University News Last updated 08 October
The return of Birmingham Literature Festival this month will give students at Birmingham City University (BCU) the chance to step beyond the classroom and connect directly with writers, publishers and the wider literary industry.
Running from 8–12 October, the festival will offer first-hand insight into the professional world of literature, with opportunities to volunteer at events and create social media content around the programme.
Professor Gregory Leadbetter, Director of the Institute of Creative and Critical Writing at BCU, recognises the importance of the festival in connecting the next generation of literary talent with the wider industry.
“The Department of English and Media at BCU is proud to enjoy a close relationship with the festival,” said Professor Leadbetter, who is also Professor of Poetry and Course Director of the MA in Creative Writing at BCU.
“It shows a vital connection between the work we do in class, as writers and thinkers ourselves, and what is happening now in contemporary publishing at the leading edge of literature.”
Professor Leadbetter, who is among the writers and thinkers taking part in this year’s festival, added: “The festival has a uniquely welcoming feel and is a wonderful testament to the power of good writing.
“This is a special occasion in contemporary literary culture, and it’s great to have our students involved with the festival more closely than ever for 2026.”
The University is also bringing the festival onto campus, with BCU’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire hosting several events, some sponsored by the University.
The programme includes ‘En Pointe, Off Kilter’ with Thomas Glave; ‘Pathetic Masculinity: Putting the Feeling into Fiction’ with Taylor Burns and Keiran Goddard; and ‘Writing Nature’, with Professor Leadbetter, Paul Evans, Brett Westwood and Alys Fowler.
BCU’s connection with the festival also extends to its alumni, with graduates and current students featuring in this year’s programme.
Martin Kennedy Yates and Kate Mascarenhas, both graduates of BCU’s MA in Creative Writing, are among the alumni taking part. Ayan Aden, the outgoing Birmingham Poet Laureate and a current BCU Gemmology student, also features in the programme.
Their involvement reflects the breadth of creative talent within the BCU community and the University’s connection to Birmingham’s wider cultural scene.
Find out more about the festival on the Birmingham Literature Festival website.