60 events, including a film screening, writing workshops and a book group event, will take place across Hexham, in venues including the Queen’s Hall, Garden Coffee House, Hexham Abbey and Forum Cinema.
Hexham Book Festival is back for its 19th year with events across the Northumberland market town of Hexham for 10 days
Hexham Book Festival has announced the lineup for its 19th festival, due to take place across Hexham in Northumberland from 2nd – 11th May, with a special spoken word preview event on Wednesday 30th April and a one-off event with renowned historian Mary Beard on Friday 23rd May.
The Hexham Book Festival Family Day – Storyland – will take place on Sunday 29th June, and the Schools Festival runs from 25th to 28th March.
First set up in 2006 as a one-day event in Hexham Library, Hexham Book Festival is now a firm favourite in the calendar of Northumberland events, and dominates the town for its run every year. The 2025 festival features poets and politicians, farmers and fashion designers, a ballet legend who danced with Princess Diana, and special events to mark the 80th anniversary of V.E. Day, which falls during the festival week. Fiction also features strongly with Jonathan Coe, AL Kennedy, Kevin Barry and LJ Ross, plus fabulous debut and local authors.
Comedian Robin Ince will kick off the festival, and grande dame of poetry Pam Ayres will headline a special matinée event celebrating her latest poetry collection, looking back on 40 years of performing in the UK and abroad.
Political reflection and analysis will provide the opportunity for reflection and analysis. Speakers this year include Anthony Seldon on Liz Truss’ whirlwind and eventful 49 days in office; journalist and commentator Sam Freedman with his call to action to redress what he sees as the catastrophic state the UK was in at the point of the last general election; and Simon Hart – Chief Whip under Rishi Sunak, and first-hand witness to some of the turmoil within 10 Downing Street since 2019. On an international stage, the festival welcomes former Sunday Times China correspondent Michael Sheridan whose book on Xi Jinping offers a fascinating glimpse into the man leading China in its battle for power with the West.
Sayeeda Warsi will be in conversation with Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah at an exclusive event about Sayeeda’s book Muslims Don’t Matter, a powerful call-to-action to address the recent rise in Islamophobia.
The 80th anniversary of V.E Day falls during this year’s Hexham Book Festival, and the landmark date is being marked by exclusive talks by historian Tim Bouverie on the Allies and their complex relationships which set the course for the rest of the 20th century, and social historian Lucy Noakes, who delved into the archive of the Mass Observation project to uncover the thoughts of the over-2,000 people who kept home diaries during 1939-1945, to reveal what the people of the UK really felt during World War II.
As the climate continues to change, discussions with Tony Juniper, Tom Heap, and Mike Berners-Lee will make you think about how we could do things differently – whether that’s the management of the land, social inequality which exacerbates the impact of climate change, or how we can better harness technology to help up through the climate crisis.
Wayne Sleep – the celebrated ballet dancer who danced with Margot Fonteyn and Princess Diana – shares his gossip-filled memoirs, and celebrated local chef Anna Hedworth will share the secrets of her kitchens at Cook House and Long Friday – including the recipes of some of her most popular dishes.
Tailor and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant explores how to make better clothing choices – by learning how to buy fewer, better quality items, and knowing how to look after, mend and maintain them. Runners will be delighted to hear from the founder of the Parkrun phenomenon, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, and Archers fans will hear from longstanding writer on the show, Julie Beckett, about some of the hidden secrets of the stalwart Radio 4 show. Farmer, writer and campaigner James Rebanks will close the main festival week with a special event about his time in the Arctic Circle working with those maintaining centuries-old traditional ways of working.
Olivia Chapman, Interim Creative Director of Hexham Book Festival, says:
“This year’s Hexham Book Festival programme builds on the strong tradition of previous festivals for being the place for audiences to hear great opinions and experiences and take part in discussions – as well as find extraordinary new writers they’ll come to love. The mix of speakers this year is remarkable, with topics from neuro-diversity through to political upheaval and World War II via raising a hare and the impact of becoming a mother on one’s sense of self – there’s plenty for the always-engaged Hexham audiences to get discussing and share their thoughts!”
Booking opens to Friends on 7th March and to the public on 10th March.
Notes to Editors:
Hexham Book Festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which has been running since 2006. Principally based at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham, it works across the wider Hexham area and with outreach work throughout Northumberland, supported by Northumberland County Council. Funders for the festival include the Northern Rock Foundation, Gillian Dickinson Trust and Arts Council England.
Events at Hexham Book Festival 2025 are sponsored by: The Beaumont Hotel, the Boatside Inn, Curlew Accounting, Fentimans, Kielder Observatory, Nicholson Portnell Solicitors, Northumberland National Park, Vattenfall, Vindolanda and youngsRPS Estate and Lettings Agents.
