Stars line up for city's literature festival, 2026

WOLVERHAMPTON Literature Festival is back for 2026 with a full line up of inspiring speakers, performers and events taking take place across the city’s arts and culture venues from the 6 February to 8 February, with pre-festival events starting on 31 January.

- By GAVIN JONES

On Friday, February 5 pre-festival events take place including England’s Tales of the Council House Kid - Francis Dunnery’s heartfelt musical memoir of working-class Britain in the 60s and 70s, live at Wolverhampton Arts Centre. Expect powerful storytelling, classic tunes, and uplifting nostalgia.

On the same day, you can join Jaivant Patel Company for a thought-provoking panel spotlighting South Asian voices in publishing.

Friday's lineup features Kasim Ali with Who Will Remain, a new novel exploring the inner conflict of a young man caught between his parents’ hopes and the harsh realities of the streets.