Between 13–18 June 2023, we welcomed to the Festival some of Northern Ireland's incredible talent who connected with visiting artists via a series of conversations, workshops, residencies and Awards that sought to connect, amplify and showcase our creative communities.

In 2023:

• We operated a Pay What You Decide scheme for a second year.
• We welcomed a new collaboration with The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation.
• The programme of events gathered speakers around themes including the climate emergency, explorations of girlhood and the power of translation to create new worlds. Festival highlights included Deirdre Madden in conversation with Wendy Erskine; Sarah Gilmartin discussing her novel Service; poets Jess McKinney, Jane Clarke and Emma Must; Michael Magee discussing models of masculinity; Kerri Ní Dochartaigh and Doreen Cunningham discussing motherhood with Alice Kinsella; a celebration of The Stinging Fly at 25; Eoghan Daltun on rethinking our relationship with nature; and a special live recording of RTÉ Sunday Miscellany.
• All activity at The Crescent and the Belfast Book Festival is a collaborative endeavour. Our thanks to Festival 2023 Associates Natasha Cuddington, Sasha de Buyl, Neil Hegarty and Mícheál McCann for their insights, perspectives and ideas.
• We ran the first ever Belfast Book Festival FunFair, a social afternoon with and for people active and interested in books and writing. We were joined by 33 resource organisations, funders and journals who were on site to provide support, advice and connections.
• Commissioned works included the creation of a giant hot pink swift by artist Ronan Lee Smyth. You can find out more about this artwork and other commissioned works here.
• Across the building there were also games to be played, films to be watched, face painting and VR experiences. If you’re coming to an event, consider building in some time to explore the building, which celebrated its 150th birthday in 2023.
• Our thanks go to all our supporters, including you. A particular nod to The Crescent’s Principal Funder The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and investment support from Belfast City Council. It is a pleasure to work with Johns Elliot Solicitors and Translink, supporters of the Festival over a number of years, and we welcomed a new collaboration with The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation.

A huge thank you for hosting us again at the outstanding Belfast Book Festival! We loved our time with you and had so many useful, interesting and fun conversations. There are so many impressive and motivated writers engaging with what you do, and benefitting hugely — both day to day and during the Festival. It was an absolute joy to be able to join in. With every good wish and warmest thanks.

Elizabeth & Johanna – The Society of Authors