Thrilled to announce my poem “In My Lifetime” has been selected for Litfest 2026’s ‘Rights of Nature’ Gala Reading! I’ll be performing live on Saturday 21st March at 7pm in The Storey Auditorium, Lancaster, hosted by Poet in Residence Karen McCarthy Woolf.
The 47th Lancaster Literature Festival (Litfest) is currently underway, running from 13–22 March 2026 under the inspiring theme “The Rights of Nature”. This year’s programme explores urgent questions about the rights of the natural world, rivers, animals, birds, insects, and ecosystems, and why recognising them matters now more than ever. The festival features a mix of established voices and emerging talent, including poetry events, workshops, and more.
One highlight is the ‘Rights of Nature’ Poetry Map project, which invited poets to submit work on the theme. Selected poems are featured on the Litfest website, and a number have been chosen for live performance. I’m thrilled to share that my poem “In My Lifetime” has been selected by Litfest’s Poet in Residence, Karen McCarthy Woolf, for the special Gala Poetry Reading on Saturday 21st March 2026 at 7:00pm in The Storey Auditorium, Lancaster.
This gala event, curated and hosted by Karen McCarthy Woolf, brings together up to 15 talented poets to share their work in a live celebration of nature’s rights. It’s part of a vibrant evening lineup at The Storey, and tickets are available via the Litfest website (litfest.org) or related partners like The Dukes.
I’ll be reading my poem in person, excited to perform alongside other selected poets and to meet Karen, the organizers, and the audience. It’s an honour to contribute to this timely conversation through poetry.
If you’re in or near Lancaster, come along! The festival’s full spring season extends into May, with more events championing literature, nature, and bold ideas.For more details on the event and the wider programme:
https://litfest.org/ or check the ‘Rights of Nature’ section.Looking forward to a memorable evening!
Peter Kay
@PeterKa29830408
peterkaywordspace.co.uk