If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, now’s the time! Head to the festival website to explore the programme and book your place. We can’t wait to welcome you and be part of another brilliant two weeks of celebrating the power of books, ideas, storytelling and conversation.

Across the festival, audiences can discover acclaimed authors, cultural icons, bold new voices and family favourites with thought-provoking conversations, fresh perspectives and plenty of inspiring encounters and family fun along the way.

The judges described her novel 'May We Feed the King' as "a wonderfully enticing, and eye-opening, combination of themes, woven together with an extraordinary delicacy of touch." We'll bring you an update when the winner is announced on Monday 9 November.

We're proud to share the news that our Creative Writing BA and MA Student and former Burgess Fellow Rebecca Perry has been shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize.

The Observer Book Club with Min Jin Lee 📅 Wednesday 21 October ⏰ 7.30-8.45pm 🎟️ £15 (£32 including book) 📍 @contactmcr.bsky.social

The Observer Book Club with Yann Martel 📅 Wednesday 14 October ⏰ 7.30-8.45pm 🎟️ £12/£10 📍 @mhcentre.bsky.social

The author, comedian and host of The Guilty Feminist Deborah Frances-White brings her sharp wit and fresh perspective to @mcrlitfest.bsky.social for a lively conversation about Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have and how we can navigate disagreement, polarisation and difficult conversations.

The Observer Book Club with Deborah Frances-White 📅 Sunday 11 October ⏰ 4.30-5.45pm 🎟️ £12/£10 📍 @mhcentre.bsky.social

Join writer, broadcaster and political strategist Paul Mason at @mcrlitfest.bsky.social for a lively conversation on Reds: A Global History of Communism - exploring communism’s legacy and what it means for our world today. Expect big ideas, bold questions and thought-provoking conversation.

Paul Mason: Reds 📅 Sunday 11 October ⏰ 2-3.15pm 🎟️ £14/£12 📍 @mhcentre.bsky.social