Lyra 2026
News
The Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival comes to Bristol for its seventh edition
Thursday, 16 April, 2026The Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival is set to take place from 17 to 26 April, boasting an eclectic programme of local, national and international poets and bringing together speakers, as well as organisations and local community groups.
Bath Spa University has been a proud partner of the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival for the last seven years, with BSU staff and students engaged in bringing the festival to life. Co-directors Professor Lucy English and MA Transnational Writing graduate, Danny Pandolfi, are joined by social media director and Creative Writing graduate, Josie Alford, alongside graduate volunteers and participants.
Showcasing poetry in a wide range of forms, Lyra 2026 will include readings, slam competitions, film screenings, walking tours, digital media, panels, open mics, lectures and more, promising the biggest and most ambitious festival programme yet and coming just weeks after the Lyra Festival won a 2026 Bristol Legends award.
Focusing on showcasing the strength of cultural diversity and migratory histories in Bristol, the programme also includes a Caribbean Poetry Liming, a curation of African Heritage, a showcase of Romany poetry, a spiritual engagement with the Sufi poetic tradition, and readings from Young Voices of Gaza.
Discussing the success of last year’s event, and what we can expect in 2026, Lucy English, Festival Co-Director said:
“2025 was Lyra’s most successful festival in terms of audience feedback, evaluation scores and attendee numbers. Over 3,000 people attended our events, in person or online. For 2026, our festival extends over ten days across seven venues in Bristol.
“The 2026 Theme of Wonder and Wanderers invites you to explore poetry's transformative power to wander through genre, place and perspectives and to spark wonder and imagination through language, ideas and worldbuilding. We look forward to welcoming you to our events.”
Establishing itself as a leading literary festival, Lyra celebrates the unique culture and creativity across Bristol and the South West. Committed to poetry for all, the festival has ensured selected events are BSL interpreted, captioned and live streamed, and all festival venues are wheelchair accessible.
With plenty of opportunities to get involved, students, staff, and the wider public can immerse themselves in workshops, open mics, discussion events and the annual Lyra Poetry Slam competition, as well as many free and pay-what-you-can events. For tickets and to view the full lineup of performers, visit the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival website.
