This September, the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth invites readers, writers and literature lovers to gather once again for its much-loved annual festival — now in its fifteenth year. This special celebration shines a spotlight on women writers across fiction, non-fiction and screen, inspired by the enduring legacy of the Brontë sisters and the powerful northern landscapes they called home.
A Northern Focus for 2025
This year’s programme places a special emphasis on writers from the North and stories shaped by northern places and perspectives. Against the backdrop of the Brontës’ evocative Parsonage and the wild moorland beyond, the festival is a chance to explore how the region’s distinctive settings and histories continue to inspire remarkable storytelling today.
Learn From a Local Author
For writers feeling inspired to put pen to paper themselves, the festival is offering something extra special this year. Best-selling Yorkshire author Linda Green — whose twelve novels have captivated readers across the UK — will lead both in-person and online novel-writing courses. It’s an ideal opportunity to hone your craft and draw inspiration from the same surroundings that once fuelled the imaginations of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë.
A Warm Haworth Welcome
Last year’s festival welcomed more than 500 visitors who gathered to enjoy readings, talks and workshops set against Haworth’s cobbled streets and sweeping heather moors. With a programme that mixes celebrated names and fresh new voices, the festival offers a unique blend of literary heritage and modern creativity.
Opening Night with Emerald Fennell
The festival launches in style with a headline event featuring Oscar-winning writer and actress Emerald Fennell. Audiences will get an exclusive glimpse into her much-anticipated adaptation of Wuthering Heights, coming to cinemas next February, and hear first-hand how she approached reimagining this iconic northern tale for the big screen.
An Evening with Tracy Chevalier and Holly Ringland
Another highlight sees renowned novelist Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring, join Australian writer Holly Ringland (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) for an intimate conversation exploring their work and the enduring impact of the Brontës on their own storytelling.
Wandering Imaginations
Adding a global connection, the festival presents Wandering Imaginations — a special project from Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Four emerging writers from Bradford and Ghana have created new stories inspired by the Brontës’ imaginary realms, weaving together local roots and new creative worlds.
Tickets for this inspiring festival are on sale now. Find full details and plan your visit at bronte.org.uk.
