Africa - England

AFRICA
Cape Town International Book Fair
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Date: June 12-14, 2012
This festival is massive with publishers from 30 countries on the African continent and nearly three dozen international countries represented. More than 470 separate events take place over a four-day period, and better than 200 South African authors appear along with a number of international authors. Among the events are book launches, readings, debates, book signings and panel discussions, workshops, performances and two literary award ceremonies.

Nairobi International Book Fair
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Date: September 28 – October 2, 2011
This fair, organized by the Kenya Publishers Association, emphasizes locally published books and magazines. However, they are attracting a number of international exhibitors who showcase their books for the trade as well as the public.

Zimbabwe International Book Fair
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Date: July 28 – 30, 2011
There is no festival website at this time. You can reach them by calling +263-(0)4-702104/8, 707352, 705729  or through this e-mail address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

AUSTRALIA
Melbourne Writers Festival
Location: Melbourne
Date: August 25 – September 4, 2011
Despite its name, this is a festival for readers. It began in 1986 when it was set up to raise awareness of the importance of writers and their work to Australian society, and to foster an interest in literature. Since then it has grown to a full fledged ten-day event that encompasses keynote speakers, book launches, readings, signings, professional sessions for writers, free workshops and presentations, breakfasts, book clubs, children’s afternoon teas and numerous other events..

BALI
Ubud Writers and Readers Festival
Location: Ubud
Date: October 5-9, 2011
With six days of discussions, creative workshops (batik, yoga, puppet making), book launches, a gala opening, literary luncheons and dinners, a wonderful children’s program, poetry, live theatre, films, music and dance with writers from more than 16 countries appearing, this is one fantastic festival.

BRAZIL
Bienal do Livro
Location: São Paulo
Date: August 9-19, 2012
A ten-day event that includes numerous activities in the Literary Café, Discussion Forum, Young Arena, Poetry Mezzanine, Readers Corner, Nobel Events, three pavilions, and much more.

CANADA
For up-to-date information on Canadian literary and book festivals, the Canada Council for the Arts has a good list of Literary Readings, English Literary Festivals, and French Literary Festivals with contact information.

Ânskohk Aboriginal Literature Festival 
Location: Saskatoon
Date: October 19-22, 2011
The word Ânskohk means “passing on the teaching on, tying one generation to the next,” and so this festival showcases the diversity of writing by Aboriginal authors while educating others about the richness of Aboriginal literature. Events include The Bannockdotes, an evening of readings by Aborginal authors, various school programs, festival workshops, the Studio Café (an open mic night), and various readings in and around the communities of Saskatoon.

Atlantic Book Festival
Location: Halifax
Date: May 12-19, 2011
This festival is a series of readings, book launches, workshops and panel discussions, children’s activities, tours, and awards that take place in various venues in Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).

Banff Mountain Book Festival
Location: Banff
Date: October 29 – November 6, 2011
This festival focuses on celebrating “the world’s best mountain and adventure travel stories” by offering presentations of authors of such books, a book fair featuring mountain literature, as well as maps, archival material, antiquarian books, and book signings, and literary luncheons.

Blue Metropolis Festival
Location: Montreal
Date: April 27 – May 1, 2011
This five-day gathering of writers, literary translators, musicians, actors, journalists and publishers from all over the world calls itself the “world’s first multilingual literary festival.” The events are offered in English, French, Spanish and other languages and include the awarding of the Blue Metropolis International Literary Grand Prix at the opening night gala and the Arab Literary Prize, writing workshops, presentations, lectures and panels, a poetry soirée, a “translation slam,” and much more.

BookFest Windsor 
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Date: November 3-5, 2011
BookFest is different in that it celebrates all facets of the book. Along with author readings, interviews and signings there are workshops on the joy of reading, freedom of expression, book arts, book collecting and publishing—as well as lectures on various aspects of book history and production.

(Canadian) Small Press Book Fairs
This is a blog that lists all Canadian small press book fairs. If you live there, it is worth bookmarking and checking on a regular basis.

Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
Location: Eden Mills, Ontario
Date: September 15-18, 2011
This lovely festival features open-air readings and book signings by writers, live music, exhibitors, and festival food in a tented food court. There is also an Rides for Readers program to ensure that members of literacy groups are able to attend. Leading up to the day is a Youth Writing Workshop hosted by outstanding Canadian authors.

Festival Frye
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
Date: April 23-29, 2012
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Northrup Frye in 2012, this festival is the only bilingual international literary festival and the largest literary event in Atlantic Canada.  Its mission is to “foster the discovery and enjoyment of reading and writing by bringing together authors with audiences of all ages, creating an annual bilingual celebration of words.” To that end, nearly 400 authors participate in a festival that also offers, workshops, book clubs, dialogues, readings, debates, and lectures in schools, cafés, restaurants, bars, theatres, shopping malls, and libraries.

