The countdown is on to the first-ever Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival which will transform the town into a celebration of stories, creativity and imagination.
Taking place in venues across the town centre such as Centre Square, MIMA and Middlesbrough Central Library, the festival kicks off on Wednesday 24 June with a packed programme of free and low-cost activities.
From immersive storytelling and author sessions to acoustic and poetry nights, the festival’s cultural programme caters for families and adults alike.
The main festival day – a free, family event – will run on Saturday June 27. It brings storytelling, music, creative workshops and more to Middlesbrough’s town centre.
The brand new festival builds momentum as Middlesbrough gets ready to bid for UK City of Culture 2029.
Among the highlights is The Happy Space, a colourful inflatable storytelling dome created by Stellar Creates, the team behind the popular Nightfall displays in Stewart Park.
Visitors can enjoy performances led by young creatives from Musinc, take part in illustrator-led drawing workshops to create fun and expressive characters at the National Literacy Trust tent, and experience a celebration of South Asian culture presented by the Middlesbrough Mela team.
The festival day coincides with Orange Pip Market and will create an unmissable town centre experience.
Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Culture, Cllr Philippa Storey, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be just weeks away from launching Middlesbrough’s first Storytelling Festival.
“The programme is packed with opportunities for people to discover new stories, learn new skills and celebrate the creativity that exists across our town.
“It’s another fantastic addition to Boro Culture as we continue our journey towards our 200th birthday and UK City of Culture 2029 ambitions.”
Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival is brought to the town by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Teesside University, and forms part of the National Year of Reading 2026.
The national campaign, themed ‘Go All In’, aims to inspire people of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading and storytelling while helping build stronger communities through literacy and creativity.
The NLT will gift free books to families and is working with artist Sarah Falconer to create a new BookBench as a lasting legacy for the festival. Children and adults will be able to design an image which could be featured on the sculpture.
Allison Potter MBE, Manager of National Literacy Trust in Middlesbrough said: “We are delighted to be building on the success of two of our flagship events – the Our Stories Poetry Slam and the Big Boro Book Bash – and working with Middlesbrough Council and Teesside University on this exciting first Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival.
“In the National Year of Reading, we hope to inspire more families across the town to discover the magic of stories and make reading a part of their everyday lives.”
Many events are free to attend. For the full programme and latest updates visit the website.
Local businesses are also ensuring the festival extends out into the town centre with promotions from Baker Street Kitchen and Turtle Bay, while live acoustic music will be taking place at The Waggon and Panuozzos and a poetry reading event at The Infant Hercules.
The Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival runs from 24 June to July 1. The free family festival runs on Saturday 27 June, from 12 to 6pm in various locations including Centre Square, MIMA, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Holiday Inn Express and Central Library.
