About Lyra

Lyra is a Bristol-based organisation delivering the annual Lyra - Bristol Poetry Festival, Bristol City Poet, Bristol Young City Poet, and other outreach projects.

Lyra brings together local, national and international poets and speakers, as well as organisations and local community groups, representing Bristol as a centre of world class poetry.

Our aim is to showcase poetry in the widest range of forms possible, including readings, slam competitions, film screenings, walking tours, digital media, panels, open mics, lectures and more.

We believe poetry is something for everyone to enjoy and participate in. Our festival aims to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. We offer BSL, captioned and live streamed content. All activities take place in wheelchair accessible spaces.  

We aim to connect communities of Bristol through poetry, welcoming new partnerships and collaborations each year.

Lyra runs the Bristol City Poet initiative, taking over from the Mayor’s Office and Bristol Ideas who founded the role in 2016. From 2019-2024, Lyra appointed a yearly Festival Poet.

Lyra founded Bristol’s Young City Poet scheme in late 2022, delivering workshops to schools and groups around the city, culminating in the appointment of two Young City Poets.

At the heart of all we do is the desire to celebrate the unique culture and creativity across Bristol & the South West.

Lyra’s annual festival is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

Previous national and international featured poets at Lyra Festival include:

Abby Oliveira, Abeer Ameer, Ahmed Alnaouq, Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Alice Oswald, Amy Acre, Anthony Anaxagorou, Anthony Joseph, Arielle Cottingham, Bohdan Piasecki, Brian Bilston, Buddy Wakefield, Caroline Bird, Casey Bailey, Cecilia Knapp, Daljit Nagra, Diana Bellessi, Fran Lock, Gabriel Awuah Mainoo, Harry Baker, Harry Josephine Giles, Hollie McNish, Ilya Kaminsky, Inua Ellams, Jack Underwood, Jackie Kay, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Jacqueline Saphra, Jake Wild Hall, Jamie Thrasivoulou, Jo Bell, Joelle Taylor, John Agard, John Hegley, John McCullough, Jonathan Edwards, Juana Adcock, Kat Francois, Laurie Bolger, Leo Boix, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Luke Kennard, Malika Booker, Maria Ferguson, Mark Pajak, Matt Harvey, Michael Pedersen, Michael Rosen, Momtaza Mehri, Nikita Gill, Olivia Gatwood, Oluwaseun Olayiwola, Pascale Petit, Phil Kaye, Rachel Long, Raymond Antrobus, Rishi Dastidar, Roger McGough, Salena Godden, Shruti Chauhan, Simon Armitage, Simon Mole, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Suzannah Evans, Terrance Hayes, Toby Campion, Tony Walsh, Travis Alabanza, Will Harris, Yomi Sode, Zena Edwards and many more!

Lyra Festival has featured many poets based in Bristol and the South West, including:

Aish Humphreys, Anita Karla Kelly, Beth Calverley, Cal Wensley, Caleb Parkin, Carrie Etter, Chris Redmond, Deanna Rodger, Deborah Harvey, DL Williams, Dominic Fisher, Edson Burton, Hannah Linden, Helen Sheppard, Ife Grillo, Jonny Fluffypunk, Josephine Corcoran, Josie Alford, Kat Lyons, Lawrence Hoo, Liv Torc, Louisa Adjoa Parker, Malaika Kegode, Malizah, Melanie Branton, Miles Chambers, Muneera Pilgrim, Peter Bearder, Rachael Clyne, Rebecca Kosick, Rebecca Tantony, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa, Saili Katebe, shakara, Stefan Mohamed, Stephen Lightbown, Sukina Noor, Tjawangwa Dema, Vanessa Kisuule, Vik Shirley and many more!

Meet the Team
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  • “Seeing Bristol not only buzzing with an incredible diverse array of literary events for 10 days, but attended by such a varied mix of people and tastes, was inspiring. I hope Lyra has many more chances to grow and expand, as it is becoming a staple part to the city’s artistic calendar”

    Travis Alabanza

  • “Unbelievably good programming, planning and hosting. Lyra makes a difference to so many poets and people’s lives by having this festival. You’ve made me feel like I really do belong in this world - thank you”

    Susie Wilson (guest poet, 2025)

  • “Lyra was one of the best festivals I have ever taken part in, so warm, inclusive, lively, fun, with packed audience and incredibly helpful team – everyone made me feel very welcome and what an enjoyable vibe you have!”

    Pascale Petit (guest poet, 2025)

  • “So happy to catch this fab performance online - making stuff accessible to people with mobility issues like me is one of the best things about this festival”

    Bee Knightly (attendee, 2025)

  • "Great venue, a fabulous trio of poets, excellent compere, innovative, mind-stretching poetry. We laughed and were seriously moved"

    Anonymous (attendee, 2025)

  • "This workshop was life affirming, it helped me to weave together the complex threads of my heritage. I cannot express how much I took from this or how grateful I am. Thank you Lyra, that was a really powerful 2 hours!"

    Anonymous (attendee, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa workshop 2025)

  • "Such an amazing inclusive event! The artists were so talented and it was so fun and enjoyable. Loved every minute."

    Anonymous (attendee, Lyra Slam Finals 2025)

  • "Beautiful and inspiring night with fantastic funny hosts and some really incredible poets. Felt moved and connected to my community."

    Anonymous (attendee, Queer Poetry Special 2025)