2nd–4th October 2026
2026 Line Up. Tickets on Sale.
Tickets are sold via the New Wolsey Theatre and free tickets via Ticket Tailor. You will be transferred to these websites to book tickets.
FRIDAY 2ND OCTOBER
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Host: Dr. Amanda Hodgkinson, University of Suffolk
Time: 2:00pm
Location: St Clement's Arts Centre
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Historical fiction brings the past into the present – but how do we write about a time when we weren't there? In this workshop, you'll explore how to turn research into a story. When does your research begin – and when do we set it aside and start writing? How do we use historical detail to create a world that feels clear, convincing and alive on the page? Through a series of writing exercises and discussion, you'll work on shaping character, voice and narrative within a chosen time period. You'll consider how to balance accuracy with storytelling, and how to create characters who feel grounded in their world while still engaging the modern reader. You'll spend time writing, trying things out, and beginning to shape a piece of historical fiction of your own.
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Host: Dr. Jamie Bernthal-Hooker, University of Suffolk
Time:4.00 pm
Location: St Clement's Arts Centre
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Creative Writing
Summary: With almost 100 mystery novels, each one a carefully constructed puzzle of clues, misdirection and human drama, Agatha Christie remains one of the most influential crime writers of all time. Her eccentric detectives, ingenious plotting, and memorable suspects have challenged readers for generations – but how did she craft such compelling mysteries? In this workshop, you'll explore Christie's writing with leading expert Dr Jamie Bernthal. Through exercises and discussion, you'll examine her approach to structure, suspense and character, and consider how these techniques might shape your own crime writing.
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Host: Cathy Frost
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: University of Suffolk, Waterfront Lecture Theatre
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Musicautobiography
Summary: Join Rusty Egan (The Rich Kids, Visage and co-founder of the legendary Blitz club night), one of the most iconic and influential figures in electronic music, as he discusses his eagerly awaited autobiography and reflects candidly on the highs and lows of his career – from chart-topping success to creative frustrations – as well as his continuing passion for innovation in music.
Interviewed by Cathy Frost.
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Host: N/A
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join our wonderful friend and patron, for an event you won't forget. Following last year's highly successful event on a vintage Routemaster, Ashley will be 'performing' in the way that only he can. Focusing on his latest novel, About to Fall Apart, as well as his previous works, you can expect the unexpected.
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Host: Dr Andrea Smith
Time: 6.30 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Autobiography
Summary: For more than 37 years, Stewart White presented more than 8000 editions of Look East on BBC1. Since stepping away from that role, Stewart has written a book - See You At 6.30 – which covers everything from the Soham and Ipswich murders, to interviews with Hollywood legends, world-famous stars, Prime Ministers, and Royals. Hear all about Stewart's life and career at this informative event.
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Host: Jane Skelt
Time: 8.00 pm
Location: University of Suffolk, Waterfront Lecture Theatre
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Music autobiography
Summary: Derek Forbes is the founding bassist and songwriter of Simple Minds, Join us to talk about his autobiography, A Very Simple Mind, and offers a first-hand account of life within one of the UK's most influential bands. Interviewed by Jane Skelt.
SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER
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Host: N/A
Time: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Location: TBA
Tickets: £ Free NOT TICKETED
Duration: N/A
Genre: Local author
Summary: Ipswich - and Suffolk - is home to an incredible amount of taltented and creative writers, so pop along to listen to their writing journeys, let them tell you about their books, which will be on sale.
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Host: Helen Maxfield
Time: 10.00 am
Location: Stoke Bridge Workshops
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 120 mins
Genre: Workshop
Summary: In this fun workshop, you will design and print your own unique Lino printed bookmarks. Helen Maxfield will guide you through the process of cutting your design into a soft cut Lino block and print a handful of bookmarks to take home with you. All tools and materials provided.
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Host: N/A
Time: 10.00 am
Location: Ipswich Library - Corner space
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Have you ever visited Eerie-on-Sea? Join our amazing friend and patron Thomas Taylor, as he lifts the lid on the wonderful world he has created through his five books – Malamander, Gargantis, Shadowghast, Festergrimm and Mermedusa, and the friends we all wish we had, Herbert and Violet.
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Host: Wolsey Writers
Time: 10.30 am
Location: NWT Bar
Tickets: £ Your choice BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Creative writing
Summary: Emily is the author of Send Flowers, a magical realist novel about a bereaved climate activist who thinks a houseplant is her boyfriend. This masterclass will explore writing about the environment. Hosted by local author Katie Ward.
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Host: The Dyslexia Project
Time: 10.30 am
Location: Ipswich Library - Lecture Hall
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join us for a joyful, imagination-fuelled storytelling workshop celebrating the many ways children think, communicate, and create. These sensory workshop sessions will bring books to life through a playful mix of drama, music, and the arts activities, inviting families to explore stories together in fun and accessible ways. Designed for ages 9-12, this workshop offers a welcoming space for children and their grow-ups to let their creativity shine. Older siblings are invited to join in the fun.
Led by Holly Delefortrie, the creator of The Dyslexia Project which champions the voices of those who think and commute differently. -
Host: Ipswich Children's Book Group
Time: 11.00 am
Location: Ipswich Institute - Eric Hansen Room
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join children's picture book author Kate Rolfe for a fun and friendly family event that will include Kate (Carnegie Medal for Illustration winner) reading one or more of her picture books Wiggling Words, Wolf and Bear, and Owl and Moon and also talking about her books and publishing journey with the Ipswich Children's Book Group, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
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Host: Nathan Rodney-Jones
Time: 11.00 am - 3.00 pm
Location: Various locations around Ipswich
Tickets: £ Your Choice NOT TICKETED
Duration: TBA
Genre: Poetry
Summary: Catch Nathan Rodney-Jones AKA The Pop-Up Poet at various locations around the town at his desk with his beloved typewriter. Then simply name your topic, name your price, and let him spill the ink and create a poem for you to take away.
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Host: TBC
Time: 11.30 am
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Children's author Judith Eagle talks not only about her incredible books (latest title: The Blitz Sisters) but also about her publishing journey as a whole. Just how easy is it to get started in this industry? What was she doing before? How do you go about finding an agent, and become published. Judith talks about the good, the bad, and everything in between! Suitable for 8-12 year olds and their adults.
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Host: Dr. Jenny Amos, University of Suffolk
Time: 12.00 pm
Location: St Clement's Arts Centre
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Creative Writing
Summary: What does it mean to write in dialect? Does a character's accent need to be consistent and accurate – and how do we ensure it remains clear to the reader? This session explores these questions while introducing a range of techniques, and through discussion and practical exercises, you'll experiment with different approaches to capturing voice, rhythm and speech on the page.
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Host: Kate Gibber, Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Time: 12.00 pm
Location: Old Custom House
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Nature
Summary: Join Zoologist and Entomologist Dr. Ross Piper and illustrator Carim Nahaboo for a truly fascinating talk about their incredible and engaging book, The Wonder of Insects where expert knowledge and large scale detailed illustration celebrates these endlessly fascinating and important creatures. Interviewed by by Kate Gibber, Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
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Host: TBC
Time: 12.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Northgate Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join the brilliant Ruth Dugdall for a lively conversation about her brilliant Cate Austin series of books. The first four of which were all recently re-published on the same day, with a brand new title published in September, just before the festival!
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Host: N/ATime: 12.00 pm - 2:30pm
Location: Various locations around Ipswich
Tickets: £ Free NOT TICKETED
Duration: TBA
Genre: Spoken word
Summary: Join Quirkhouse Theatre for an adult-friendly tale trail. Two professional actors read ten pieces of flash-fiction – two in each of five different venues at 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm and 2pm. Stay where you are and listen to two stories, or follow them and the trail to the next venue to hear them all – a bit pied-piper-ish. 'Considered 'safe for work' so no violence or swearing. Aimed at adults but suitable to children to overhear.
