We’re thrilled to welcome Manchester Literature Festival back to Contact this October as they mark their 20th anniversary. Over the years, the Festival has become a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar, bringing together world-class authors, bold new voices and audiences hungry for fresh ideas and stories. This year, we’re delighted to be hosting two of their inspiring 'In Conversation’ events here at Contact.

Mary Portas – Saturday 11 October
 

Join retail pioneer, businesswoman, and acclaimed author Mary Portas as she reflects on her groundbreaking career and her new memoir, I Shop, Therefore I Am: The ‘90s, Harvey Nicks and Me. 

Known for transforming Harvey Nichols into a global brand destination, Mary will share how she reinvented the shop window into a stage for creativity and redefined what luxury could mean. Expect candid stories of 1990s Britpop and fashion, business highs and lows, and insights from one of the UK’s most dynamic creative leaders. The evening will be hosted by Ellah P. Wakatama.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Samantha Shannon & Saara El-Arifi – Tuesday 14 October

Step into vivid worlds of dystopia and fantasy with two of today’s most exciting storytellers. International bestseller Samantha Shannon (The Bone Season) will introduce Among the Burning Flowers, a compelling standalone prequel to her Roots of Chaos series, where political intrigue, rising threats, and dragons collide. 

Saara El-Arifi, author of Faebound, will return with Cursebound, the much-anticipated sequel in her sweeping fantasy trilogy. Together, Samantha and Saara will discuss epic storytelling, character creation, and the power of imagination in a conversation sure to captivate fans of the genre.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Alongside these two special events at Contact, Manchester Literature Festival 2025 offers a packed programme of talks, performances, and celebrations of writing from around the world. Running from 11–26 October, this year’s Festival promises to inspire, challenge, and entertain as it celebrates 20 years of literary magic.

Book your tickets for our two events and explore the full programme on the Manchester Literature Festival website.