10 things you didn’t know about Bradford Lit Fest
As Bradford Literature Festival prepares to enter its closing weekend, here are 10 things you didn’t know about one of the North’s biggest literary celebrations. Ethical ticketing gives free access to most of the programme to students and educators.
Jeremy Corbyn. Credits: Bradford Literature Festival.
1
The University of Bradford has supported the festival since its launch in 2014, with a number of events hosted on campus and led by its academics.
2
Lord of the Rings fans can indulge themselves in a 13-hour-long movie marathon comprising all three of Peter Jackson’s extended editions, starting at 10am on Saturday, July 11 at The Light, Screen 3.
3
F1 pit-lane pundit Ted Kravitz will be joined by sports journalist Matt Majendie for an ‘In Conversation’ event at St George’s Hall, from 11am on Saturday, July 11, where they will talk about track, tyres and tantrums.
4
In 1904, 57 Somali men, women and children moved to Bradford to live for six months in an authentic ‘village’ as part of the city’s Great Exhibition. An exhibition of the village, which was excavated by the University’s archaeology team earlier this year, will take place on Saturday, July 11, from 1pm, at Cartwright Hall.
5
Double, double toil and trouble… for anyone fascinated by witchcraft, a Witchcraft and the Patriarchy event will take place at Loading Bay, Auditorium, on Saturday, July 11, from 2.45pm. The event will explore how accusations of witchcraft have been used to control women over the centuries.
6
Qigong is a wellness practice developed thousands of years ago in China, using controlled breathing and movement to achieve a state of peace. A free session will take place in City Park from 10am on Sunday, July 12.
7
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will discuss the humanitarian consequences of Israel’s bombing of Gaza at St George’s Hall on Sunday, July 12, from 1pm.
8
Can psychedelics be used to treat mental health issues such as PTSD and depression? This session will look at ongoing research into substances such as LSD and psilocybin, examining promising results, regulatory frameworks and ethics. The session takes place at the Alhambra Theatre on Sunday, July 12, from 2pm.
9
Poet and performer Lemn Sissay will take to the stage at St George’s Hall on Sunday, July 12, from 3pm, when he reflects on stories gathered as part of his Tell Me Something project, which aims to create an archive of family life.
10
Join explorer Lucy Shepherd for an ‘In Conversation’ event at City Hall Banqueting Suite on Sunday, July 12, from 3pm, when the Into the Wild author talks about her world-first expedition across the Amazon’s Kanuku Mountains.
Bonus fact
Bradford Literature Festival welcomed 187,366 visitors in 2025, its highest attendance ever.
[Pictured Above – Top of Page] Poet Lemn Sissay. Credits: Bradford Literature Festival