The University of Liverpool's Liverpool Literary Festival is back to celebrate a major milestone - its 10th anniversary.
Taking place from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October 2025, the Festival brings together bestselling authors, sharp minds, and passionate readers for a weekend of inspiring conversation, readings, and a shared love of literature.
Headlining the 2025 programme is Mark Kermode - renowned writer, film critic, and musician - who will appear in conversation with collaborator Jenny Nelson. The pair will discuss their forthcoming book, Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music.
Other highlights include:
- Emma Jane Unsworth, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, bestselling novelist, and University of Liverpool alumna, who will open the Festival weekend.
- Award-winning Young Adult author Juno Dawson, who presents Human Rites, the long-awaited final book in her #1 bestselling fantasy series Her Majesty's Royal Coven.
- Dr Nussaibah Younis, shortlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction, who will discuss her powerful novel Fundamentally.
- Chris Shepherd, Liverpool-based artist, writer, and filmmaker, who will speak about his debut graphic novel Anfield Road - a coming-of-age story set in 1980s Liverpool.
Festival Director Professor Greg Lynall, Head of English at the University of Liverpool said: "Since our inaugural Festival in 2016, we've created an enduring cultural highlight in the University calendar. Over the last decade, we've welcomed thousands of guests who've had the chance to explore and deepen their love of literature.
"This year's programme continues our tradition of bringing together storytellers who offer rich insights into the world around us. The Festival promises to be one of our most exciting yet."
Curated by the University's Department of English, the festival has previously welcomed a host of literary greats, including former Chancellor, Colm Tóibín (Brooklyn), Ali Smith, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Lemn Sissay, Philip Pullman, Sally Rooney, Alan Hollinghurst, and alumna Professor Dame Carol Ann Duffy.
Professor Greg Lynall continued: "In the Department of English we explore the power of words in the world and we're proud to programme the Festival. Not only does it offer the public the chance to hear from and meet some of the greatest writers and thinkers of our time but also enhances our students' experiences of their courses."
Liverpool Literary Festival 2025 will take place at the University's Victoria Gallery & Museum (Ashton Street, L69 3DR) from Friday 17 - Sunday 19 October 2025. Festivalgoers can buy VIP passes for the whole weekend or just for one day, to make the most of everything the festival has to offer.
Liverpool Literary Festival 2025: full line-up
Bestselling author Emma Jane Unsworth in conversation
Friday 17 October, 6pm
£12
BAFTA-nominated and BIFA-winning screenwriter Emma Jane Unsworth opens the Festival with her acclaimed new novel Slags, a Vogue 'Book of the Summer'. A University of Liverpool alumna, Unsworth is known for Animals, The Outlaws, and The Buccaneers, and is currently developing Slags for TV. Emma will be in conversation with Dr Danny O'Connor, Colm Tóibín Lecturer in Creative Writing.
How do we write about the Climate Crisis? John Ironmonger discusses his new novel The Wager and the Bear
Saturday 18 October, 10am
£8
Author, zoologist and alumnus, John Ironmonger joins the Festival to discuss his latest novel The Wager and the Bear, a gripping tale of a dangerous bet and climate collapse.
Best known for the international bestseller Not Forgetting the Whale, Ironmonger's work explores environmental themes. He'll be in conversation with Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics, Dr Jessica Hampton.
Exterminate/Regenerate: blowing your understanding of the Doctor Who universe wide open
Saturday 18 October, 1pm
£8
Writer, journalist and cultural historian, John Higgs discusses the hidden history behind one of the UK's most beloved shows, Doctor Who.
The author of books on topics such as The Beatles, James Bond, William Blake and The KLF, Higgs will focus on his latest book Exterminate/Regenerate: The Story of Doctor Who - the first biography of the Time Lord. Interviewing Higgs will be Dr Matthew Bradley, Senior Lecturer in English Literature.
Fundamentally: Nussaibah Younis exploring love, radicalism and identity
Saturday 18 October, 2.30pm
£8
Peacebuilding expert Dr Nussaibah Younis discusses her satirical novel Fundamentally - shortlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction - which follows an academic tasked with rehabilitating women linked to ISIS.
Younis is a former Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a widely published commentator on Iraq.
Searching for My Slave Roots with Malik Al Nasir
Saturday 18 October, 4pm
£10
Liverpool-born author, poet, and filmmaker Malik Al Nasir reads from his new book Slave Roots: From Gyana's sugar plantations to Cambridge - published in August this year.
