King’s Lynn Poetry Festival

22-24 September, 2023 

Early days yet, full details will follow.


For a reminder of the March 2023 Fiction Festival, click here



The King's Lynn Literature Festivals are held during a single weekend in March (Fiction) and September (Poetry) each year. Our guiding principle, initiated by King's Lynn's finest, Tony Ellis and co-founder, the late George MacBeth, is to present some of the best contemporary writers of chapter and verse in a friendly and informal setting. You will see authors of international repute alongside new, from all age ranges and from locations across the world. Meet the writers, hear them reading and buy their books.


Until Covid, these festivals had been running in an unbroken annual series since 1984. We missed 2020 and 2021, so this year’s Poetry Festival is the 36th in its glorious history.


Click the programme right to download it in pdf form (2mb)


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Follow us on twitter @lynnlitfests for occasional communiqués, lures and jollies.


Please help keep the pages turning and consider joining our £5-a-month supporters club. You'll be included in occasional prize raffles (prizes of books and cash) and can have a festival weekend pass at half price (usually £37.50), for one festival a year. Funds generated are used exclusively to help finance our festivals. 


Please contact us for details - thank you.

Praise from Pascale Petit on launching her collection, Mama Amazonica, at our festival in 2017:

Thank you for a magnificent festival, one of my favourites, as you can tell since I returned for my fourth book launch at King’s Lynn! The audience was hugely appreciative, which is so rewarding, and I signed loads of books. Everything was divine, from the bagpipes at the station, to the illustrious venue, heartwarming parties, and the kind hosts who took great care of me. I really appreciate the warmth of your welcome and how you ply us with super-tasty poetry, champagne and meals! 

We are eternally grateful for support from: