A plethora of poets, novelists, chefs, historians, politicians, children’s authors, biographers, journalists, and even the odd national treasure, descend on the spa town this autumn.

Kate Atkinson, one of the world’s foremost novelists, launches her new book, Death at the Sign of the Rook, in an exclusive event on 18 September.

Then, from 4 to 20 October, over 90 events will take place across 17 days at the King’s Hall and venues across the town.

Headline acts include household names such as Julian Clary, lexicographer Susie Dent, and Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, with their debut murder mystery novels.

The acclaimed American novelist Jodi Picoult brings her latest novel By Any Other Name, and Booker-prize winning novelist Alan Hollinghurst celebrates his first book in over a decade, Our Evenings.

National treasures Prue Leith and Gyles Brandreth return and John Suchet promises a candid talk on his part memoir, part biography In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey.

Architect, and star of BBC’s Your Home Made Perfect Laura Jane Clarke gives her tips on interior design, while clothier and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant discusses overconsumption in fashion and comedy and life lessons come in the form of Paul Sinha and Helen Lederer, who’ll both be discussing their new memoirs.

The festival is exploring a series of themes for 2024.

The theme In Verse plays homage to the festival’s 50-year legacy of promoting poetry.Audiences can discover the power of poetry at a reading with poets  or find their own voice on one of the festival workshops.

Democracies in Danger acknowledges 2024 as the ultimate election year, with almost half the global population taking to the polls, and features talks from journalists, politicians and experts on the state of politics and democracy.

Murder, They Wrote celebrates the nation’s bestselling genre, as arresting debut authors to masterminds of the genre discuss why crime fiction pays. Ilkley welcomes crime authors including Janice Hallett and Saima Mir, as well as a host of celebrities-turned-crime writers.

These events are only the tip of the iceberg.

To view the full programme and book tickets https://www.ilkleylitfest.org.uk