A week of author 'In Conversation...' sessions, a children's book-themed art workshop, the Belfast Fairytale Family Bus Tour and Love Your Library Day across Libraries NI libraries.
Book Week NI runs from Monday 19 to Sunday 25 October, with the week opening at Belfast Central Library. It's a joint effort between Libraries NI and BBC Northern Ireland, and it's one of the region's biggest cultural dates for books and reading. The whole thing is free to attend, though you'll want to book in advance for the sessions that fill up.
The main draw is the 'In Conversation...' series, where you can hear from a long list of writers: John Banville, Wendy Erskine, Colin Patterson, Martina Devlin, Linda Hagan, Donal Ryan, Colin Bateman, Janice Hallett, Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen. If you're in Belfast, there's also (Probably) The Greatest Irish Books Ever Written at the Central Library, and for the kids, the Belfast Fairytale Family Bus Tour and a book-themed art workshop. The midweek peak is Love Your Library Day on Wednesday 21 October, when all 96 Libraries NI libraries across Northern Ireland take part at once.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Belfast and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
Beyond the talks, the BBC side of things brings in well-known presenters sharing book recommendations in short films and on stage, alongside music from stories like Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, Matilda and Paddington Bear. There are BBC programmes and commissioned features running throughout the week, and if you want to bring a bit of it home, the BBC's Book Week website has free downloadable bookmarks, posters and bunting. It's a ten-year-old tradition now, having hit its anniversary in 2025, and it's grown into a proper fixture that pulls in schools, families and workplaces across the region. Everything is free to attend, though advance booking may be required for the sessions.