Born in Liverpool to mixed parentage, Malik started tracing his roots back through Caribbean slavery over 20 years ago. His acclaimed research has earned recognition from leading historians and institutions.
Juno Dawson: talking witchcraft and confronting the good and evil in Human Rites
Saturday 18 October, 5.30pm
£10
Juno Dawson joins Dr Matthew Bradley to discuss Human Rites, the long-awaited final instalment to her number one bestselling fantasy series Her Majesty's Royal Coven.
Dawson is a novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and a columnist for Attitude magazine, whose books include the global bestsellers This Book is Gay and Clean. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for Meat Market.
She also writes for television, including the much-praised 'Interstellar Song Contest' episode of Doctor Who, and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US.
The stories of movie music: Mark Kermode and Jenny Nelson, on their new book Surround Sound
Saturday 18 October, 7pm
£12
Mark Kermode, one of the UK's most recognisable film critics, discusses his forthcoming book Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music.
Co-authored with radio producer Jenny Nelson, Surround Sound is a deep dive into the world of movie soundtracks, giving an insight into the emotional connection audiences form with film music.
As well as an award-winning film critic, Mark is a musician and radio and television presenter and hosts a popular film review podcast Kermode & Mayo's Take with former BBC Radio broadcaster Simon Mayo.
Short Story competition winners - staff and student categories
Sunday 19 October, 10am
FREE
Join Dr Danny O'Connor, Colm Tóibín Lecturer in Creative Writing, for a special event celebrating the winners and runners-up of the Liverpool Literary Festival Short Story Competition.
This year's theme was 'anniversaries', marking the Festival's 10th year. Writers submitted stories of up to 1,500 words, with the very best published in an online anthology.
This competition, sponsored by Liverpool ONE, was judged by a panel including Festival Director Professor Greg Lynall, King Alfred Chair in English Literature.
The event will also feature readings from this year's School of the Arts Literary Magazine.
Adele Zeynep Walton discusses Logging Off: The Human Cost of Our Digital World
Sunday 19 October, 11.30am
£8
Journalist Adele Zeynep grew up online, building a career through social media - but after losing her sister to online harm, she began questioning the digital world's impact.
She joins the Festival to discuss her powerful new book Logging Off, in conversation with Dr Mark McGlashan, an expert on the language of online safeguarding.
Hattie Williams, in conversation about her debut novel Bitter Sweet
Sunday 19 October, 1pm
£8
Musician-turned-publisher Hattie Williams joins the Festival to discuss her debut novel Bitter Sweet - a gripping story of power, control, and silence in relationships.
After touring Europe and releasing three albums, Hattie spent over a decade in publishing. Her second novel, Beginning. Middle. End., is already in the works.
The impact of crimes and abuse on families: Dorothy Koomson discusses her latest novel Give Him To Me
Sunday 19 October, 2.30pm
£10
Bestselling author Dorothy Koomson joins Senior Lecturer in English Literature, Dr Melissa Raines. Here Koomson will discuss her latest thriller Give Him To Me, out in paperback this August, and the theme of domestic abuse that runs through much of her work.
With over 2.5 million UK sales, Koomson is a literary trailblazer, featured on the 2021 Powerlist as one of the most influential Black people in Britain and was a former Women's Prize judge.
Chris Shepherd takes us along Anfield Road, his debut graphic novel
Sunday 19 October, 4pm
£10
Artist and filmmaker Chris Shepherd joins Senior Lecturer in English Literature Dr David Hering to discuss his acclaimed debut graphic novel Anfield Road - a coming-of-age story set in 1980s Liverpool and named Observer Graphic Novel of the Month.
Shepherd's award-winning career spans film, music, and teaching, with British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and BAFTA recognition and collaborations with artists including Holly Johnson, and Reverend and the Makers.
Simon Hughes: Chasing Salah - the biography
Sunday 19 October, 5.30pm
£10
Simon Hughes is an award-winning journalist and author and covers Merseyside football for The New York Times' The Athletic.
He joins this year's Festival to discuss his new book Chasing Salah, a definitive biography of Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, the most famous Egyptian footballer in the history of the sport.
His book Red Machine won the Antonio Ghirelli Prize for Italian Soccer Foreign Book of the Year 2014, and his other titles include Secret Diary of a Liverpool Scout, Men in White Suits and Ring of Fire. Hughes will be hosted by Professor Liz Crolley, an expert on football culture and industry.
Printroom is the official Liverpool Literary Festival 2025 supporter.
