Market Harborough to host first Literary Festival

Best-selling crime writers, gothic horror, literary walks and even a poetry pizza party will all feature in the first-ever Market Harborough Literary Festival this autumn.

The new nine-day festival will run from September 19 to 27, bringing a packed programme of author talks, workshops and events to venues across the town.

Among the headline guests are bestselling crime author Janice Hallett, who will discuss her latest novel The Silent Appeal, and Costa Book Award winner Claire Fuller, who will talk about her new contemporary gothic novel Hunger and Thirst.

Also appearing is Manish Chauhan, whose 2026 debut novel Belgrave Road is a love story set in nearby Leicester.

Alongside the author talks, the programme includes a crime fiction panel, sessions on fantasy, folk horror and historical fiction, a literary walk around the town centre, and a writers’ day featuring a publishing industry expert.

Children’s activities will be held at Waterstones, with the festival ending with a poetry pizza party.

Diana Bretherick (left) and Helen Kennedy, organisers of the Market Harborough Literary Festival, outside event venue St Dionysius’ Church. Photo: Melissa De Fusco / MH Literary Festival.

The event has been organised by local writers Diana Bretherick and Helen Kennedy, members of the Harborough Writers’ Hub.

Diana Bretherick said: “Harborough is a town of readers and writers, but for a long time we’ve lacked an event that can bring authors and readers together to celebrate books.

“It’s appropriate that we put that right in 2026, which is the National Year of Reading. The Market Harborough Literary Festival will help put the town on the literary map, where it belongs.”

Helen Kennedy said the festival would give people the opportunity to meet their favourite authors, discover new writers and celebrate a shared love of books.

Day and weekend tickets are now on sale through the festival website.