Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival loading events...

Please check out the Lyra Festival programme at www.lyrafest.com as there are still plenty of other events taking place across the 10 day festival.

Shane Koyczan says:
"I am heartbroken to announce that due to unexpected visa issues, I am not able to enter the country for my upcoming tour. We are exploring new dates and hope to have more information, soon.”

We regret to announce that, due to visa issues, Shane Koyczan will no longer be travelling to the UK for his tour this month. The event at St George's Bristol has been cancelled, and all tickets are being refunded.

Join Dylan Thomas Prize shortlisted poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney in a generative writing workshop based in simile and sound.
www.lyrafest.com#e150148
Participants will read poems by Hera Lindsay Bird, sam sax, and Maggie Millner, and begin to write their own poems about people and relationships.

Presented by Lyra Festival, Renaissance One and Bristol Old Vic, in association with St Pauls Carnival and @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/car...

Inua Ellams brings his chaotic, audience-led poetry event to Lyra Festival.
Pick a word, any word. Prompted by audience suggestions, Inua Ellams will search through his extensive archive of work and perform a reactive and spontaneous selection.
www.lyrafest.com#e150125

Wonder and Wanderers: A Poetic Journey at Watershed Date: Sunday 26th April 2026 Venue: Watershed (W3) Time: 15:30 - 17:00 Tickets: £5 / £3 / FREE Booking Link: TBA ✅ Live Streamed (book a ‘Live Stream Ticket’ at checkout) ✅ All Lyra Fest venues ...

Another one for your diaries: will be at @lyrafest.com on Sunday 26 April, in the fine company of Romalyn Ante, Katrina Naomi, Chris Emery, and Natalie Linh Bolderston. It'd be fab to see you, come through: www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/wat...

Easter Bank Holiday Flash Sale! 💚
To celebrate, we're offering 30% of the following events:
Queer Poetry Cabaret
Family Poems with Michael Rosen
Shane Koyczan
Inua Ellams: Search Party
Joelle Taylor: Maryville
Nikita Gill: Hekate & Poems of Mythology
linktr.ee/lyrafest

💚💪The Power of Poetry💪💚
A captivating panel discussion which considers the enduring power of poetry in contemporary life featuring Georgie Jones, @shanekoyczan.bsky.social, Vanessa Kisuule, and Bertel Martin, chaired by Professor Lucy English @lucyenglish.bsky.social
www.lyrafest.com#e150110

Come along to see 10 of Bristol's finest wordsmiths battle it out, as well as feature performances from acclaimed headline poets Musa @okwonga.bsky.social, Caitlin O'Ryan and last years winner Ben Vince!
www.lyrafest.com#e146139

Domestic Shadows: Wayne Holloway-Smith, Hannah Silva, @simonmaddrell.bsky.social, @degna.bsky.social
Date: Saturday 25th April 2026
Venue: @wshed.bsky.social (W3)
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Tickets: £5 / £3 / FREE
✅ Live Streamed (book a ‘Live Stream Ticket’ at checkout)
www.lyrafest.com#e150169

www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/wat...

Ticket link for our event as part of Bristol's Lyra Poetry Festival, 25 April.

Amazing lineup at Lyra this year, festival passes & event tickets available.

Come and study archival documents of poets in prison and translate your own version of a poem.

Women Poets’ Network: Open Mic at Watershed Date: Saturday 25th April 2026 Venue: Watershed (W3) Time: 14:30 - 16:00 Tickets: £5 / £3 / FREE Booking Link: ✅ Live Streamed (book a ‘Live Stream Ticket’ at checkout) ✅ All Lyra Fest venues ar...

Pleased to be reading in Bristol in April with the Women Poets Network and there’s an OPEN MIC would be lovely to see some of you there @lyrafest.com www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/wat...

Looking forward to being in Bristol for the @lyrafest.com with Karen and John next month!

A powerful, moving and urgent hour of poetry from young Palestinian voices, whose poems centre hopes, dreams and unspeakable struggles and losses. The event will be headlined by two gifted young poets from Gaza, Haia Mohammed and Batool Abu Akleen
www.lyrafest.com#e150117

Can't make it in person? No Problem!
16 of our events are live streamed and online, so you can enjoy lyra from anywhere!
www.lyrafest.com#hf_tag=onlin...
Can't choose? Get the Digital Pass and come to them all*
hdfst.uk/e150106

*the 2 online workshops aren't included in the digital pass

Join international, national and local poets for a captivating panel discussion which considers the enduring power of poetry in contemporary life.
Join the discussion: www.lyrafest.com#e150110

Come along to this inspiring and creative workshop acilitated by Samatar Elmi and Asmaa Jama.
Ticket Price: Free (Book Here: hdfst.uk/e150980)

Internationally recognized author and spoken word artist Shane Koyczan has emerged as a creator of poetry that dares to belong to the people and speak directly to them in their own voice.
www.lyrafest.com#e145979

For Lyra Festival’s closing event, join Ujima Radio 98fm for a dynamic evening showcase of established, emerging, national and local poets and spoken word artists of African Heritage.
With headline performances from @Theresa_Lola and Jolade Olusanya
Tickets: www.lyrafest.com#e150184

🌴☀️Carribean Poetry Liming☀️🌴
Join international, national and local poets and wordsmiths of Caribbean heritage for a dynamic and unforgettable evening of poetry, discussion and community togetherness at @BristolOldVic.
Tickets: bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/car...

