More than 70 speakers announced for Clifton LitFest

Clifton LitFest returns this November with its most expansive programme to date, drawing together major names from politics, literature, photography and journalism for a weekend devoted to the power of story. From Friday 14 - Sunday 16 November, Bristol’s Clifton Village will host more than 70 speakers across 50 events, including headline appearances from Kate Humble, Caroline Lucas, Martin Parr, Peter Frankopan, Jonathan Dimbleby and Deborah Moggach.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has evolved from a local celebration into a fixture on the UK’s literary calendar, known for its intelligent curation and welcoming atmosphere. Entirely volunteer-run and produced by Friends of Clifton Centre and Library (FoCCaL), the festival continues to pair national calibre with community spirit - offering a cultural gathering that is both wide-reaching and rooted in place.

This year’s programme is shaped by a deep engagement with the present moment. Acclaimed photographer Martin Parr opens the festival on Friday evening with a rare autobiographical event, reflecting on his life behind the lens and the absurdities of British life he has spent decades documenting. Later that evening, former Green Party MP Caroline Lucas takes the stage for a timely discussion of her new book, Another England, exploring how national identity might be reclaimed through culture, ecology and protest.

Across the weekend, the festival invites audiences into conversations that span continents and generations. Historian Peter Frankopan returns to revisit The Silk Roads and assess the shifting balance of global power, while Jonathan Dimbleby presents his newly reissued The Palestinians, placing a long-standing political tragedy in urgent contemporary context. Polly Toynbee and David Walker will be joined by Green MP Carla Denyer to evaluate the promises and performance of Labour’s first year in power - setting up a discussion as pointed as it is timely.

Alongside politics and history, the programme opens space for joy, reflection and reinvention. Deborah Moggach speaks about love in later life; Jessica Hepburn shares her story of transformation from arts administrator to extreme adventurer. Art historian Franny Moyle reclaims the forgotten legacy of women painters in the 18th century, while critic Paul Gough explores the cultural impact of Banksy beyond the anonymity and market buzz.

The festival’s scope remains one of its defining strengths. Alongside high-profile speakers, Clifton LitFest gives the stage to emerging voices, experimental formats and underrepresented stories. Themes range from childlessness, grief and ageing, to artificial intelligence, urban wildlife, culinary history and folklore. Events span poetry, memoir, political debate, writing workshops, live music and family storytelling, offering something for every kind of curious mind.

A major new addition for 2025 is the launch of the Young Adult Fringe, hosted by Clifton High School. This dedicated strand brings professional writers, journalists, game developers and editors into conversation with young people through hands-on workshops, panels and a city-wide creative writing competition. Designed to inspire the next generation of storytellers, the initiative marks a bold step in expanding the festival’s reach and impact.

Events take place across four venues - Clifton Library, Christ Church, The Clifton Club and Clifton High School - all within walking distance and all transformed for the weekend into welcoming spaces for dialogue and discovery. In keeping with the festival’s commitment to accessibility, a number of sessions are free to attend, including a public forum on the future of libraries and a celebration of Bristol’s young writing talent.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday 17th September at www.foccal.com and in person at Clifton Library (Wednesday to Saturday). Proceeds support not only the festival itself but a year-round programme of literary and cultural activity across Bristol’s libraries.

Festival Chair Paula O’Rourke said: “Clifton LitFest is powered by people who believe in the value of ideas. We’re proud to offer a space where national conversations can unfold on a local stage - where writers and readers, thinkers and neighbours come together to share stories that challenge, inspire and connect us.”