Festival of Libraries is a joyful celebration of the role that Greater Manchester’s libraries play in wellbeing, culture, creativity and more.

This festival for everyone spans internationally renowned institutions such as Central Library, Chetham’s Library, The Portico Library, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Poetry Library as well as the network of local and independent libraries across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester reflecting Manchester’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature.

Festival of Libraries has scooped a prestigious Manchester Culture Award in the Best Event category. The Festival is funded by Arts Council England and enjoys the support and collaboration of authors, artists and creatives, who all believe in the vital community and cultural role of libraries.

The awards ceremony took place on Saturday 23rd November at the Hilton Deansgate Hotel. Manchester City of Literature was also shortlisted for a second award in the Made in Manchester category for the Schools Writing Trail, a walkable trail of writing from Greater Manchester’s brightest young writers.

The Best Event award went to the third edition of Festival of Libraries for its 2023 programme which highlighted a programme designed to surprise and intrigue including live music, international library exchanges, dance and theatre, comic art exhibitions, poetry commissions, Family Friendly activities and much more, all of which was free to take part in.

In 2023 the Festival featured a free to attend masterclass with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Multidisciplinary Drag Artist Cheddar Gorgeous, award-winning poet Raymond Antrobus and Icelandic novelist Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir in residence at John Rylands Research Institute and Library.

Also shortlisted at the Manchester Culture Awards were Fly on the Wall Press who won in the Environmental Sustainability category, The Portico Library who were shortlisted for Best Exhibition, Z-arts for the Library of Enchantment in the Made in Manchester category, Commonword in the Equality and Social Justice category plus Commonword’s Pete Kalu was was also shortlisted for Manchester’s Peoples Cultural Award in what was an excellent evening for Literature in Manchester.

Festival of Libraries 2025 will take place 4th-8th June 2025 and will be celebrating its fifth anniversary.