Since 2013 this unique festival has taken place in libraries and schools across the North East. Over two weeks the festival connects over 100 schools and more than 1200 children and young people with some of the UK’s top writers and illustrators.

The 2022 NCBF programme is now finalised and we are pleased to announce that the festival is back delivering in-person. Like many literary festivals, during the pandemic, NCBF switched to online sessions. We are so grateful to the fantastic writers, illustrators and poets who were part of our 2020 and 2021 festival – with their brilliantly engaging and high energy digital sessions we were able to continue to inspire the children and young people of the North East region.