International Festival of Authors
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: October 19-30, 2011
The IFOA brings together the best writers of contemporary world literature for eleven days of readings (including those by the finalists of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Governor General’s Literary Awards, and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize), interviews, lectures, round table discussions, public book signings by 112 authors, and the awarding of the Harbourfront Festival Prize.

LitFest
Location: Edmonton
Date: October 12-23, 2011
A unique festival, this one calls itself “Canada’s only Creative Non-fiction Festival” because “the genre has the ability to “inspire and provoke debates on the themes that define our present and may shape our future.” Events include a gala opening on Thursday evening, and panels and author interviews on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ogamas Brandon Aboriginal Literary Festival
Location: Brandon, Manitoba
Date: November 24-26, 2011
This bi-annual festival on the grounds of Brandon University features readings, panels, dialogues, performances, an art exhibition, and the Social and Gala Reading with major aboriginal writers.

Saskatchewan Festival of Words
Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Date: July 14-17, 2011
It says it is neither a convention nor a book fair, but what this multi-day festival does include is performances, workshops, panels, interviews, readings, dramas, cabarets, book signings, and special youth events and adult social events that include novelists, poets, creative non-fiction writers, media figures, comedians, dramatists, singer-songwriters and storytellers.

Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts 
Location: Sechelt, British Columbia
Date: August 4-7, 2011
More than 20 events—most of them author presentations and panels—plus a “Pebbles Restaurant Salmon Dinner” make this a genuinely fun festival.

Thin Air
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Date: September 18-24, 2011
For a full week in September, more than fifty writers from all over Canada and around the world come together for readings, lectures, interviews, conversations, book launches, and other events in Winnipeg as well as surrounding rural areas. Events for children and adults are conducted in both English and French.

Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: October 28-30, 2011
As the only international antiquarian and collectible book fair in Canada, the TIABF will bring booksellers and bibliophiles together for a three-day event. Attendees will find a wide-ranging selection of books, maps, prints and manuscripts, including travel and exploration; natural history, science and technology, children’s and illustrated, fine press and limited editions, modern first editions and signed volumes, antiquarian and incunabula, as well as interesting and unusual books of all kinds. 

Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival
Location: Granville Island
Date: October 18-23, 2011
Another six-day glorious event devoted to the written word, this festival offers plenty of panels, presentations, readings, debates, authors, special events (a Spell Off, Literary Cabaret, a poetry bash, a Sunday brunch, intimate evenings with authors, an afternoon tea), a festival bookstore and much more.

WordFest
Location: Banff
Date: October 11-16, 2011
This is a six-day literary festival with  more than seventy writers from around the world and hosts more than sixty separate events in multiple languages. The most spectacular of the events is WordFeast, which will take place on Tuesday, October 11 at the beautiful Hôtel Le Germain.

Word on the Street 
Location: Toronto
Date: September 25, 2011
This festival has it all—an astonishing array of tents, stages, marquees, young adults events, children’s activities on KidStreet, panels and presentations, talks, lectures and more.

COLUMBIA
Bogotá International Book Fair 
Location: Bogotá
Date: May 4-16, 2011
Open to both industry professionals (on certain days) and the general public, this fair prides itself on being the “cultural exposition” through an immense gathering of professionals in their various fields gathered together in congresses, workshops, expositions, forums, lectures and book signings. “All of this,” it notes, “has an aim to make Colombia a reader country.” (You can find information about it in English at this travel site.)

CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague Writers’ Festival
Location: Prague
Date: April 16-20, 2011
This festival offers five days of panels, “conversations” and book signings with world-class authors around an important annual theme.

ENGLAND:
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here). It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month. Here are just a few.

Bath Literature Festival
Location: Bath
Date: March 2-11, 2012
This festival is spread out over a wonderful ten days with more than 100 literary events—discussions, panels, presentations, signings, films, walks, talks, family events and more—involving journalists, novelists, poets, politicians, actors, comedians, scriptwriters and biographers.

Bath Festival of Children’s Literature
Location: Bath
Date: September 23 – October 2, 2011
Ten days of children’s books and readings make this one of the premier events for young readers with authors, illustrators and storytellers offering nearly unlimited events plus a Doctor Who Night and a Super Saturday.

Birmingham Book Festival
Location: Birmingham
Date: October 6-16, 2011
Authors and poets, book launches, text-based music and performances, conversations and panels, Readers’ Day and writers’ workshops (including some unique ones) make up this festival.

