24 March-2 April 2023
A celebration of 26 years of the world’s meeting place for writers and readers.
“In reviving the Oxford festival [after cancellations due to Covid] – we are determined to reinforce our longstanding commitments to freedom of speech, debate, and diversity; and maintaining our tradition of courteous dialogue, allowing for contentious and difficult subjects to be publicly examined” - Sally Dunsmore SOI Festival Director.
The first Oxford Literary Festival in 1987 featured ten events over a weekend and was attended by 1,000 people: now, visitors can choose between around 250 events over the course of just over a week with around 25,000 tickets are issued in total. For several years, the Oxford Union served as sole location until in 2006 the Festival moved to Christ Church (the first time that an Oxbridge College opened its doors to a major public event). Marquees were erected on the meadows, and Festival goers could hear speakers in the Great Hall, the Library, the Cathedral, and other historic rooms. From 2014, the Festival spread to the College and University venues throughout central Oxford where they take place to this day.
This year’s event will bring new and undiscovered authors and even more of the world’s greatest writers and public figures to Oxford. Not only does the Festival enhance Oxford’s cultural life but it brings economic benefits to the city, providing employment, book sales and many other revenue streams. Most importantly, it helps to promote and give platform to a publishers and writers across a wide variety of genres, including:
Children’s literature
Each year the festival holds over fifty events for children and young people involving some of the leading figures from the UK and overseas. Past speakers have included Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Juno Dawson. This year a host of big names including Cressida Cowell and Michael Morpurgo will be speaking at conveniently timed, family-friendly events.
Poetry
Since the Professorship of Poetry was endowed at Oxford in 1708, the University has educated many famous poets, and poets who have spoken at the festival include Roger McGough, Sir Andrew Motion, Wendy Cope and Patience Agbabi. Joseph Coehlo, the new Children’s Laureate, will be speaking this year at the Sheldonian.
Science and medicine
Medicine has been taught at the University of Oxford since the 12th century. Oxford scientists and medics over the centuries have changed the face of the globe. The festival has attracted world class speakers in this subject, including Nobel Prize winners. This year, Professor Roger Highfield will be speaking at a talk chaired by the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, and turn to pXX to read our interview with Maggie Aderin Pocock MBE, space scientist and science educator.
African literature and culture
The Africa Oxford Initiative (launched in 2016) brings together all teaching and research programmes, together with major collaborations with African Universities and institutions. A highlight this year will be Ejine Nzeribe, Nwabueze Nwokolo, and Sabine Jell-Bahlsen, discussing Nigerian author Flora Nwapa’s life and her posthumously published wor;, Lake Goddess, Voice of African Women.
American literature and culture
Since 2012 the festival has staged a programme each year to celebrate American Literature and Culture. It has become the most distinguished platform for American writers and public figures in the UK.
Indian literature and culture
Journalist and author Puneet Bhandal will be sharing insights into the glamour of Bollywood as part of the Programme of Indian Literature and Culture which has been a mainstay of the Festival for the past nine years.
Celebrations of food and drink
The Oxford Literary Festival has worked with many partners and companies to celebrate the finest traditions of food and drink – including Oxford Gastronomica, Gee’s restaurant in Oxford, and the festival’s consultant chef, Paul Bloomfield. We’re sure that Mary Berry will be a huge draw for visitors to this year’s programme.
Tours of historic landmarks
Each year there are Literary Tours of the City throughout the week: literary Oxford/Oxford Poets/The Oxford of Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Endeavour. As well as this, a selection of historic Oxford libraries will be opened to Festival goers.
Amongst all this, the festival has seen countless well-known speakers in the arts, music, faith, and philosophy as well as biographers and Historians.
For more information, find and download a pocket guide to the festival here: bit.ly/3YwOBcY
