Now into its ninth year, the increasingly venerable Freedom bookfairs list offers a healthy showing of old and new events.
~ Freedom News ~
In fact, there are events happening up and down the country nearly every Saturday from late April through to June if you have a hankering to find out more about anarchism, dabble in some workshops or even just meet lovely people while out and about of a Spring weekend …
For the sake of easy calendar entries, here’s the list by date:
- April 25th: Hull Radical Bookfair
- April 25th-26th: Bristol Radical History Festival
- May 2nd: Somerset Anarchist Bookfair
- May 9th: Edinburgh Anarchist Bookfair
- May 23rd: Teesside Radical Bookfair
- May 30th: Newcastle Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair
- July 18th: Cambridge Anarchist Bookfair
- September 26th: London Anarchist Bookfair
- October 17th: Peterborough Radical Bookfair
- October 17th: Cardiff Radical Bookfair
- October 24th: Bristol Anarchist Bookfair
- October 31st: Manchester and Salford Anarchist Bookfair
- November 7th: Swansea Radical Community Festival
- November 14th: Dorset Radical Bookfair
- November 22nd: Belfast Radical Bookfair
Note: All details subject to change, last updated April 23rd – email editor [at] freedompress.org.uk with any additions or corrections
Belfast
Belfast Radical Bookfair
November 22nd at Vault 39, Corporation St 11am-3pm
Facebook | radical.bookfair.belfast [at] gmail.com
This year’s is set to be the collective’s biggest yet, with a number of new events throughout the day. Spaces are limited, to register your stall please email.
Bristol
Bristol Radical History Festival
April 25th-26th
On the 25th, at M Shed only, times are 10am-4.30pm
On the 26th, at Cube Microplex only, times are 1-9pm
Website | Facebook | brh [at] brh.org.uk
The Bristol Radical History Festival returns this Spring for its eighth edition, with history talks, panel discussions, films, history walks, performance and exhibitions. There will also be space devoted to stalls, where you can stock up on history pamphlets, books and more, from over 30 publishers and distributors. The main part of the festival is held over two days at two main venues: Saturday 25th April at Bristol’s social history museum on the city’s historic harbourside, M Shed; and, Sunday 26th April at the volunteer-run arts centre and cinema the Cube Microplex. This year’s event has four main themes: Propaganda, Utopias, Welsh Risings and the 1926 General Strike. Full programme of events.
Bristol Anarchist Bookfair October 24th Time TBC at the Trinity Centre Website | Facebook | bristolbookfair [at] riseup.net More details to follow
Cambridge
Cambridge Anarchist Bookfair
July 18th at Romsey Mill Centre, 11am-4pm
Instagram
Stalls and workshops, wheelchair accessible, with vegan food. Followed by a fundraiser at the Lockon.
Cardiff
Cardiff Radical Bookfair
October 17th at the Temple of Peace
Instagram
More to follow …
Dorset
Dorset Radical Bookfair
November 14th
Website | Facebook
More to follow …
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Anarchist Bookfair
May 9th at the Quaker Meeting House 11am-6pm
Instagram | Facebook | edinburghanarchistbookfair [at] protonmail.com
You can’t keep Edinburgh’s radicals down – in recent years there’s been the anarcha-feminist bookfair, the radical bookfair, and now in its latest incarnation featuring radical books, art, activist groups, workshops, food & drinks, and great company, with stalls from AK Press, PM Press, Black Lodge Press, Lighthouse Books and many more.
Hull
4rd Hull Radical Bookfair
April 25th at The New Clarence Pub 11am-4pm
Facebook
Around a dozen or so stalls in a more central locale, as well as a Know Your Rights workshop for protests, and a celebration of the centenary of the 1926 General Strike.
London
Anarchist Bookfair in London
September 26th at Rich Mix
Website | Facebook | Bluesky | Mastodon | anarchistbookfairlondon [at] riseup.net
The big annual jamboree is heading back to East London after its exciting underground excursion last year. Details TBA.
Manchester
Manchester and Salford Anarchist Bookfair
October 31st 10am-4pm at the People’s History Museum
Website | Facebook | Instagram | manchester [at] bookfair.org.uk
A spookily Halloween-timed event, keep an eye on their website for info
Middlesborough
Teesside Radical Bookfair
May 23rd 12pm-5pm at The Auxiliary
Website | Facebook | teessideradicalbookfair [at] inventati.org
Get in touch if you’d like a stall at a very reasonable £10 per 6ft table.
Newcastle
Newcastle Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair
May 30th 10am-5pm at the Star and Shadow Cinema
Website | Facebook | Contact: newcastleanarchistbookfair [at] protonmail.com
2026 marks the 5th annual Newcastle Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair, a dynamic celebration of the life and legacy of Ewan Brown, and a tribute to the radical history, present, and future of the North-East. Activists, artists, thinkers, and community members will gather in the spirit of resistance and solidarity. The event will feature an exciting mix of dozens of stalls, workshops, live music, and art, all hosted in the incredible Star and Shadow Cinema, nestled in the heart of Newcastle’s east end..
Peterborough
Peterborough Radical Bookfair
October 17th 11am-5pm at the George Alcock Centre, Stanground, Peterborough
Facebook
Let’s talk about ‘communities of resistance’. Cos let’s face it we need ’em! What does a community of resistance mean to you? How do you find your tribe? What does being part of a community feel like to you?.
Somerset
Somerset Anarchist Bookfair
May 2nd All day at Rockaway Park
Instagram | getinvolved [at] rockawaypark.co.uk
A day of talks, performance, workshops and conversation. Alongside live performances from Riot Act and Boff Whalley workshops will dig into the Spycops Inquiry, radical design and feminist sociology. There’s an exhibition in the gallery, a free film in the evening, a not-for-profit community library and plenty of stalls, all free entry and £5 parking.
Swansea
Swansea Radical Community Festival
November 7th 11-7 at Down By Here, 210 High Street
Instagram | Website
Gŵyl y Gwrthsafiad / Swansea’s Radical Community Festival is a celebration of activism and resistance from around Swansea. We have stalls from ecological, animal libertarian, anarchist, migrant rights, workers rights and many other different campaign groups. Our workshop schedule is TBC. Bands from Swansea and beyond will be at the afterparty.
Not announced yet …
- Cambridge Radical Bookfair: We’re told there are plans afoot for later in the year, most likely in June, but a date hasn’t been nailed down yet. Instagram | cambridgeanarchist [at] gmail.com
- Sheffield Anarchist Bookfair: Happened in October last year but unclear if it’s on again. sharc0114 [at] proton.me for enquiries.
