In 2025:

• 2025 marked the 15th edition of Belfast Book Festival, housed all under one roof at The Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast and ran between 5–12 June.
• The ticketing scheme for the fourth year was Pay What You Decide.
• The Festival exhibition explored book design through The Art of Translation, curated by Anna Morrison in collaboration with Literature Ireland.
• Festival highlights included: Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn; former BBC Newsnight producer Sam McAlister; and authors including Joseph O’Connor, Wendy Erskine, Tessa Hadley, Eimear McBride, Kathryn Ferguson, Stacey Gregg, Luke Harding, Darran Anderson, Eoin McNamee, Roddy Doyle, Andrea Carter, Neil Hegarty, Noreen Masud, Claire Lynch, Roisin O'Donnell, Jan Carson, Gráinne O’Hare and Thomas Morris.
• We celebrated the beloved Irish poet Michael Longley in an event led by Belfast Book Festival Patron Paul Muldoon, joined by Frances Tomelty, Bernard MacLaverty, Susannah Dickey and James Conor Patterson, who shared readings spanning Longley’s career.
• The literary legacy of Edna O’Brien was commemorated in a special discussion chaired by literary journalist Alex Clark, with panellists including filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea (director of Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story) and authors Eimear McBride and Jan Carson.
• The first day of the Festival focused on development opportunities for writers and illustrators, offering 1:1 sessions, information talks, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
• All activity at The Crescent and the Belfast Book Festival is a collaborative endeavour. Our thanks to Festival 2025 Associate Emma Cummins for her insights, perspectives and ideas.
• Thanks to supporters of the Festival including The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation, Bavarian BMW, and Hastings Hotels.
• The 2025 Mairtín Crawford Awards were supported by Johns Elliot Solicitors and No Alibis Bookstore. Johns Elliot Solicitors’ investment in the Awards was supported by the Arts & Business NI Investment Programme.

"The quality of the presenters, the amazing participants creativity and the comfort of the Crescent Arts Centre." Customer Feedback

"There is a sense of shared excitement and ownership in this festival which is just lovely particularly in the beautiful building and the welcome extended by workers and volunteers - it all makes for a really lovely experience." Customer Feedback