Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival
Major poetry festival to hit Bristol next month
Did you know Bristol hosts a 10 day event dedicated to all things poetry? It’s the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival which takes place across April and May.
Attendees can expect featured readings, workshops, slams, walking tours, open mics and even a poetry retreat.
Organisers of the event believe that ‘poetry for everyone’ is really important, ensuring there are inclusive events and live-streaming for those unable to attend.
There will also be BSL interpreters and captioned events in venues that are accessible for wheelchair users.
This year’s event has the theme ‘Weird and Wild’ which will explore Bristol’s natural landscapes.
This year’s headliners include:
- Harry Baker, Brian Bilston, and Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan – beloved internet sensations and spoken word powerhouses
- Jackie Kay, Pascale Petit, Joelle Taylor and Fran Lock – award-winning and widely published poets
- Ilya Kaminsky – Ukrainian-Jewish-American poet, and author of The Deaf Republic, delivering an exclusive UK performance
- Arielle Cottingham – Berlin-based spoken word artist, and former Australian Poetry Slam Champion, headlining the festival’s poetry slam
Slam Poetry, Exhibitions, and Community Engagement
In addition to individual performances, Lyra 2025 will host:
- The South West Slam, featuring teams from Weston, Gloucester, Exeter, and Clevedon
- The highly anticipated Lyra Bristol Poetry Slam, open to competitors from across the South West
- A poetry and performance retreat, led by Apples and Snakes
- A poetry exhibition curated by Raise the Bar at Arnolfini
Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival runs from 25 April – 04 May 2025
For more information about the event, including booking information, visit: https://www.lyrafest.com/
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