Since 2010, we have been celebrating Stoke Newington's radical and literary history with a weekend of talks, readings, comedy, music and ideas across Hackney. The festival draws on the area's long tradition of independent thought, from Mary Wollstonecraft and Newington Green to the writers and performers who call N16 home today.
Each June, events take place in pubs, clubs, churches and community spaces around Stoke Newington. Browse the programme for talks and performances, see our venues for location details, and read our plan your visit guide for travel, tickets and practical tips. Past events are covered on the blog. Sign up to our mailing list for programme announcements and ticket news.
There is perhaps no purer form of writing about what you know than the memoir. Friday's gala evening features four writers sharing remarkable personal stories from recently published work, hosted by Catherine Taylor.
An event about Working Mens’ Clubs. In an actual Working Mens’ Club..
Pete Brown discusses his book Clubland: How the Working Men's Club Shaped Britain at the Mildmay Club, exploring the cultural history of one of Britain's most distinctive social institutions.
© 2025 Stoke Newington Literary Festival. Stoke Newington Literary Festival C.I.C. is a company limited by guarantee.
Registered in England & Wales number 7990786. Registered Office: 52 Bayston Road, London N16 7LT.
Site by Zerofee. All festival photos©: www.davidxgreen.com. Ticket icon designed by Mateo Zlatar from the Noun Project
