Free Books Campaign Marks Five Years with Biggest-Ever Free Books Festival

The Free Books Campaign is celebrating five years of the Free Books Festival with its biggest edition yet. Taking place at Brixton House on 1st and 2nd August, the festival will bring back its 2-day format in celebration of this milestone, bringing together readers, writers and storytellers for a weekend of completely free author events, panels and workshops, screenings, exhibitions, gaming activations and more.

Since launching in 2020, the Free Books Campaign has donated more than 16,500 brand-new books across the UK and Ireland, growing from a grassroots initiative into a year-round programme of free book giveaways and community events and one of the UK's only entirely free literature festivals, run entirely by volunteers. As the organisation celebrates five years of the festival, it continues its mission to ensure that access to books and storytelling is not determined by income or background.

The 2026 festival programme features conversations with headline authors including Che Lingo, Candice Carty-Williams, Femi Oyeniran, Nicole Dinan, Cécile Pin, Jesse Bernard and more, alongside hands-on activations, workshops and community-led events, with opportunities for visitors to take home brand-new free books throughout the weekend. Every event is free to attend, reflecting the Free Books Campaign's commitment to removing financial barriers to literature. This year's festival returns to its South London roots at Brixton House.

This year's festival is made possible through the support of a range of partners, helping to keep the programme completely free and open to everyone. Visitors can enjoy a specially curated exhibition, complimentary refreshments, interactive gaming experiences, animation workshops and a panel exploring careers in games development.

"Five years ago, we simply wanted to make books more accessible and free,"

said Sofia Akel, founder and managing director of the Free Books Campaign.

What we've built since then is a community. Every festival reminds us that people are looking for spaces where reading and storytelling in its many forms feels welcoming, joyful and genuinely open to everyone. That's what this anniversary is really about."

As access to literature faces growing challenges, from the rising cost of living to the closure of public libraries, the Free Books Campaign continues to champion inclusive storytelling through free books and events that celebrate diverse voices. Now the organisation's flagship event, the Free Books Festival reflects its mission to make literature accessible to everyone, regardless of age, income or background.

The full programme and tickets are available at Free Books Festival 2026.

Written by: Bridget Eke