Every April, Cork celebrates Unesco World Book Day with Cork World Book Fest, a literary festival curated by Cork City Library and Triskel Arts Centre with events taking place around the city.

In 2026, the fest runs from April 21st to 26th with a diverse programme of Irish and international authors, both established and debut, including Roddy Doyle, Roxana Manouchehri, Dr Harry Barry and Danielle McLaughlin, as well as events on getting published, spoken stories and works in translation in collaboration with UCC’s Translator in Residence. The Children’s Library on Grand Parade will also have a series of events for young people.

Entries will open soon for First Page Pitch, an event that facilitates 10 selected writers to read their first page to literary agents and get feedback. Past Pitchers include writers who have since gone on to get published, such as Lynda Marron and Olivia Hope, showing the value of the opportunity.

Most events are free to attend or for a nominal fee to ensure the festival remains as accessible as possible to as many as possible.

The full programme will be announced shortly – visit corkworldbookfest.

In tomorrow’s Irish Times, Ross Neill reviews A Companion to Conflict and Peace in Northern Ireland, edited by James McAuley, Graham Spencer and Máire Braniff. Other reviews are John Boyne on Palaver by Bryan Washington; Colm McKenna on Telenovela by Gonzalo C. Garcia; Vic Duggan on Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World by Dani Rodrik; Rory Kiberd on Ingram by Louis C.K.; Rónán Hession on the best fiction in translation; NJ McGarrigle on Quantum 2.0: The Past, Present, and Future of Quantum Physics by Paul Davies; Seán Duke on Fair Doses: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity by Seth Berkley; Paul Clements on local history; and Seamus Martin on Mikhail Zygar’s The Dark Side of the Earth.

This weekend’s Irish Times Eason offer is The Killing Sense by Sam Blake, just €5.99, a €6 saving.