Charleston Festival
Location: Charleston
Date: May 20-29, 2011
Subtitled “Where Books, Ideas and Creativity Bloom,” this festival honors the home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury group. A wide and wonderful variety of ticketed events is offered along with a two-day

Cheltenham Literary Festival
Location: Cheltenham
Date: October 7-16, 2011
A ten-day festival devoted to books and reading. With 400 writers and 350 events, readings, discussions, special happenings like Voices Off, Word on the Street, UK All-Stars Poetry Slam, Festival Challenge, and much more this is a festival that should not be missed. 

Folkestone Book Festival
Location: Folkestone
Date: November 4-12, 2011
Folkestone puts on one of the most popular book festivals in England with a full week of live performances—readings, panel discussions, book signings—from authors and poets. Literary events for adults, young adults, and children abound including the special Book Festival Closing Night. But they also bring in guests from the worlds of history, radio, television, music and comedy.

Guildford Book Festival
Location: Guildford
Date: October 13-22, 2011
This festival offers an exciting line-up of Britain’s best writers and personalities in a wide-ranging celebration of the written word through panel discussions, discussions, book signings, screenings, performances, Quiz Night, musical extracts, children’s programs and workshops, awards, a short story competition and a Presentation Dinner.r.

Henley Literary Festival
Location: Henley
Date: September 28 – October 2, 2011
This “three-day celebration of the written word” offers over 60 events—author conversations, discussions with poets, politicians and other public figures, debates, talks, special lunches, performances for children, workshops and more.

Ilkley Literature Festival
Location: Ilkley
Date: September 30 – October 16, 2011
This festival includes top national and international names, authors events, discussions, workshops, poetry and short story competitions, literary walks, Festival Fringe, readers' events, a popular Open Mic, a Children’s Literature Festival Weekend and special events for National Poetry Day.

Ledbury Poetry Festival
Location: Ledbury
Date: July 1-10, 2011
Britain’s largest poetry festival takes place over ten days during the summer. Featuring contemporary poets, actors and media personalities. The festival includes readings, performances, exhibitions, music, walks & talks, workshops and a wonderful atmosphere in the mediaeval town of Ledbury.

London Literature Festival
Location: London
Date: June 30 – July 14, 2011
For two weeks, you can hear international and prize-winning authors read and discuss work from children's literature to dub poetry, enjoy historians, poets, performers and artists, visit the riverside book market, discover the Saison Poetry Library and take part in debates and reading groups across Southbank Centre, the home of live literature in London. A feast for the eyes as well as the ears.

Lowdham Book Festival
Location: Lowdham
Date: June 14 – July 14, 2011
Spanning a full month, this festival offers events range widely: sports weekend activities, lectures, talks,  conversations, children’s programs, afternoon tea, a bar,  music and more.

Manchester Literature Festival
Location: Manchester
Date: October 10-23, 2011   
The program features readings by regional and international authors and poets, newly commissioned work, and a series of special events including Independents Day, Word on the Street, Manchester Blog Story, Poetry Bed and Spoken Image.

Oundle Festival of Literature
Location: Northamptonshire
Date: March 10-18, 2012
This festival is filled with an array of fascinating events and the opportunity, as they say, to “consider ideas, develop interests, meet favourite authors, encounter new writers and hear about new books or to participate in writing competitions, book swaps, workshops and open mike sessions ” through “a programme of author events, poetry, philosophy, politics, story telling, biography, illustrators and novelists for young and old.”

Small Wonder
Location: Charleston
Date: September 22-25, 2011
The UK’s only festival dedicated entirely to the short story, with a two-day creative writing workshop and an array of thought-provoking talks and debates featuring a selection of contemporary writers.

Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival
Location: Oxford
Date: March 2-10, 2011
More than 550 speakers in nearly that many events over nine days covers various topics in art, fiction, biography, history, language & literature, poetry, science, travel and current affairs. Additional events include those for children, walking tours, and special food celebrations.

Ways With Words Literature Festivals
Each of the festivals aims to bring people together “in beautiful surroundings to make contact with writers, journalists and experts in various fields, to talk, to argue, to listen, to engage and to learn.”

Location: Dartington
Date: July 6-16, 2012

Location: The Lake District
Date: March 2-11, 2012

Location: Southwold
Date: November 10-14, 2011

Wells Festival of Literature
Location: Wells
Date: October 11-21, 2011
Lectures and talks by authors, poets, journalists, broadcasters and others, readings, literary lunches, children's events, writers’ workshops, and poetry and short story competitions highlight this delightful weeklong festival.