Writing on the Wall (WoW) is Liverpool’s longest-running writing and literature festival, as well as one of the longest-running literary festivals in the UK. Founded on principles of social justice and equality, WoW champions diverse voices through award-winning projects, publications, and its flagship festival, WoWFEST and Black History Month.
Looking ahead to Black History Month 2026, WoW will continue our year-round commitment to celebrating diverse voices and creating space for urgent, necessary conversations.
As part of the city-wide programme, we’ll invite audiences to reflect, organise and speak out — addressing local, national and global issues through creativity, solidarity and collective action. At a time when hate, division and fear are being used to fracture communities, Black History Month remains a vital moment to remember, resist and reaffirm the power of culture to bring people together.
Each May, WoWFEST brings world-class authors, activists, and artists together with local talent, creating unique opportunities for emerging voices to shine alongside international names.
WoWFEST26 marks the beginning of a bold new chapter as we launch New World Disorder, a programme responding directly to the urgent political, cultural and technological shifts shaping our times. Taking place across venues in the Liverpool City Region, live and online, the festival will once again bring together a dynamic line-up of local, national and international writers, artists, journalists and thinkers. As ever, WoWFEST remains committed to radical, inclusive and community-rooted programming — creating space for urgent debate, creative resistance and the collective imagining of fairer futures.