We are Primadonna, the UK’s friendliest book festival. Together we can create the world as it could be, for one weekend. Join us.

Primadonna is even more than a beautiful retreat-festival for writers and book-lovers. It is a charity, rooted in Suffolk but with national reach, that aims to create ‘the world as it could be, for one weekend’: somewhere to be part of a community, to escape the everyday, and to imagine better worlds.

Our female-led literary festival is for the curious and the open-minded. We are writers and readers, rebels and restless, feminists, thinkers and dreamers. Our empowered community is for people of all genders and backgrounds and people with both seen and unseen disabilities. Primadonna’s packed festival programme promotes inclusivity and our stellar line-up proudly demonstrates diversity. Our lineup offers something for everyone: alongside our ‘Books and Big Ideas’ programme, we have live music, comedy, food, drink, DJs and therapies alongside three days of workshops to nourish the mind, body and soul.

We are proud of our work opening up access to the publishing industry. We support creative careers for those that are under-represented in the arts: 50% of our artists have never been programmed at a festival before. The Primadonna Prize is the first known grammar-blind literary prize in the UK. Away from the festival, we work with schools, young people and emerging writers to support a more representative, inclusive and imaginative literary arena; to empower, to instil creative confidence, and to strengthen community; and to stand up for untold stories.

"The fact the festival is a jewel in the crown of the UK literary festival calendar is not lost on anyone"

Rina, publisher

PREVIOUS GUESTS

As well as familiar names, we give emerging talent a chance to shine: at Primadonna you’ll get your bragging rights for the next big thing. From household celebrities to under-the-radar brilliance – from international voices to the best regional talent – across one weekend, Primadonna Festival showcases some of the best in the UK and beyond.

JUNE SARPONG

BERNARDINE EVARISTO

LA ROUX

ABI MORGAN

MICHELE ROBERTS

KATY BRAND

SANDI TOKSVIG

BETTY BOO

KATE MOSSE

ELIF SHAFAK

JACQUELINE CROOKS

ANDI OSHO

SELF ESTEEM

DAISY BUCHANAN

MEET THE PRIMADONNAS

Our female-led festival is the brainchild of a group of 17 founding volunteers from different backgrounds, working in publishing and entertainment across the UK. Today, many of our founders now sit on our Board and Advisory Group alongside other inspirational and committed Primadonnas that also share a passion for arts and culture – and for making it available to all.

OUR SENIOR TEAM

ALICE HARDAKER

BEA COLLEY

SABEENA AKHTAR

OUR BOARD

TRACEY BLEAKLEY

WINNIE LI

JOANNA BAKER

CRAIG DUNCAN

ELLISHA SOANES

OUR ADVISORY GROUP

MONISHA RAJESH

JUDE KELLY

CATHERINE MAYER

ATHENA STEVENS

KIT DE WAAL

AMIE CORREY

JANE DYBALL

SANDI TOSTVIG

CATHERINE O’RILEY

SHONA ABHYANKAR

SIONED WILIAM

LISA MILTON

"Primadonna is one of the very best festivals I have ever been to. It is a really warm, generous space. 
I always have unforgettable conversations and amazing experiences and have made friends for life."


Sara, audience member