Join us on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd, at Brixton House for a jam-packed weekend of activities, workshops, panels and activations - as well as loads of freebies including drinks and of course, books!
We’ve curated an even-bigger programme of events for you to immerse yourself in the world of storytelling, from literature to gaming, audiobooks to journalism, directing to photography and everything in between! Set across eight spaces, we have your weekend covered.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners. Festival line-up below.
Our festival is now entirely sold-out, but we have tickets on the door. Please come early to secure your ticket. Once we reach capacity, we will be operating on a one-in-one-out policy.
See you soon!
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Saturday 1st August
Studio 3
POW! Create Your Own Superhero! (Comic Book Illustration Class)
Denzell Dankwah
12:45pm - 1:45pmEver wanted to draw your own superhero or create your own comic book universe? Join comic artist Denzell Dankwah for an interactive workshop packed with drawing tips and character designs, turning your characters into comics, manga and cartoons.
The Writer’s Blocc Writing Workshop
Ife Omolabi
11:30am - 12:30pmLooking for creative writing inspiration? Stuck for your next idea? Join The Writer's Blocc for an engaging writing workshop packed with creative prompts and practical tips to help get your words flowing and onto the page.
TOP-SECRET: Create a PHANTOM Agent
Isaac Hamilton-McKenzie
2pm - 3pmJoin Isaac Hamilton-McKenzie, co-author of the Breakfast Club Adventures by Marcus Rashford, for a top-secret workshop inspired by his new action-adventure with a superhero twist, Jamaal Target: PHANTOM Agent.
Title: Poetic Ways of Seeing in the Mundane
Tianyu Zhou
3:15pm - 4:15pmJoin writer Tianyu Zhou as she explores her unique approach to storytelling.In this interactive workshop, we'll explore how adopting a poet's way of seeing can transform the ordinary into something beautiful and unexpected through a series of playful observation exercises, imaginative prompts and collaborative activities.
Storytelling through Voice
MeiMei Macleod and Raymond Antrobus
4:30pm - 5:30pmJoin actor and voice artist MeiMei Macleod and award-winning author Raymond Antrobus for an interactive conversation exploring the power of communication through sound. Together, they’ll explore how we tell stories orally, through narrative, audiobooks, comedy, and more, while considering how accessibility plays a large part in how stories are consumed, shared, recorded and archived.
Studio 2
KIDS CINEMA CLUB: Lego Batman Movie
1:30am - 1:30pmJoin the Bricked-Crusader Batman, LEGO-style! This hilarious action-packed adventure follows Batman as he learns that even the greatest superheroes need a little help from their friends.
Crayven the Nyamming Jancro
Juliet Coley
1:45pm - 2:30pmJoin Juliet Coley for a magical storytelling experience with Crayven the Nyamming Jancro, a fun and imaginative tale for young audiences.
Be Proud, Be You! with Hannah Lee
Hannah Lee
4:30pm - 5:30pmJoin children’s author Hannah Lee and discover the inspiration behind her much-loved picture books, including My Hair and The Rapping Princess, and how she creates stories that encourage children to embrace what makes them unique.
Nook
CIME Lab Photowalk
Jumi Popoola
1pm - 3pmJoin C.I.M.E Lab for an analogue photowalk celebrating film photography and community. This event is for all film users - beginners, hobbyists and professionals- you can bring along any camera and film stock you would like to shoot with as we go around Brixton capturing life together!
Foyer
Writing Across Stage and Screen
Sophia Leonie
11:30am - 12:30pmWhat makes a character’s voice feel authentic? Often, it begins with the moments that shaped the writer. Through guided discussion and writing exercises, writers will reflect on moments when they felt like an outsider or were “othered”, using those experiences as a starting point to develop authentic characters, richer dialogue and emotionally resonant scenes.
Dope Readers Book Club x For The Plot Book Club
John- Paul Kunrunmi & Que the Wolf
12:40pm - 1:40pmBook clubs are having a moment. Join Dope Readers Book Club and For The Plot Book Club as they discuss how reading communities are changing the way we discover books and build inclusive and authentic reading spaces.
Versus - Art of Football Journalism
Mayowa Quadri
2pm - 3pmJoin Mayowa Quadri of VERSUS For a workshop on the art of football journalism. Discover how storytelling, culture and community are reshaping the way we write, report and talk about the beautiful game. From the iconic writer himself.
