Kendal Poetry Festival returns with a new expanded offering across the town centre.

The festival will take place between 23 – 26 June and will see national and international poets heading to Kendal to perform in events at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal Library, Space2Create and Outside In.

This year’s exciting line-up features over 30 poets including: Imtiaz Dharker, Elizabeth Hare, Don Paterson, Matt Abbott and Joelle Taylor. Tickets can be purchased for individual events or for the full weekend with a weekend pass available for just £45.

There will also be a range of free events, along with free access to poetry readings for under-21s, and for disabled people and carers and most of the festival’s events will be streamed live online – so poetry lovers who are not able to attend in person are able to join from the comfort of their own homes. Poetry by young Cumbrians will be on display in windows across Kendal town centre, and in Kendal and Oxenholme train stations.

Find out more about this year’s Poetry Festival and book tickets