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Host: Annabel Pearl
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: NW2
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Publishing & Illustration
Summary: From working in bookshops, publishing houses and museums to learning what makes a publication both beautiful and compelling, Rebeka Russell's journey led her to establish Manderley Press. Firmly believing that the outside of a book should be as alluring as its interior, she breathes new life into forgotten titles through stunning cover designs and specially commissioned introductions by some of today's finest writers and artists, reintroducing them to a new generation of readers.
Join Rebeka as she discusses her work and the story behind Manderley Press. She will be joined by local illustrator Annabel Pearl, who designed the cover for The Haunting of Lamb House (published in October), to talk about her creative process and their shared passion for bringing books to life. -
Host: Tony Felgate
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: Town Hall
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Non-Fiction
Summary: Since 1965, Pat Abbott has been immersed in the world of motorsports, and her book The Rolling Lap is an informative and captivating story that reveals the hidden gems of stock car racing, and explores the heartfelt stories of the people who have devoted themselves to it. Join Pat to hear first hand about her book and her passion. Interviewed by Tony Felgate.
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Host: Ella Bailey
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Institute - Eric Hansen Room
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join the illustrator of Llama Library for a fun and friendly event for the little ones. Ella will be reading the book and also hosting a craft session where making llamas will be the order of the day. Suitable for 3 to 7 year olds and their adults.
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Host: Thaksala Haylock
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Corner space
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 120 mins
Genre: Workshop
Summary: Thaksala Haylock (@inkyandthebears) will lead this free drop-in workshop and show you how to use the art of collage to make your own bookmarks. Use precut shapes or stickers or create your own. Suitable for all ages and no experience needed. All materials provided.
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Host: Helen Maxfield
Time: 1.30 pm
Location: Stoke Bridge Workshops
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 120 mins
Genre: Workshop
Summary: In this fun workshop, you will design and print your own unique Lino printed bookmarks. Helen Maxfield will guide you through the process of cutting your design into a soft cut Lino block and print a handful of bookmarks to take home with you. All tools and materials provided.
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Host: NONE
Time: 1.30 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join the mighty James Mayhew for a reading of Peter and the Wolf (published on 1 October 2026) with a recording of the music and a live illustration during the reading to match the music. This is sure to be an fun and exciting event, and will leave you in no doubt as to James' talent. Suitable for adults and children of all ages.
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Host: Dr. Lindsey Scott & Dr. Darragh Martin, University of Suffolk
Time: 2.00 pm
Location: St Clement's Arts Centre
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Creative Writing
Summary: How do we begin a children's novel? What writing techniques help us create engaging characters and a compelling hook that keeps young readers turning the pages? Literary agents and publishers often look closely at first chapters – so what are they looking for, and how can we get it right? This workshop focuses on crafting the opening of a middle grade or young adult novel. Through writing exercises and discussion, you'll explore character, plot and setting, while beginning to develope your own ideas on the page.
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Host: Rosanna Miles
Time: 2.00 pm
Location: The Old Custom House
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Biography
Summary: Join Deb Bunt and Peter Berry as they talk openly and honestly about Peter's diagnosis with early-onset dementia. When Peter met Deb they started regular cycle rides and their friendship grew. Deb was able to look at her own life through the lens of Peter's dementia, and which Peter himself calls his 'dementia monster'. Deb & Peter have now written 2 books about this journey – Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia, and Patching the Puncture: Continuing to Live Well With Dementia, which form the basis of this event. Interviewed by Rosanna Miles.
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Host: Emma Palmer & Rob Cook
Time: 2.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Northgate Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join our darling friend and patron (and Dial Lane Books royalty) Matson Taylor as he talks about his eagerly awaited third novel, Roman Mornings. A novel set in Rome during the '70s, covering youthful dreams, friendship, a speeding mint green Vespa, and the deliciously named Montgomery Marsh. Interviewed by Rob and Emma Cook.