Art Beyond the Shell
Dualeh Oke
3:15pm - 6pm
Come out your shell with Art Beyond the Shell at the Foyer this weekend. They’ll have art activities, games and DJs from their turtles community providing all the sounds for you to enjoy at your own pace!Around the World in 80 Dates - Speed Dating
Jasmine Burke
7:30pm - 8:30pmInspired by her novel Around the World in 80 Dates, join writer Jasmine Burke for a playful speed dating experience to meet fellow readers, spark conversations and discover unexpected connections.
Free Books Festival Afterparty sponsored by Hennessy, curated by Altverse
SAVSSOUNDS, TKAMA, EWA
7pm - 10pmMain Stage
The Art of Animation with Warner Bros
Emily Owusu and Luca House
11:30am - 12:30pmSmall Fish Presents: 100 Londoners
Sebastian Parker, Fatima Saleh and Amaarah Roze
12:40 - 1:40pmThis session will begin with a screening of two excerpts from the series, followed by a live conversation with the interview participants, Fatima and Amaarah, alongside the project's creator, Sebastian. Together, they will explore the stories that often go untold, and the role storytelling plays in building community, keeping culture moving and imagining London's future.
Migration, Memory and Time: Storytelling Across Temporal Worlds
Cecile Pin, Nadia Mikail and Eden McKenzie-Goddard, hosted by Nathaniel Cole
2pm - 3pmThis panel explores how writers draw on themes of migration and memory to build worlds set across different cultures, geographies and age, presenting beautiful explorations of identity and time.
Building Digital Worlds: Inside the Video Game
Adonis Emmanuel, Archibald Forster, Hosted by Oluwafemi Oshikoya
3:20pm - 4:20pmJoin a panel of gaming aficionados to learn the magical world of games development, with expert insight from Warner Bros.’ Rocksteady Games and players! Learn what goes into building digital worlds.
Alternative Music is Black Music
BINA, Niall Smith, Kyra Malita, SAVSSOUNDS
4:40pm - 5:40pmA future facing conversation about the current and future landscape of Black alternative and experimental music.
HEADLINE:
End Theme: Composing Music & Creating Worlds in Manga and Anime
Che Lingo, Caleb Femi, Helen McCarthy hosted by Ramatoulie Bobb
6pm - 7pmFrom music and poetry to anime, manga and visual culture, discover how different art forms come together to inspire new ways of imagining and sharing stories.
Free Books House
Art Beyond the Shell Foyer - Guided Social with Ira
Ira Alecia Gardner
11:30am - 1:45pmJoin Art Beyond The Shell for a zine making workshop connecting music, dreams and craft. Guided by a curated playlist, you’ll create your own dreamscape in the form of a zine, exploring how songs and their influences can allow us to reflect and imagine
Soul Kitchen: A Recipe for Taste, Memory and Sound
Vini Soundararajan and Eyram Dzotsi
1:45pm - 2:45pmJoin us for an immersive, sensory listening lounge experience that bridges the worlds of music, culinary arts, and mental health. Co-hosted by a practicing psychiatrist and Garden of Afruika fouder Eyram Dzotsi. This workshop weaves dialogue through the ebbs and flows of a curated playlist. We welcome you to unwind and reflect on the therapeutic power of music, food, and culture.
Changing Frequency- Marginal Eras
Jesse Bernard & Christian Adofo
3pm - 4pmJoin Jesse Bernard and Christian Adofo for a conversation exploring Black British music, culture and storytelling. This panel explores how artists, communities and movements from West Africa to the UK shape our cultural landscape.
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Join us as we celebrate our 5th Free Books Festival with the official afterparty curated by Altverse and drinks courtesy of Hennessy.
NB: This event is 18+
7pm - 10pm.
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Our iconic ‘Free Books Store’ returns this year, full of hundreds of brand new books for you to choose and take home courtesy of our publishing partners.
You will need to register for a Tali card from us prior to collecting your book. This can be done in the Nook.
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Looking for a place to chill, get some refreshments and game? Come through to Free Books House, where you’ll find:
A gaming-station
Oatly Coffee Lounge
Pop-up library
Vinyl listening station
Workshops
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We have loads of fun activations and activities taking place across the weekend that you can enjoy at your leisure! These include:
An exhibition on Free Books Campaign’s history
Home Ground Exhibition, celebrating the beautiful game. With photos from FilmAbdi and shirts from Art Of.
Tali card sign-ups
Creative activities brought to you by Art Beyond the Shell
Oatly Coffee Bar
Warner Bros. Gaming Station
Screenings
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Sunday 2nd August
Studio 3
Developing characters for a book
Kamelah Fernandez
4:30pm - 5:30pmThis workshop will cover character flaws, motivations, structuring a plot around a character, and how to build on them as the story progresses. It will be a step-by-step process on the different ways you could define a character depending on the plot or structure of a story.