Looking forward to seeing you there!

The camera is at the back of the stage looking out towards the audience at the Arnolfini. Hosts Aish Humphreys and Sam Grudgings are stood at microphones looking over their shoulders at us. Each is wearing black shorts, black tops and black cowboy hats. They both have tattoos. Text Reads: "Your Chance to Perform at Lyra" with the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival Logo in the bottom right corner.

Bradley Taylor is a white man with long, curly, light brown hair and a moustache. He is wearing a low buttoned white shirt and black jacket with a necklace. He is sat against a brick wall with colourful art on it. Text Reads: "Raise the Bar: Open Mic Tuesday 21st April, 19:30 The Orchard Coffee & Co"

Elena Chamberlain is a white woman with wavy, ginger, bob length hair. She is stood at a microphone on stage against a moodily lit stone wall. She is wearing a baggy white shirt and black waistcoat. Text Reads: "Satellite of Love & Chimes: Open Mic Wednesday 22 April, 19:30 Loco Klub"

Clare Pollard is a white woman with shoulder length, light brown, wavy hair and short bangs. She has blue eyes and a blue jacket. Text reads: Women Poets' Network: Open Mic Saturday 25th April, 14:30 Watershed

👩‍🎤Your Chance to Perform at Lyra👨‍🎤
We have 3 Open Mics for your chance to be on the line up for Lyra Festival 2026!
1. Raise the Bar: www.lyrafest.com#e150143
2. Satellite of Love Poetry & Spoken Word X Chimes: www.lyrafest.com#e150146
3. Women Poets Network: www.lyrafest.com#e150172

Michael Rosen is a white man in his 70s with short grey hair and a beard and blue eyes. He is stood in front of a grey brick wall and earing a grey wool coat and a blue scarf. Text reads: Family Poems with Michael Rosen Saturday 18th April, 13:00 St George's Bristol Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival

Over 60% sold already! 💚
This popular event with Michael Rosen at St George's Bristol is sure to sell out - avoid disappointment and book your tickets now: www.lyrafest.com#e145977

In the centre of a dark grey graphic, a book called The Age of Olive Trees by Haia Mohammed, published by Out Spoken Press. The cover is a cream background with black and green squares with the outline of olive leaves on them. In the corners, logos read The British Book Awards Shortlisted Book of the Year Discover Sponsored by Audible

Haia Mohammed is a young palestinian woman, she is stood on stage holding a microphone in one hand and a book in the other. She is waring a black headscarf and long, intricately patterned robes in black, white and green.

Congratulations to Haia Mohammed on the shortlisting of The Age of Olive Trees for the British Book Awards 2026 Book of the Year - Discover Award
Haia will be headlining our event From Dust We Rise: Young Voices of Gaza. Get your tickets here: www.lyrafest.com#e150117

Slam host Saili Katebe is a black man with short close cropped hair and stubble on his face. He is wearing a black tshirt and a watch. He is stood at a microphone looking out at the audience which are out of frame. He is carrying a clipboard under one arm while he claps a previous performer. In front of him, text reads: Slam Applications Closing tonight You have until 23:59 Lyra Bristol poetry festival

Slam Applications Close Tonight!🕛
You have until midnight to fill out the application form for your chance to be Lyra Bristol Slam Champion 2026!
Apply here: forms.gle/cPVzuRuGXJgX...

Lyra Cofounders Lucy English & Danny Pandolfi stand in front of a whole bunch of logos of Bristol based businesses. On the left, Lucy is a white woman with shoulder length blonde hair, she is grinning at the camera. She is wearing a long sleeved maxi dress in a striped patten in the lyra branded colours of black, gold and various shades of green. On the right, Danny is a white man with curly ginger hair and goatee he is smiling at the camera with his thumb up. He is wearing a white shirt with a cream suit and a gold chain around his neck.

WE WON! 🎉🥳 Lyra Fest has been awarded the Bristol Legends award for 'Best Event / Show' in the Performing Arts Category.
We'd like the thank the entire Lyra team who work incredibly hard to bring Lyra Festival to life.

#Bristol247 #BristolLegends #AntiBanquet

In the dark Arnolfini theatre, a crowd of people wait for the poetry to begin. Over the top of the image text reads "Lyra Festival Passes" with the Lyra Fest, Lottery and Arts Council England Logos

You can book a Festival Pass to access the entire Lyra 2026 programme at a hugely discounted price. From April 17th - 26th.

Digital passes are also available to watch all live streamed events, plus on-demand access until May 31st 2026

Find out More: www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/all...

✍Lyra Fest Writing Workshops✍
Our workshop series is always very popular and are the first events to sell out. To avoid disappointment, book your workshop spots now!
www.lyrafest.com#hf_tag=works...

💚10 Days, 34 events, 100+ Poets💚
Its our biggest festival yet, and all our tickets are on sale now.
lyrafest.com #poetry