Inspire Poetry Festival 2026

Celebrate 10 years of poetry with much-loved returning guests and exciting new voices. From inspiring readings and workshops to family events and poetry showcases, join us for a week of wonderful words!

This year's festival will run from Thursday 24 September until Thursday 1 October ending on National Poetry Day.

Saturday 4 August-Saturday 19 September (In the run up to the festival)

Bad Ideas Club at Mansfield Central Library, Newark Library and Hucknall Library

Thursday 24 September

Desert Island Poems with Paul Farley at West Bridgford Library

Friday 25 September-Wednesday 4 November

Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners Exhibition at Beeston Library

Friday 25 September

Sit Down with the Social Model Writers at Beeston Library and online     

The Paper Crane Poets Showcase at Beeston Library

Saturday 26 September

The Wonder of… at Worksop Library

The Great Big Bug Show at West Bridgford Library

The Great Big Bug Show at Beeston Library        

Beyond the Spectrum: Poetry for Neurodivergent People at Beeston Library             

Bad Ideas Club Showcase at Mansfield Central Library

Sunday 27 September

The Gruffalo (U) at Mansfield Central Library      

The Gruffalo’s Child (U) at Mansfield Central Library       

Ask a Publisher on Creating Your First Poetry Pamphlet at West Bridgford Library

John Clare & Me, Two Lives in Poetry and Music at Southwell Library

Monday 28 September

Leanne Moden at the Retford Library Poetry Café at Retford Library

Five Leaves New Poetry: The First Three Years at West Bridgford Library

Tuesday 29 September

Into the Everyday: A First Draft Generating Boot Camp at Mansfield Central Library 

Wednesday 30 September

Reading Poems: The Time of Our Lives at West Bridgford Library

Thursday 1 October

A Pause for Poetry with Liz Berry at West Bridgford Library         

Romeo + Juliet with an introduction by Andrew Graves at Southwell Library                            

Cara Thompson: An Evening of Poetry and Heritage at Beeston Library              

Thursday 8 October (Beyond the festival)

John Dougherty event for schools at Worksop Library ***FULLY BOOKED***

Wednesday 21 October (Beyond the festival)

History Mystery, The Reason for the Rhyme at Beeston Library

Festival Fifteen

Discover this year’s Festival Fifteen – our carefully curated selection of poetry titles that are available for you to borrow for free from Inspire Libraries. You’re sure to find something to whet your appetite in our collection of new, contemporary and prize-winning poets, alongside some old favourites. Explore our Festival Fifteen at inspireculture.org.uk/FestivalFifteen 

eLibrary Poetry Special 

Celebrate from home with our curated collection of poetry eBooks and eAudio. Visit BorrowBox to browse, reserve and borrow: nottinghamshire.borrowbox.com/eaudiobooks/Featured  

Your Next Good Read for Children

As a special edition for this year’s festival, we’re excited to share a selection of poetry titles for children, featured as part of our Your Next Good Read series: inspireculture.org.uk/YourNextGoodRead