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Black British Book Festival

@bbbookfestival

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Europe’s largest Black literature festival
Large-scale events & grassroots literacy.
Publisher with @panmacmillan
Join our year-round community 👇🏿

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We are incredibly proud to announce Margaret Busby and @bernardineevaristo as Official Patrons of the Black British Book Festival.

Two pioneers. Two history-makers. Two women whose work has fundamentally shaped Black British literature and publishing.

Their legacies speak directly to the work BBBF was created to do and we are deeply honoured to have them standing alongside us as we build the next chapter.

Welcome, Margaret and Bernardine.

#BlackBritishBookFestival #BlackBritishLiterature #MargaretBusby #BernardineEvaristo #BlackWriters taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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17 days ago

80+ AUTHORS. 1 UNFORGETTABLE DAY. ✨

The full #BBBF2026 line-up is HERE. 🚨

Icons and debuts. Headliners and firebrands. Poetry that shuts the room down, science that blows it open, and conversations you won't hear anywhere else in Britain.

This is the biggest celebration of Black British books on the planet — and it all happens in one day.

📅 Sunday 4 October 2026
📍 Barbican, London
🎟 Secure a spot for yourself now. Avoid last minute rush. Link in bio

Screenshot it. Tag your crew. Tag your faves. Plan your day. 💛📚
October can't come quick enough!

#BBBF2026 #BlackBritishBooksFestival taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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2 months ago

We sat down with Baba Pepukayi to hear it from him directly.
Fifty years of work. Over a million Black books. One man who gave everything to make sure our stories stayed in reach.

It's moving. It's also urgent. Securing the building is only Phase 1 and we can't do it without you.

Watch it. Share it. Then help us finish what he started.
🔗 Donate via the link in bio

#Save1MillionBlackBooks taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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3 months ago

Ella McLeod @mcleodmouth returned to #BBBF26, reflecting on something she didn’t see enough growing up: representation. 🖤📚

Because every reader deserves to see themselves in the stories they read. Representation matters.

#BBBF26 #BlackBritishBookFestival taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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9 hours ago

THIS COULD CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE! 🚨📚

The Black British Book Festival has teamed up with @panmacmillan to open doors to a MAJOR BOOK DEAL for Black British writers. And submissions are officially OPEN!

Your story deserves to be told. Your manuscript deserves to be read. This could be the opportunity that changes everything.

✍🏾 Any genre. Any story. Your voice, your way.

You’re eligible if you’re:
✔️ 18 or over
✔️ Black and UK-based
✔️ Unagented for this manuscript
✔️ Holding a completed manuscript

NO agent needed. NO submission fee. NO following required. Debut and previously published writers are welcome!

📅 DEADLINE: 30 NOVEMBER 2026, 11:59 PM

🔗 Full details and submissions are in the link in our bio

📢 PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE! Send this to every writer, aspiring author, friend or storyteller who needs to see it. The next bestselling author could be someone YOU know!

Let’s get those stories into the world. ❤️📚

#BBBF #BBBFxPanMac #BlackBritishBookFestival #OpenSubmissions #BlackWriters taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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I can’t believe it’s already been two weeks since the Black British Book Festival (@bbbookfestival). It was an honour to share the day with you all!

It was extra special taking my mentee Ben (@afro.clouds) with me, and it felt fitting to wear a t-shirt to remember my mentor, Benjamin Zephaniah (@officialbenjaminzephaniah) who helped me publish my first book! taken in Barbican Centre by @bbbookfestival

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I still can’t quite believe I’m typing this… 🥹 Back in 2020, I started BBBF with my savings and a big dream. Now? We’ve teamed up with @panmacmillan to publish new Black British writers!

Up to 3 books could be published. No agent. No fee. Just your finished book.

I can’t wait to read your stories! 💛

⏰ Closes 30 Nov 2026
🔗 Link in bio

Tag a writer who needs this + please share 😊

Selina x

#BlackBritishBooks #Bookdeal #PanMacmillan #opensubmission #blackauthor by @bbbookfestival

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2 days ago

Being seen is one thing. Being recognised is another. 🖤🎤

At the Black Poetry Shutdown, @sanitythemc spoke on representation, the realities of being Black in the industry, and the exhausting truth of having to work twice as hard to be seen, heard and recognised in spaces that were never built with you in mind.

A powerful reminder of why representation matters, why our voices must be heard, and why we must keep creating space for ourselves.

Our stories deserve to be seen. Our voices deserve to be heard.

#BBBF26 #BlackBritishBookFestival #BlackPoetryShutdown #BlackVoices taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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3 days ago

Submissions are officially open! ✍️✨
At this year’s Black British Book Festival, we asked attendees why Black British books matter. The answers said it all: they are joy, history, representation, love, and stories that deserve to be shared with the world.

Now, your book could be next.

Marking the next chapter in a five-year partnership, the Black British Book Festival and Pan Macmillan have launched a community-led publishing collaboration to discover and publish exceptional new Black British voices. Successful writers will secure a publishing deal directly with Pan Macmillan.

This collaboration combines @bbbookfestival’s vibrant engaged community of readers with Pan Macmillan’s editorial and publishing expertise, rigour and networks. This is a community-powered publishing model designed to open up traditional pathways, discover brilliant new talent, and transform how books reach their readers.

We’re searching for undiscovered writing talent across a wide range of genres across fiction and non-fiction.

🚨 Ready to enter? 🚨

Follow the link in the Linktree in our bio to read the submission guidelines and submit your manuscript.

Submissions close at 11.59pm on 30th November.

Tag an author who should submit, share this with your community, and send us your work! 📚✨ by @bbbookfestival

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4 days ago

I’m so happy to share that we’ve officially launched our collaboration with @panmacmillan and together we’re looking to publish THREE Black British authors! ✨

Honestly, this one means so much to me. When I started @bbbookfestival , the dream was always to see more Black stories on the shelves and more Black writers getting the chance they deserve. Now we’re making that happen…creating real opportunities and bringing more Black literature into the world. 🖤

If you’ve got a story in you, this is your moment. Submissions close at 11.59pm on 30 November 2026.

👉 Find out more and submit here:
www.blackbritishbookfestival.com/bbbfxpanmac

Your book could be next. Please share with every writer you know! 🙏🏾

Big love,
Selina
CEO & Founder, Black British Book Festival by @bbbookfestival

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4 days ago

THE WAIT IS OVER! 🚨

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS! 📚✨

Our groundbreaking collaboration with @panmacmillan is officially underway! 🎉 We’re opening the doors to a new, community-led route into publishing for Black British writers, with the chance to secure a publishing deal.

✍🏾 Any genre. Any story. Your voice, your way.

You’re eligible if you’re:
✔️ 18+
✔️ Black and UK-based
✔️ Unagented for this manuscript
✔️ Holding a finished manuscript

No agent. No submission fee. No following needed. Debut and previously published writers are welcome!

📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026, 11:59pm

🔗 Submit now: Link in bio

👉 Swipe for the full details!

#BBBF #BBBFxPanMac #BlackBritishBookFestival #OpenSubmissions #BlackWriters PublishingDeal taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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4 days ago

Secrets, suspicion and twists you never saw coming. 🖤🔪

@_imani_thompson_ , @leodora_ and @wordsbyyemi joined chair @fee_mak at #BBBF26 for a gripping conversation on the art of the thriller, from unforgettable plot twists to dangerously deceptive characters.!

#BBBF26 #BlackBritishBookFestival #BlackWomenInLiterature taken in United Kingdom by @bbbookfestival

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