Spike Island Literary Festival 2026

Now in its fifth year the Spike Island Literary Festival returns this September with a gripping programme dedicated to the art of crime writing. Set against the unique backdrop of Spike Island’s infamous former prison, this one-of-a-kind festival brings together world renowned authors and literary experts for a series of thrilling conversations, live readings and thought-provoking panels.

With a dark history of four prisons over 400 years, Spike Island is the perfect setting for literary enthusiasts from book lovers to budding writers. Engage with your favourite authors and discover what inspires them through author-led panel discussions, experience readings from world-class writers as they recite their most famous works in unique locations or take the first steps to getting your own work published by meeting with a renowned literary agent.

Step inside the walls that once held some of Ireland’s most notorious criminals and immerse yourself in stories that intrigue, unnerve and captivate. Whether you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, gritty detective fiction, or chilling true crime, Spike Island is the ultimate setting for your next plot twist.

This year’s programme features a stellar line-up of renowned authors such as Mark Billingham, Andrea Mara, Stuart Neville, Catherine Ryan Howard and more.

Join us at the Spike Island Literary Festival this September — where mystery, suspense, and storytelling collide.