Black History Month – October 2026
Black History Month in the UK marks a national moment of reflection, recognition and celebration. Every year Black History Month has a theme, and for 2026 that theme is ‘Honouring our Communities”, to highlight and celebrate the everyday contributions that shape, support and sustain Black life across the UK.
Black history is an integral part of Britain’s national story. While October provides a focused opportunity for engagement, Black History Month UK have a year-round commitment to visibility, education and recognition.
This October, you can view a curated selected of events for free from Cambridge Literary Festivals past and present that highlight and celebrate the contributions of inspiring Black figures across literature.
Free to watch & listen to during 2026
A pioneering writer and cultural activist, Margaret Busby founded publishing house Allison & Busby in her 20s and became the UK’s first Black female publisher. She later edited the ground-breaking anthologies Daughters of Africa (1992) and New Daughters of Africa (2019). Margaret is a trailblazer who has had such a galvanising, positive impact on British culture. She joined us in 2026 to explore her own writing within Part of the Story, giving us a unique opportunity to enjoy her own remarkable literary output.
Our annual State of the Nation lecture invites an eminent commentator to give their informed view on the state of the country as they see it. In 2025, the lecture was delivered by Gary Younge. Gary is an award-winning journalist, author, broadcaster and professor of sociology at the University of Manchester.
Diane Abbott MP has broken barriers and built an extraordinary legacy. As the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons, the longest-serving Black MP, and the current Mother of the House, she has fearlessly championed the causes that matter most to Britain today.
In conversation with Rachel Cunliffe.
Marking the centenary of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin, revisit our panel event exploring his life, writing, and legacy into the contemporary world. Writer Jason Okundaye (Revolutionary Acts), Colin Grant, director of the WritersMosaic, and broadcaster and critic Alex Clark discuss Baldwin’s vital legacy, asking what his work might teach us today.
The Girl With the Louding Voice was an international bestseller that resonated with readers everywhere. We welcomed Abi Daré to the Festival with her follow-up novel And So I Roar, which continues Adunni’s captivating story and her unique life experiences.
In conversation with Jendella Benson.
