# Manchester Literature Festival: must-see events - Source: The Mancunion (https://staging.mancunion.com/books/manchester-literature-festival-preview) - By: Mae Murphy - Published: 2025-10-14T12:46:42.000Z - Section: Books - Topics: Manchester, Live, Manchester Literature Festival, festival, books, Events, literature **Discover what amazing literary events are on at Manchester Literature Festival.** The [**Manchester Literature Festival**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk) is back for another year with some amazing events to come. Running from 11th - 26th October, with events running into November, the Festival offers a unique opportunity for audiences to interact with some of the world's greatest writers. Set in literary venues across Manchester, every event is an opportunity to share your passion for literature whilst hearing from some amazing speakers. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Manchester Literature Festival, which welcomes hundreds of writers and readers. We are delighted to share that we will be covering this year's events. Here is a quick preview of what we're looking forward to: ## **Samantha Shannon & Saara El-Arifi** Tuesday 14 October, 7pm Location: Contact ![Samantha Shannon speaking. Manchester Literature Festival.](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Samantha_Shannon_Chicago_2025-450x600.jpg) *Samantha Shannon. Credit: Wikimedia Commons* Join the Manchester Literature Festival for an evening of dystopian and fantasy fiction with [Samantha Shannon](https://mancunion.com/2022/11/04/a-cure-for-homesickness-books-to-annotate-and-gift-to-loved-ones/?swcfpc=1) (*The Bone Season*) and Saara El-Arifi (*Faebound*). Together, Shannon and El-Arifi will explore epic storytelling and the processes behind character creation. #### [« Get your ticket »](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/samantha-shannon-saara-el-arifi) --- ## **Sayaka Murata** Saturday 18 October, 7pm Location: Central Library ![Sayaka Murata, Manchester Literature Festival](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Sayaka-Murata_DSC05864-600x400.jpg) *Sayaka Murata. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Hreinn Gudlaugsson* Literary phenomenon Sayaka Murata ([*Convenience Store Woman*](https://mancunion.com/2018/11/08/misogyny-in-sayaka-muratas-convenience-store-woman/?swcfpc=1)) explores intimacy and reproduction through her provocative new novel *Vanishing World*. In this new novel, Murata imagines a world where sex is taken out of reproduction - stripping the world of a need for romance, instead opting for functional family units. #### [« Get your ticket »](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/sayaka-murata) --- ## **Irvine Welsh** Sunday, 19th October, 7:30 pm Location: HOME ![Irvine Welsh](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Irvine_Welsh__Louise_Welsh_2024_i114-600x448.jpg) *Irvine Welsh. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Tim Duncan* Choose life. Choose love. Choose to go to *An Evening with Irvine Welsh*? One of Scotland’s most iconic writers, Welsh takes us back to [*Trainspotting*](https://mancunion.com/2014/02/04/trainspotting-book-vs-film/?swcfpc=1) in his new novel *Men in Love*. Set during the birth of rave culture, Welsh returns to the lives of Spud, Renton, Sick Boy, and Begbie on their quest for love. #### [**« Get your ticket »**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/a-night-with-irvine-welsh) --- ## **Jung Chang** Sunday 19 October 2025, 2:00 pm Location: Central Library ![Jung Chang signs to pledge support to the Convention for Modern Liberty. ](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Jung_Chang_-London_England-15Jan2010-600x600.jpg) *Jung Chang pledges support to the Convention for Modern Liberty. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Guy Atchkinson* Memoirist Jung Chang discusses *Fly, Wild Swans* in an evening at Manchester Central Library. This is the sequel to *Wild Swans*, an account of Chang's family banned in mainland China since publication. #### [**« Get your ticket »**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/jung-chang) --- ## Kate Mosse Monday 20 October, 7:00 pm Location: Central Library ![Kate Mosse.](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Kate_Mosse_a_Carcassonne_-497x600.jpg) *Kate Mosse. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons* Kate Mosse, bestselling author and Founder Director of the Women's Prizes, joins Manchester Literature Festival to discuss her new non-fiction book, *Feminist History for Every Day of the Year*. Mosse is also running another session on the same day about [how writers can get published](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/how-to-get-published-with-kate-mosse) - be sure to check this out! #### [**« Get your ticket »**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/feminist-history-with-kate-mosse) --- ## **Bora Chung & Susan Barker** Tuesday 21 October, 7:00 pm Location: Waterstones Deansgate ![Bora Chung speaking. Manchester Literature Festival.](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Sophie_Henaff_Jacky_Schwartzmann_Bora_Chung_Quais_du_polar_2023-450x600.jpg) *Bora Chung. Credit: Wikimedia Commons* Bora Chung (*Cursed Bunny*) and Susan Barker (*The Incarnations*) are the perfect literary combo to kick off your spooky season. It promises to be a chilling evening discussing their new novels, Chung’s *The Midnight Timetable* and Barker’s *Old Soul*. #### [**« Get your ticket »**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/bora-chung-susan-barker) --- ## **Zadie Smith** Tuesday 4 November, 7:30 pm Location: RNCM ![Zadie Smith speaking. Manchester Literature Festival.](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Zadie_Smith_NBCC_2011_Shankbone-480x600.jpg) *Zadie Smith. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, David Shankbone* One of our most distinctive contemporary literary voices, Zadie Smith joins Manchester Literature Festival to discuss her new book *Dead and Alive*. In this new essay collection, she explores the impact of influential artists from Toyin Ojih Odutola to [Stormzy](https://mancunion.com/2020/02/21/black-artists-and-the-brits-the-politics-in-their-performance/). Smith is the best-selling author of The Fraud, On Beauty, Swing Time, [NW](https://mancunion.com/2013/04/17/review-nw-by-zadie-smith/) and [White Teeth](https://mancunion.com/2014/09/23/review-zadie-smiths-white-teeth/) – as well as the recipient of numerous awards, including the [Women’s Prize](https://mancunion.com/2019/03/05/the-womens-prize-for-fiction-announces-2019-long-list/?swcfpc=1). #### [**« Get your ticket »**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/zadie-smith) --- ## Jeanette Winterson Tuesday 11 November, 7:00 pm Location: RNCM ![Jeanette Winterson speaking. Manchester Literature Festival.](/media/mancunion/2025/10/Installation_of_Chancellor_Professor_Jackie_Kay_MBE_-_University_of_Salford_Peel_Hall_17136470459_cropped-498x600.jpg) *Jeanette Winterson. Credit: Wikimedia Commons* Forty years after her debut novel *Oranges are not the only fruit*, [Jeanette Winterson](https://mancunion.com/2023/10/30/jeanette-winterson-at-manchester-literature-festival/) makes her much-anticipated return with *One Aladdin Two Lamps*. Winterson examines the legendary story of Shahrazad to break down who we trust and why. This is a chance to see one of Britain's most influential writers (and a professor at UOM) discuss reading, rewriting, and subverting tried narratives. #### [**« Get your ticket »**](https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/jeanette-winterson)