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Cambridge Literary Festival

Raise the flags and pop the corks, our audiences and authors are coming back to celebrate our love of books!

  • 20th April 2022 - 24th April 2022

Literary greats Julian Barnes, Rose Tremain, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Ali Smith, Nobel Prize for Literature winner 2021 Abdulrazak Gurnah and Booker Prize winner 2020 Douglas Stuart.

From the world of music, environment, politics, science, fashion, art, cooking and gardening, we welcome Will Young, Ed Balls, John Barnes, Claudia Roden, Osman Yousefzada and Joe Swift.  And for younger members of the family Michael Morpurgo and Christopher Lloyd will sprinkle some magic.

We celebrate the centenary of the BBC, mark Earth Day 2022, discuss racism and take a closer look at Afghanistan.

Unmissable conversations held in stunning venues: the luxurious University Arms Hotel, the stately Cambridge Union Debating Chamber, the Old Divinity School, and the renowned Fitzwilliam Museum.

And don’t worry if you can’t get to Cambridge, we’re going to be filming as many of the events as possible so that we can provide an online version for friends wherever you are.

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Did you know?

One of Cambridge University’s most famous traditions is May Week, which actually takes place in early June. Heralding the end of the academic year, it’s a time when students enjoy lavish balls and garden parties before dispersing for the summer.