Discover the Best Literary Events: Top Book Festivals from Around the World

Book festivals are a celebration of the written word and all workers in the industry, from authors and readers to publishers and book dealers. Here you will find books, famous authors, lectures, master classes, readings, presentations, books with discounts and autographs, and more books and books. Here are some of the best literary festivals around the world.

Therefore, if you are a bibliophile or just want to see with your own eyes what a book festival is, you should attend such an event. We have made a selection of the TOP best book fairs around the world, which everyone can attend. This is the very case when reading is not only useful, but also exciting!

Cliveden Literary Festival

United Kingdom

The book festival with the coolest pedigree in our selection. It's no joke, its cousin, the literary salon, has been taking place in Cliveden since 1666! Therefore, such historical figures as the translator of the Iliad, Alexander Pope, and Sir Winston Churchill, participated in it. The location was chosen appropriately: it is a real palace in the neo-Renaissance style, which is considered one of the best examples of Victorian architecture.

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

Bali

This book festival was first held in 2004 as a response to a series of terrorist attacks. It has now grown into a major four-day event that brings together writers, performers and social activists. At the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival you can take part in a discussion, workshop or literary lunch - for example, in 2018 you could have lunch with writers Geoff Dyer and Fatima Bhutto. For UK citizens, you will need a visa to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, so do this ahead of time, take UK passport photo online, etc.

London Literary Festival

United Kingdom

London's largest book fair, where you can meet speakers such as Hillary Clinton, Philip Pullman and Tom Hanks. This is where publishers present expected new products. Tickets for each event must be purchased separately. The festival is sponsored by Southbank. At the same time, the event is not limited to books: for example, in 2019, Anthony Daniels, the actor who played C-3PO in Star Wars, and Brett Anderson, frontman of the band Suede, were invited to the London Literature Festival.

Zee Jaipur Literature Festival

India

First of all, this is India. Secondly, the festival organizers are not just managers, but real writers William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale. Thirdly, these are 5 days of workshops, lectures, autograph sessions and discussions with the participation of authors from all over the planet. Fourthly, it is not for nothing that it is called “the coolest literary show on the planet” (and also the largest festival in Asia). At the end of each day there is a concert, but even without this there is no shortage of visitors. According to rough estimates, the festival is attended by more than 350 thousand people. Guests of the festival at various times were such famous writers as Salman Rushdie, Irvine Welsh and Joseph Coetzee.

The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

United Kingdom

Britain's oldest literary festival. Its main sponsors are, as you may have guessed, The Times and The Sunday Times. In addition to writers, historians, translators and journalists participate in it. Traditions appear here in all formats of events. For example, as part of the Walking Book Club, after reading a book, guests will walk around the village, taste five-o-clock tea and spend the night in a historically authentic hotel. However, such pleasure will not be cheap: tickets to the fair start at £354.

Sydney Writers' Festival

Australia

What is the main disadvantage of festivals in big cities? There is no soulfulness, intimacy and “lampiness”. It's surprising that the seven-day Sydney Writers' Festival doesn't have this problem, despite the book fair having around 300 events. Australian and international writers come together to discuss their own work around a central theme. Thus, in 2018, the central theme was “Power”. The first time the fair was held was in 1997. Workshops, lectures, and film screenings are held simultaneously in different locations in Sydney.

North Cornwall Book Festival

United Kingdom

What do we know about Cornwall? A huge number of archaeological sites from the Stone Age were discovered here, which since 2006 belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The book festival has also been held here for the 12th year. This is an independent, little-known event where you won't meet any famous names. Politicians or popular authors don’t come here, but here you can feel the same atmosphere that many festival-goers seek. So, if you enjoy a quiet break with a book in hand, you'll love the two-day North Cornwall Book Festival.

Borris House Festival of Writing & Ideas

Ireland

If you still think that Ireland is famous only for leprechauns and pubs, then now you have another reason to visit this country: the Festival of Writing & Ideas. It's a way to enjoy a literary weekend, listen to real bards, meet directors and musicians, or treat a Booker Prize winner to a drink. Do not miss!

Hay Festival

United Kingdom

In May, a unique event takes place in a small village in Wales - the Hay Festival, where not only writers, but also politicians, social activists, and artists perform: for example, Bill Clinton and Desmond Tutu. The fair has become so successful that similar festivals are held in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

Conclusion

The above are just a few of the leading literary festivals around the world. Everyone who loves reading will have their own unique favorites, so please feel free to include them on the list.