June brings a vibrant mix of literary events across Suffolk, with opportunities to meet bestselling authors, celebrate storytelling and discover new voices in settings ranging from libraries and bookshops to festival stages and coastal venues.
At the heart of the calendar are a series of standout festivals, including the East Anglian Storytelling Festival and the Foreword Book Festival, both offering immersive programmes of live performance, author events and creative exploration.
Alongside these, Felixstowe Book Festival returns later in the month with a wide‑ranging line‑up of talks and discussions by the sea.
Read on to discover the best literary events in Suffolk this June.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
An Evening with Jane Green
- Woodbridge Library, Woodbridge
- 7–8.30pm
- £8, book via Eventbrite
Join bestselling author Jane Green for an evening at Woodbridge Library, hosted by Woodbridge Books. Known for her hugely popular contemporary fiction, Green will discuss her writing career, latest work and the inspiration behind her novels, with the opportunity for audience questions and book signing.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13 – SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Slaughter in Southwold
- Southwold Arts Centre, Southwold
- Times vary
- Prices vary, book via Suffolk Community Libraries
Crime fiction fans can enjoy a packed weekend of author talks and literary events at the much‑loved Slaughter in Southwold festival. Now in its 12th year, the programme brings together bestselling and award‑winning crime and thriller writers for a series of lively discussions exploring new books, writing craft and the enduring appeal of the genre. Alongside the talks, visitors can take part in themed events including a murder‑mystery evening, quiz and writing workshop.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Meet the Author: Bex Hogan
- Waterstones, Arc Centre, Bury St Edmunds
- 12pm
- Free, drop‑in
Meet fantasy author Bex Hogan at Waterstones in Bury St Edmunds to celebrate the paperback release of Owl King, praised as an “elegant and dreamy tale steeped in folklore”. Readers can chat with the author, learn more about her writing and get copies of the book signed in this relaxed in‑store event.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
Bury St Edmunds Arc Book Club
- Edmundo Lounge, Bury St Edmunds
- 3–4pm
- Free, drop‑in
Join fellow readers for the monthly Waterstones book club in Bury St Edmunds, held at Edmundo Lounge. This month’s pick is Fair Play by Louise Hegarty, a witty and inventive novel that promises plenty to discuss. Open to all, the group offers a relaxed and welcoming space to share thoughts, discover new books and enjoy conversation with like‑minded readers.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 – SUNDAY, JUNE 21
East Anglian Storytelling Festival
- The Food Museum, Stowmarket
- Times vary
- Prices vary, book via the Food Museum
Enter a world of stories at this much‑loved summer festival celebrating live storytelling in all its forms. Set across the historic grounds of the Food Museum, the weekend programme brings together skilled storytellers, writers and performers to share tales drawn from folklore, myth and contemporary life.
Alongside performances, audiences can enjoy story walks, workshops, open‑mic sessions and late‑night storytelling, with opportunities to take part, learn new skills and connect with a welcoming community of story lovers.
With family‑friendly sessions by day and more atmospheric tales after dark, the festival offers a rich and immersive exploration of storytelling as a living, shared art.
Foreword Book Festival
- Various venues, Eye
- Times vary
- Ticketed and free events, book via Foreword Festival
Billed as the UK’s first fringe literature festival, the Foreword Book Festival brings a vibrant weekend of books, ideas and storytelling to Eye. Across multiple venues, the programme features author talks, themed panels and readings alongside poetry, workshops and book fairs celebrating both emerging and established voices.
Audiences can explore a wide range of subjects – from rural life and folklore to contemporary fiction – while family‑friendly events, children’s book fairs and creative sessions ensure there is something for all ages.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Inua Ellams: Search Party
- First Light Festival, Lowestoft
- 4–5pm
- Free, drop‑in
Award‑winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his uniquely interactive performance Search Party to First Light Festival. Blurring the line between audience and performer, Ellams invites participants to offer word prompts, responding in real time with poems, stories and extracts from his extensive body of work.
Drawing on themes of identity, displacement and storytelling, this dynamic and unpredictable event celebrates the spontaneity and power of live literature — with no two performances ever the same.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Family Storytelling, Art and Crafts
- First Light Festival, Lowestoft
- 10am–12.45pm
- Free, drop‑in
Families are invited to explore storytelling and creativity at this hands‑on session with the National Literacy Trust. Children can make their own “magical moon” through craft activities, write and share short poems, or simply relax with a book in a welcoming space designed to spark imagination.
Father’s Day: In Conversation
- St Clement’s Arts Centre, Ipswich
- 2–5pm
- £5, book via Dial Lane Books
Writers Ashley Hickson‑Lovence and James McDermott come together for a special Father’s Day event exploring how literature can help us understand memory, grief and family.
Drawing on their poetry collections Why I Am Not a Bus Driver and Father Myself, the pair will discuss how writing has shaped their relationships with their fathers and provided a means of reflection and expression.
The afternoon will include a live conversation, audience Q&A and book signing.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 – SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Felixstowe Book Festival
- Various venues, Felixstowe
- Times vary across the weekend
- Ticketed and free events, book via Felixstowe Book Festival
Felixstowe Book Festival returns with a lively weekend celebrating books, ideas and storytelling by the sea. The programme brings together a wide range of writers, speakers and performers for author talks, panel discussions and creative events across multiple venues, offering something for readers of all interests.
From thought‑provoking conversations and new fiction to engaging events for families and young readers, the festival creates a welcoming space to discover new voices, meet authors and enjoy the shared experience of stories in a relaxed coastal setting.
This story is published as part of Born & Read in Suffolk, a year-long initiative highlighting the importance of reading and writing, delivered in partnership with the National Centre for Writing and Suffolk Community Libraries, headline sponsor Sizewell C and sponsor Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, and supported by Ipswich Town Football Club. Follow the campaign throughout the year in our coverage and on social media using #BornAndRead2026 or get in touch at readingmatters@newsquest.co.uk
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