Literary Events in Manchester
41 upcoming literary events
Manchester’s literary heart beats with a distinct rhythm, a blend of its industrial past and forward-thinking present. You'll find a rich tradition of storytelling here, from the poets and novelists who have drawn inspiration from its streets to the contemporary voices shaping its future. The city’s literary landscape is as varied as its people, with events unfolding in familiar haunts like The Kings Arms and Blackwell's Bookshop, as well as grander spaces such as Manchester New Century Hall and The Deaf Institute. Expect passionate discussions, insightful author talks, and the chance to connect with fellow book lovers in a city that understands the power of a good read.
As of August 2026, EventsList.co.uk lists 41 upcoming literary events in Manchester, Greater Manchester, including 12 free to attend. Each listing is updated three times daily from verified UK ticketing sources and includes the date, venue, price and a direct booking link.
Showing 24 of 41 events
FREE"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" Interactive Storytelling @ Altrincham Library
📍 Altrincham Library
FREESONG CHAT Manchester
📍 Whitworth Locke, Civic Quarter
Manchester - Strange Britain’s Unsolved - True Crime Night
📍 The Peer Hat
£11.55
Giving Up, Giving In - An evening with Sandra Smash
📍 Bar Pop
£5.00
FREEAugust Book Club - Manchester Trafford Centre
📍 unit l36, 4 The Trafford Centre
FREESilent Reading Circle ~ A Social for Book Lovers + Introverts
📍 Metropolitan West Didsbury
FREE"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" Interactive Storytelling @ Urmston Library
📍 Urmston Library
FREEWord Central with guest poet Paul Cookson!!
📍 Manchester Central Library
FREE"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" Interactive Storytelling @ Old Trafford
📍 Old Trafford Library
FREESHARED READING in association with The Reader - Human Natures
📍 The Manchester Museum
CBC in Conversation with Marcia Hutchinson & Rozie Kelly
📍 Carlton Club
Storytelling and Craft
📍 Ordsall Hall
Crime Central
📍 Manchester Central Library
£2.00 - £6.00
Creative Writing Workshop at Quac Studio
📍 Islington Mill
£20.00
Manchester Book Club: 2 Year Anniversary
📍 Bee Orchid
£15.00
Storytelling and Craft
📍 Ordsall Hall
FREECrime Central Book Club August 2026
📍 Manchester Central Library - Chief Librarian's Office (3RD FLOOR)
Rebel Book Club Manchester x MODERN LOVE
📍 x+why 100 Embankment
£8.83 - £16.96
Yebba: Jean Tour
📍 Manchester New Century Hall
FREEChorlton Readers
📍 Nell's Chorlton (The Beagle)
FREESummer Cosy Reading Club
📍 Manchester Central Library
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Storytelling: The Blossom Bird at Manchester Central Library
📍 Castlefield Viaduct
Kym Marsh's new play
📍 Opera House, Manchester
September Event -'The Mad Wife' by Meagen Church - P.S. Read This Book Club
📍 Num6er
£6.13
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Literary Events in Manchester — Complete Guide
Discover the vibrant literary scene in Manchester with EventsList.co.uk's comprehensive event listings. Our platform aggregates literary events from across Manchester, providing you with detailed information including venue details, ticket prices, and direct booking links.
Whether you're looking for tonight's literary events or planning ahead for the weekend, our real-time listings are updated daily to ensure you never miss out on the best literaryexperiences Manchester has to offer.
Why Choose EventsList for Literary?
- ✓Daily updates with the latest literary events in Manchester
- ✓Detailed venue information and accessibility details
- ✓Direct booking links and transparent pricing
- ✓Curated editorial summaries for each event
- ✓Free and paid event filtering options
Frequently Asked Questions
How many literary events are on in Manchester?
There are currently 41 upcoming literary events in Manchester. New events are added daily — check back regularly or browse by date to find the best upcoming literary in the city.
Are there free literary events in Manchester?
Yes — 12 of the current literary listings in Manchester are free to attend. Use the free events filter to see them all.
Where can I find literary events in Manchester this weekend?
Browse this weekend's literary events in Manchester at /manchester/events/this-weekend, or use the date filters to see what's on today, tonight or later this week.
How do I book tickets for literary events in Manchester?
Every literary listing on EventsList.co.uk includes a direct booking link to the official ticket seller. Open any event to see full details, pricing and the "Book Tickets" button.
How often are literary listings updated on EventsList?
We pull in new literary events for Manchester three times a day from official UK ticketing platforms including Ticketmaster, Skiddle and Eventbrite, so you always see the most up-to-date listings.
Literary Events in Manchester — Your Complete Guide
Manchester's literary scene is a rich, year-round tapestry of book clubs, author events, poetry nights, writing workshops, literary festivals, and storytelling sessions that reflect the depth of the city's creative writing culture.
Author events in Manchester range from intimate bookshop readings to ticketed talks at major venues, and the city benefits from a strong relationship with some of the UK's most celebrated writers who call it home. Publisher launch events, long-form literary conversations, and book club tie-in discussions with authors all feature regularly in the city's literary calendar.
Poetry thrives in Manchester: open mic poetry nights, slam competitions, dedicated poetry festivals and community writing groups give both emerging and established poets a platform and an audience. Spoken word — which blends poetry, performance, storytelling and social commentary — has deep roots in the city and continues to attract new voices.
For aspiring writers, Manchester's workshop programme is outstanding. Courses and sessions in short fiction, novel-writing, screenwriting, personal essay, playwriting and poetry are offered by independent tutors, writing organisations and literary centres throughout the year. Many are open to absolute beginners, and several Manchester-based literary prizes and competitions provide tangible goals to write towards.