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Host: The Dyslexia Project
Time: 2.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Lecture Hall
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 60 mins
Genre: Workshop
Summary: Join us for a joyful, imagination-fuelled storytelling workshop celebrating the many ways children think, communicate, and create. These sensory workshop sessions will bring books to life through a playful mix of drama, music, and the arts activities, inviting families to explore stories together in fun and accessible ways. Designed for ages 9-12, this workshop offers a welcoming space for children and their grow-ups to let their creativity shine. Older siblings are invited to join in the fun.
Led by Holly Delefortrie, the creator of The Dyslexia Project which champions the voices of those who think and commute differently. -
Host: Tony Felgate
Time: 3.00 pm
Location: Town Hall
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Since 1965, Pat Abbott has been immersed in the world of motorsports, and her book The Rolling Lap is an informative and captivating story that reveals the hidden gems of stock car racing, and explores the heartfelt stories of the people who have devoted themselves to it. Join Pat to hear first hand about her book and her passion. Interviewd by Tony Felgate.
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Host: Jojo Silva
Time: 3.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Institute - Eric Hansen Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Non-Fiction
Summary: Join award winning novelist and screenwriter Courttia Newland for a fascinating conversation about his book The Art of Opposition. Courttia looks what it means to be an artist operating in the margins, creating beyond the mainstream, with freedom of artistic expression and how success shapes the work of historically excluded creatives. Interviewed by Jojo Silva (Capital XTRA).
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Host: TBC
Time: 3.00 pm
Location: Unitarian Meeting House
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Nature
Summary: Find solace in your outdoor space in this delightful horticultural journey with actress Caroline Quentin, as she talks about her life long passion for gardening, and her second book on the subject Drawn to Nature, which is a follow up to Drawn to the Garden - both of which are illustrated by Caroline . Caroline will be talking about finding joy and calm in the natural world and reconnecting with nature.
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Host: Dr. Andrea Smith, University of Suffolk
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: St Clement's Arts Centre
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Creative Writing
Summary: Writing for social medial depends on clarity, voice, and a clear sense of audience. In this workshop, you'll explore how writing shifts across platforms such as social media, blogs and podcasts, and how tone and structure change depending on who you are writing for and what you want to achieve. Through practial exercises, you'll experiment with writing short-form content that is direct, enagaging and purposeful. You'll consider how rhythm, voice and structure work in digital spaces, and how to make writing feel natural, not forced. You'll spend time writing, testing approaches and developing a more confident, adaptable writing style.
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Host: Frances Quinn
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: Old Custom House
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join Linda Wilgus as she talks about her stunning debut title The Sea Child, a novel about the Cornish coast, an injured, handsome smuggler, courage, reputation and love. Interviewed by Frances Quinn.
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Host: Sophie Green
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Brogen Murphy's phenomenal debut Wildlands was one of the most talked about and loved books of 2025, and they return with the sequel (published September) which is already causing much excitement. Join Brogen as they talk all about the books and inspiration, their publishing journey, their hopes for the future and the important message of these books. Suitable for 8-12 year old and their adults. Interviewed by Sophie Green.
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Host: Matson Taylor
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Northgate Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains is an exceptional slice of social and cultural history that explores the relatively untold twentieth century tale of LGBTQ people in small towns and suburbia. Social historian John Grindrod looks at stories that are messy and moving, dark and funny, uplifting and extraordinary, though wonderful archive material and original interviews. Interviewed by Matson Taylor.
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Host: The Arts Society (South East Suffolk)
Time: 5.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Lecture Hall
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Author and art historian John-Paul Stonard will be talking about his 2021 Sunday Times Art Book of the Year – Creation: Art Since the Beginning, describerd as "a fully illustrated, panoramic world history of art from ancient civilisation to the present day". John-Paul will also be reflecting on writing a 'monumental history of art' five years on. Hosted by The Arts Society (South East Suffolk).
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Host: Amanda Murkett
Time: 6.00 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join our amazing friend and patron Eva Verde for an upfront conversation about her incredible third novel Them Girls. A story about sisters and about secrets, Them Girls is raw and real, and deals with themes of identity, class and the corruption of power. Eva is a powerhouse, and writes about real women in an incredible and relatable way. Interviewed by Amanda Murkett.
SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER
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Host: N/A
Time: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Location: TBA
Tickets: £ Free NOT TICKETED
Duration: N/A
Genre: Local Author
Summary: Ipswich - and Suffolk - is home to an incredible amount of taltented and creativei writers, so pop along to listen to their writing journeys, let them tell you about theirbooks, which will be on sale.
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Host: Aimee Wright
Time: 10.00 am
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join the illustrator of the wonderful Lullaby Legends series of board books for a fun and friendly event for the tiny ones in your life. Suitable for nursery age children and their adults.
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Host: N/A
Time: 10.00 am
Location: Ipswich Library - Corner Space
Tickets: £ £3.50 BUY TIC KETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join Bone Head creator Jamie Gregory for a wild mix of chaos and comedy, featuring live drawing and a chance to create your own characters of the underworld. There will also be a chance to meet Demise - AKA Bone Head for photo opportunities and high fives! Suitable for children 8-12 and their adults.
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Host: N/A
Time: 10.00am
Location: Ipswich Library - Lecture Hall
Tickets: £ Free GET TICKETS HERE
Duration: 120 mins
Genre: Workshop
Summary: Make your own (mini-maga) zine with New Wolsey Theatre Associate Artist, Amy Wragg, the region's most prolific DIY publisher. Find out about the weird history of zines, why they are currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity, and have a go at making one yourself with a tasty selection of craft materials and print media. An entertaining talk and crafty workshop rolled into one. All ages welcome. All materials provided.
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Host: The Ipswich Society
Time: 11.00 am
Location: The Old Custom House
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Join Chris Deverson from The Ipswich Society for a talk about public art in Ipswich, the subject of one of their publications. Last year's talk about The Ancient House was hugely popular and we expect this one to be just the same!
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Host: Nathan Rodney-Jones
Time: 11.00 am - 3.00 pm
Location: Various locations around Ipswich
Tickets: £ Your Choice NOT TICKETED
Duration: TBA
Genre: Poetry
Summary: Catch Nathan Rodney-Jones – AKA The Pop-Up Poet at various locations around the town at his desk with his beloved typewriter. Then simply name your topic, name your price, and let him spill the ink and create a poem for you to take away.
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Host: TBC
Time: 11.30 am
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join the hugely talented and wonderful Nat Harrison and hear all about her page turning retelling of the beloved classic Around the World in Eighty Days – The Girl Who Raced the World. Nat will be sharing her writing and research process as well as the journey from the initial idea through to publication, and also talking about just how important the original book is to her. At the end of the event, Nat will also read from the as yet unpublished sequel: Journey into the Jungle. Suitable for adults and children 8-12.
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Host: David Wright
Time: 12.00 pm
Location: NW2
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Join food historian, author and broadcaster Dr. Annie Gray for an informative conversation about British food and dining from the 17th century to the present day, which she explores in her food writing titles such as At Christmas We Feast, The Kitchen Cabinet, The Greedy Queen and Food for Thought. Annie will be interviewed by David Wright (@thebreaducator)
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Host: TBC
Time: 12.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Northgate Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join Robert Holtom as they talk about their two (hopefully more are planned) brilliant Selby Bigge Mystery titles: A Queer Case, and A Morbid Passion. A Queer Case is a beautifully written story, set in the 1920s, about a murder in a mansion on Hampstead Heath. A Morbid Passion finds Selby and his sidekick Theodora at a servants' ball at the Royal Albert Hall, with another murder for them to solve...
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Host: TBC
Time: 12.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Institute - Eric Hansen Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Join Susan Owens for an insightful delve into her book Constable's Year: An Artist in Changing Seasons, which traces the rhythms and resonances of the artists year to offer a unique perspective of a beloved artist. A very fitting subject in the 250th anniversary of his birth, beautifully timed to coincide with the last weekend of The Haywain being on view at Christchurch Mansion.
