1,000 ticket sales across 14 venues over three days, with more than a third of attendees travelling in from outside Ipswich. The team says it is now pushing further – in scale, ambition and community reach.
The details: Speaking at a launch event at The Church on Thursday, 18 June, the team behind the festival revealed plans for this year's event, which will take place in October across 10 venues.
- The event count has grown from 46 to 54, and organisers say they have already stopped accepting additions.
- New venues this year include the Custom House and the Town Hall, with the team also promising "something on the Cornhill" – though details are being kept under wraps until the festival weekend itself.
- Five creative writing workshops will be delivered in partnership with the University of Suffolk, continuing what the team described as a founding commitment to make the festival "as much for writers as it is for readers."
By the numbers: The 2026 festival will feature 54 events across 10 venues over three days. Last year's edition sold more than 1,000 tickets, with nine events selling out. More than a third of ticket-holders came from outside Ipswich.
IBF Schools Week: In the run-up to the festival weekend, organisers plan to send authors into schools across Ipswich to speak about their books, their publishing journeys, and the importance of reading. The initiative is expected to reach approximately 5,000 children – a move the team described as especially significant in the National Year of Reading.
The 2026 theme: This year's theme is 'More Than Words' – described by the organisers as a celebration of "books that move us, connect us and transform us." The festival says it will explore how stories and ideas reach beyond the page, acting as "catalysts for change, connection and challenging the status quo."
"This is not a quiet literary weekend," they said. "This is Ipswich Book Festival: confident, curious and independent."
The bigger picture: The festival was founded on the belief that books change people and places, with a stated aim of lowering barriers to culture and strengthening Ipswich's cultural identity. Organisers said the locally funded model – built entirely on local sponsorship – was central to that mission. Principal sponsor Larking Gowen returns for a second year, with Sizewell C joining as education sponsor and All About Ipswich also providing support.
What's next: Tickets for Ipswich Book Festival 2026 go on sale in early July. Further details about the full programme are expected to follow.
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