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Folkestone Book Festival returns from Friday 17th until Sunday 26th November 2023 with a jam-packed programme of talks and panel discussions from fascinating writers, authors, cooks, scientists, satirists and more.

With new curators Jen Thatcher and James Harkin at the helm, the event is bigger, better and brighter than ever for 2023. Jen and James have been inspired by Folkestone and how we can all come together through inspired discussion about global ideas, global thinking and possible futures.

Folkestone Book Festival has been attracting literary lovers to Folkestone for many years. It has its origins in the Kent Literature Festival, which started in 1980 at the Metropole Arts Centre in Folkestone.

Now under the auspices of Creative Folkestone, formerly known as Creative Foundation – a visionary arts charity dedicated to transforming Folkestone through collective creative activity – Folkestone Book Festival is an annual invitation to gather, tell stories, exchange ideas and celebrate all things literary.

Guest speakers from around the world will discuss an incredible range of topics exploring everything from priests to propaganda, turtle bread to Teletubbies, seaside towns to social media.

Confirmed writers, authors and thinkers appearing this year include Alice Slater, Benji Davies, Catriona Ward, Fenton Bailey, Grace Dent, Henry Jeffreys, Isabel Thomas, Jeremy Deller, Kim-Joy, Lyse Doucet, Madeleine Bunting, Nikky Smedley, Olaf Falafel, Yomi Adegoke and many more.

This year, the team behind Folkestone Book Festival want to make it possible for more people than ever before to be able to come together and enjoy a packed festival. To make this possible, a £5 Book Festival Pass has been introduced for the whole festival in November. You can explore the programme and book your place at this year's festival here.

Creative Folkestone Book Festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of its funders and partners – principal sponsor Saga, education partner Canterbury Christ Church University, Le Shuttle and travel partner Southeastern.

Creative Folkestone is also supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Kent County Council and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.

You can find out more about the 2023 Folkestone Book Festival by visiting Creative Folkestone’s official website. If you have any questions, please contact the Box Office team by emailing boxoffice@creativefolkestone.org.uk.