City's new Festival flourishes

CovLitFest Children's Poetry Competition Award Ceremony with Coventry poet laureate Andrea Mbarushimana and young poet laureate Diamond Kayode-Osunlana  Photo courtesy of CovLitFest.

The first CovLitFest can be declared a resounding success after attracting nearly 300 people to twelve events in four different city centre venues across three days from 25 to 27 June 2026.

The idea sprung from Coventry writer Alison Manning as she wondered why Coventry doesn't have a literary festival when there is so much talent and creativity here, as well as a wealth of literary history. She drew up a list of possibilities and enlisted the assistance of a small team of hardworking volunteers who, over months of planning, helped make these a reality.

Poetry nights took place at the Caribbean Club on Spon Street and the Priory Visitors’ Centre. Stalls filled Coventry Cathedral, showcasing local authors and groups. Talks and workshops led by local writers were held on topics as disparate as Coventry’s Place in Literature, the South Asian Diaspora in Coventry, fantasy worldbuilding, tips for aspiring writers and our fascination with murder and how to create your own detective.

Eleanor Nesbitt talking about Coventry's Place in Literature. Photo courtesy of CovLitFest.

All ages were included with readings by local children’s authors and craft activities for younger book lovers in the Central Library. The next generation of writers was also encouraged through a Coventry-themed children’s poetry competition for which a well-attended Awards Ceremony was held as one of the final events of the festival.

There was also a poetry, mime and moving storytelling from international performer Danny Scott, sharing his inspiring journey from hardship to hope.

Danny Scott. Photo courtesy of the CovLitFest.

One of the volunteer team, Fran Flint, commented: “We inadvertently picked the hottest weekend of the year, but despite that the events were well attended, and we've already had really positive feedback about the workshops, readings, performances, events and venues, and encouragement to do it again next year.

“The thing that really struck me was just how many wonderful wordsmiths there are in this City. Creative fiction and non-fiction in all genres, poets and song writers abound. Our poetry competition for children had entries from young poets from five to fourteen years old, who all went home with their poem published in a booklet Growing Words, a Poetic Celebration of Coventry. I loved being part of such a positive experience and look forward to seeing what's next.”  

More details on: www.covlitfest.wordpress.com