Introducing our 2026 theme

Our 2026 theme ‘More Than Words’ celebrates books that move us, connect us and transform us. This year, we’ll explore how stories, information and ideas reach far beyond the page, acting as catalysts for change, connection and challenging the status quo. We are not just a festival about reading, but about action, experience and emotion, the things words alone can’t fully capture.

This is not a quiet literary weekend. This is Ipswich Book Festival: confident, curious and independent.

Join us in October, tickets will be on sale early July!