Creative Writing Workshop
Soraya Bouazzaoui and Elisha Lundin
1:50pm - 2:50pmJoin writer Soraya Bouazzaoui for a conversation exploring Moroccan storytelling, the power of bringing non-Western myths, histories and perspectives to the page and discover the inspiration behind her debut novel Aicha.
Bringing Ideas To Life: Inside The Directing Process
Jedidah M
3:10pm - 4:10pmAn inside look at the directing process, from the first idea to the final edit.
We'll cover pre-production, shoot days, post-production and real client experiences, before ending with a practical exercise to help you develop your own idea.
Studio 2
Jojo and Gran Gran
Laura Henry-Allain
1:10pm - 2pmMaking friends with Maya and Marley: The creator of JoJo and Gran Gran, Laura Henry-Allain, will share her new book, Maya and Marley and the New Friend, with a special activity for children to take part in.
Children’s Reading Session with Dapo
Dapo Adeola
12:10pm - 1pmSettle in for a fun, family-friendly relaxing experience as Dapo Adeola shares his stories, characters and creative journey, inspiring young readers to explore the magic of reading.
Kid Rex To The Rescue: Dinosaur and Superhero fun
Mayo Agard-Olubo
2pm - 3pmMayo's event for young children explores how the world around us can inspire magical stories, guiding them in creating their very own superhero characters using the superpower we all have at our fingertips: imagination!
Storytime with the Future Leaders Trio: The Cinematic Book Reading + Mini Q&A
Kadii Hamilton (with Maven & Cataleya Hamilton)
4:30pm – 5:30pmJoin young author Kadii Hamilton for a relaxed, inspiring reading from the Cinematic Book - a storytelling experience designed to make reading feel exciting, inclusive, and confidence-building.
Main Stage
First 5 Juniors with Yomi Sode, Noah Sode and Dapo Adeola
Yomi Sode, Noah Sode, Dapo Adeola
1:30pm - 2:30pmJoin Yomi and co-host! Noah Ṣode as they both welcome, Author, illustrator and visionary, Dapo Adeola in this special edition of First Five. Dapo will be mixing between him and his character's Album, Books, Inspirational figures and Guilty pleasures. Expect to know a bit more about Dapo, his background, what motivates him and why story is important.
Literature as a way to Breathe
Nicola Dinan and John Paul Kunrunmi
3pm - 4pmJoin Nicola Dinan and John-Paul Kunrunmi as they discuss her debut novel Bellies (2023) and her second novel Disappoint Me (2025), unpacking the importance of letting queer characters live full and expansive lives alongside the troubles and challenges that they may face along the way.
Creating the Beautiful Game: Grassroots, Culture and Football Shirts
Kelvyn Quagraine, Sam Akpan, Aniefiok Ekpoudom
4:30pm - 5:30pmJoin Kelvyn Quagraine, Samuel Akpan and Aniefiok ‘Neef’ Ekpoudom for a conversation celebrating Black creativity in football, exploring the intersections of sport, culture, fashion and storytelling.
HEADLINE:
20 YEARS OF KIDULTHOODFemi Oyeniran, Candice Carty-Williams and Dr Joy White hosted by Niall Smith
6pm - 7pmJoin us for a special conversation marking 20 years of the groundbreaking British film, Kidulthood. Exploring the film’s lasting impact on youth culture, Black youth representation and British cinema, the panel will reflect on its legacy, the stories it brought to the screen, and how it continues to influence filmmakers, writers and audiences today.
Foyer
Finding the Time: Writing Together
Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff
11:30am - 1:30pmJoin award-winning editor and writer Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff for a writing drop-in session.
BYOB: Bring Your Own Book - Sessions with an Editor
Elisha Lundin
11:30am - 1:30pmJoin Senior Commissioning Editor Elisha Lundin for a drop-in session with an editor, get in real time feedback and advice! Gain insight into developing your work, from first draft to getting published.
Art Beyond the Shell Foyer Social
12pm - 3pm
Read and Reclaim, Casual Readers Club
India Chambers
2pm - 3pmThis is a chance to meet new people, connect and reset ahead of the week - bring along whatever you’re working on, be it reading, writing, journaling, or just something you’re pondering and need some insight on, this is the perfect place to slow down and connect.
Archiving & Scanning Social with Naz
Naz Hamdi
3:45pm - 4:45pmJoin heritage and music professional Naz Hamdi for a session exploring the power of archiving, documenting and preserving community stories.
