Oldham StoryFest is returning with another exciting programme of author talks, illustration workshops and family activities designed to inspire a love of reading.
The popular festival, taking place at Oldham Library on Saturday 11 July, will welcome children and families for a day packed with storytelling and creativity and provide opportunities to meet some of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, poets and illustrators.
Running from 11am until 3pm, the free event will feature interactive sessions throughout the day, with visitors encouraged to come dressed as their favourite literary characters or in their best festival outfits.
This year’s programme features Carnegie-nominated author Ben Davis and former BookTrust Writer-in-Residence Rashmi Sirdeshpande, as well as Holly Sterling, who was highly commended in the Macmillan Prize for Illustration, and award-winning poet Dommy B, who also starred in CBeebies’ Rhyme Rocket.
They will be joined by popular poets and performers Liz Million and Paul Cookson, alongside critically acclaimed poet James Carter, who has visited more than 1,500 schools. The festival is also delighted to welcome local author Deborah Bradbury, whose passion for storytelling is sure to captivate children and families alike.
The event is supported by sponsors Kajima and InfraRed Capital Partners.
StoryFest will also mark the launch of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, delivered by Oldham Libraries in partnership with The Reading Agency. With the 2026 theme “Read to the Beat”, children are invited to set their own reading goals from reading to a sibling or visiting their local library. Those who complete the challenge will receive a certificate and medal to take back to school. Children can sign up during the challenge period (11 July – 12 September) at any library across the borough, as well as at Gallery Oldham.