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Host: N/A
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Corner space
Tickets: £ 5.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 120 mins
Genre: Creative Workshop
Summary: Thaksala Haylock (@inkyandthebears) will lead this brush lettering workshop. This will be an opportunity to learn the skills of brush lettering using a paintbrush and ink, and how to use these for future projects, or lettering your favourite book quote. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided. At the end of the session you will be able to take away a small pot of ink and your brush to continue your brush lettering journey at home.
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Host: TBC
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: Old Custom House
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Join historian Ted Powell to hear about Churchill and the Crown, the story of Winston Churchill's long relationship with the Crown from radical liberal under Edward VII to his last premiership as an old man under the young Queen Elizabeth II. This is certain to be a fascinating discussion!
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Host: TBC
Time: 1.00 pm
Location: St. Stephens Church
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Non-fiction
Summary: Join the legend from Wigtown, Shaun Bythell, who runs the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland. Hear about his brilliant forthcoming title (published October) The Return of the Bookseller Diarist, which follows on from the hugely popular The Diary of a Bookseller, Confessions of a Bookseller and Remainders of the Day..
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Host: N/A
Time: 1.30 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join the wickedly funny author, scriptwriter and playwright Jack Meggitt-Phillips and his latest creations Henrik Jekyll and Eddie Hyde, for an event about his brand new book Jekyll vs Hyde: The Potion of Doom (published September). Expect the unexpected! Suitable for all school age children and their adults.
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Host: NONE
Time: 2.00 pm
Location: NW2
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Non-fiction
Summary: Join Robin Ince, comedian, author, and broadcaster for an event that will see him not only talking about his books Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, Bibliomaniac, and The Importance of Being Interested, but will also see Robin reading from latest title – Let the Quiet Ones Rise: Poems about standing up and standing out.
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Host: TBC
Time: 2.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Northgate Room
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join Lori Inglis Hall as she talks about her exquistely written debut novel The Shock of the Light which brings to life the shattering emotional impact of WWII on ordinary people, mainly twins Tessa and Theo.
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Host: Emma Lightfoot
Time: 3.00 pm
Location: Old Custom House
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Join our wonderful friend and patron Frances Quinn as she lifts the lid on her fourth novel The Scandalous Ladies Football Club. It's 1897 and Minnie Newton, a 28 year old schoolteacher and women's rights advocate has a passion for football. But this is Victorian society, and football is a men's game. Isnt it? Join us to hear more from an astonishing writer of historical fiction, and find out why it was so important to Frances to tell this story. Interviewed by Emma Lightfoot.
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Host: TBC
Time: 3.00 pm
Location: Ipswich Library - Lecture Hall
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Nature
Summary: Join author Jacky Colliss Harvey for a talk about her book Thoughtlands: Walking in Writers' Suffolk, a delightful book on Suffolk's landscapes and its literary heritage. A book about walking and writing; about walkers who write, and writers who walk.
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Host: TBC
Time: 3.30 pm
Location: Dance East
Tickets: £ 3.50 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Children
Summary: Join Iqbal Hussain as he talks about his absolutely brilliant book The Night I Borrowed Time. Not only is there time travel, mystery and adventure, but the book also covers the subject of the partition of India.
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Host: TBC
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: NW2
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: History
Summary: Join Tash Walker for a fantastic event talking about her book (co-written with Adam Zmith) The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened. Found in the offices of queer helpline switchboard, which has been in operation since 1974, were dozens of log books kept by the volunteers who answered the phones, describing the phone calls they received. These stories are bought to life in The Log Books.
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Host: TBC
Time: 4.00 pm
Location: St. Stephens Church
Tickets: £ 10.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Music biography
Summary: Join writer and rock biographer Richard Balls to talk about his music books A Furious Devotion: The Life of Shane MacGowan, Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll: The Life of Ian Dury, and Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story.
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Host: N/A
Time: 5.00 pm
Location: NWT Theatre
Tickets: £ 15.00 BUY TICKETS HERE
Duration: 45-60 mins
Genre: Biography
Summary: Join the one and only Janet Street Porter for a 45 minute monologue, covering her post-war upbringing and the strange relationship with her parents, both of which formed the basis of her critically acclamined first book Baggage: My Childhood.
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. Buy tickets now.
