Festival News
What to Watch During Lockdown
Binge-Watch Worthy TV At BLF we’re lucky enough to have a team full of experts who love more than just books! Our Programme & Production Executive, Greg Walker, is also the Founder and Director of Pilot Light TV Festival in…
Bradford Literature Festival 2020 – An Update
As many of us are adjusting to a ‘new normal’ – working from home, limiting our movements and uniting as a community to combat Covid-19, it will come as no surprise to many of you to hear that the pandemic…
Recommended Podcasts to Get You Through
Our podcast-obsessed Marketing Executive, Katie Roberts, reveals her top podcast picks to help take your mind off things over the next few months. If you’re yet to join the 7.1 million people listening to podcasts on a weekly basis, now…

Suggested Reads For Self-Isolation
Read our suggestions of what to read in isolation as part of the Welcome To Yorkshire ‘Yorkshire Days In’ initiative. Here at Bradford Literature Festival, we strongly believe in the power of books to help us through these strange times,…
World-Class Theatre From Your Home
Our musical theatre-mad Programme & Production Executive, Holly Spence, shares her pick of the best theatre performances available to view online. At a time when all theatre and live entertainment is cancelled or postponed, Holly has put together a list…
Why Bradford has high hopes for City of Culture bid
Bradford Literature Festival Director Syima Aslam is amongst Bradford cultural leaders who has spoken to the Yorkshire Post about the city’s bid to become City of Culture in 2025. Click here to read more.
BLF on list of 15 great reasons to visit Bradford
Bradford was recently named the UK’s most improved place to live and work by accountancy firm PWC and think-tank Demos. To mark the occasion, The Guardian have published a list of 15 reasons to visit the city, and Bradford Literature…
Explore the list of 100 Novels That Shaped Our World
As part of a new literary season, the BBC asked a panel of judges, including Bradford Literature Festival Director Syima Aslam, to put together a list of 100 Novels That Shaped Our World list. These English language novels, written over…
Syima Aslam makes the Bookseller 150
Syima Aslam, Director of Bradford Literature Festival, is a new entry to this year’s Bookseller 150, an annual list of the most influential people in publishing. First published in 2009, the list is made up of made up of publishers,…
Statement on withdrawal of speakers from this year’s festival
Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) is committed to using the power of literature to strengthen communities and bring people from all walks of life together. Over the past five years, the festival has grown from a 2-day event, attracting just 968…