Free Books House
CIME Photowalk
Jumi Popoola
12pm - 2pmC.I.M.E Lab for a creative session combining poetry, photography and storytelling.
Free Books Campaign Manga Club
Hosted by Jason 'Scully' Kavuma
12:30pm - 1:30pmJoin Jason ‘Scully’ Kavuma for Manga Club, a celebration of one of the world’s most popular storytelling formats and explore the creativity, characters and themes that have made manga a global phenomenon.
Black Music Through Generations: A Father and Daughter in Conversation
SAVSSOUNDS, Her dad Les
2pm - 3pmAn intergenerational conversation exploring Black music through personal memories, migration and the music passed between generations.
Photography as a Love Letter to Community
Abdi Alasow and Francis Augusto, Hosted by Jumi Popoola
3:20pm - 4:20pmJoin beloved photographers Francis and Abdi as they discuss their photography practice and the ways they capture community, love and joy. Hosted by Jumi Popoola.
Maya Njie Perfume Sensory Experience
Maya Njie
4:35 - 5:45pmDiscover the art of fragrance with Maya Njie in this immersive sensory experience.
Queenie Signing with Candice Carty-Williams
Candice Carty-Williams
4:45pm - 5:30pmJoin award-winning author Candice Carty-Williams for a special signing session celebrating the highly anticipated sequel to Queenie: Queenie is Working on It.
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Our iconic ‘Free Books Store’ returns this year, full of hundreds of brand new books for you to choose and take home courtesy of our publishing partners.
You will need to register for a Tali card from us prior to collecting your book. This can be done in the Nook.
-
Looking for a place to chill, get some refreshments and game? Come through to Free Books House, where you’ll find:
A gaming-station
Oatly Coffee Lounge
Pop-up library
Vinyl listening station
Workshops
-
We have loads of fun activations and activities taking place across the weekend that you can enjoy at your leisure! These include:
An exhibition on Free Books Campaign’s history
Home Ground Exhibition, celebrating the beautiful game. With photos from FilmAbdi and shirts from Art Of.
Tali card sign-ups
Creative activities brought to you by Art Beyond the Shell
Oatly Coffee Bar
Warner Bros. Gaming Station
Screenings
How to get here
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There are many transport links taking you to Brixton Theatre.
Closest station: Brixton Underground Station or Brixton Station
Including many buses: 322, P5, 35, 45, 345, P4, 59, 109, 133, 159, 250, 333
Click here to plan your journey on TfL.
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There’s paid-for on street parking in and around Brixton Theatre. However, parking is limited and expensive, would recommend public transport if possible.
Street parking is free after a designated time - please see street signs for the latest information.
Festival FAQ’s
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Doors open at 11:00, we recommend coming on time to enjoy the full day of events and workshops.
Festival closes it doors at 10pm Saturday and 8pm Sunday.
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Our events are family-friendly and open to all ages during select times.
Saturday - From 6pm our event turns into an 18+ space for the afterparty.
Sunday - All ages, all day
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For 6 years we’ve worked with publishers, community organisations, authors, schools, brands, you name it, to get books to people who can’t afford them for free across the UK & Ireland. That’s over 16,500 brand new books in new homes! As we turn 6, we’re taking our work to Dakar, Senegal.
In Senegal, just 58% of adults are literate, many children and families still have little or no access to books. We’re raising funds to build a free, community library that will offer more than just books — it will be a vibrant third space with free internet access, technology, and opportunities for learning, skill sharing and global knowledge exchange.
Therefore, this year we’re remixing how we ticket the Free Books Festival. We have created a donation-based ticketing system, where the cost of your ticket goes directly to the Free Books Library, Senegal and towards keeping our events free for our communities here in the UK and abroad. These costs include project management, research, building, legal fees, resources and much much more! By supporting the festival, you’ll help increase literacy rates, open doors to education, and empower people in the UK & Senegal through free and equal access to information.
Tickets this year have a suggested min-max, so you can choose how much to donate in exchange for a ticket!
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Yes. Please bring your I.D or you may risk not being granted entry.
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Free tickets are available to all via our website or by clicking the button above.
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If you’re a publisher or author and would like to donate brand new books to the festival, please contact us at fatima@freebookscampaign.co.uk.
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Yes, please alert a member of staff if you need assistance. We’re more than happy to help!
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Each attendee will be gifted one brand new, free book for them to choose inside our Free Books Store.
If you are in attendance with someone under the age of 16, you may collect a book on their behalf.
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Unfortunately we do not offer refunds as all proceeds will be used toward keeping our events free and accessible to our community.