Open Book Festival has announced its third annual Youth Festival, building on the momentum of previous years to create an even more dynamic celebration of youth literature and creativity – Youth Fest 2025 promises to bring together established and emerging voices in children’s and young adult literature, fostering a love of reading and writing among young people across Cape Town.
Youth Fest will run from 19 – 26 March, 2025, featuring an exciting lineup of authors and storytellers. These include Mia Arderne, Zizipho Bam, and Salamina Mosese in Youth Fest for the first time, while also welcoming back contributors such as Siphokazi Jonas, Alex Latimer, Refiloe Moahloli, and Athambile Masola amongst others.
Events will take place across various venues including public libraries, schools, the Book Lounge, the Cape Town Museum of Childhood, and Bertha House. While many school-focused events are not open to the public, there is an extensive programme of public events including interactive storytimes, and creative writing workshops.
All events are free to attend, though registration is essential due to venue capacity limitations. For booking queries, contact .
“Youth Fest continues to evolve as a platform where young voices can find their power through stories,” says festival coordinator Frankie Murrey. “This year’s programme reflects our commitment to nurturing creativity and critical thinking among young readers and writers, while ensuring these opportunities reach those who might otherwise miss out.”
“As part of our ongoing commitment to literacy and accessibility, we will continue our book donation initiative, purchasing works by participating authors for distribution to schools and community organisations.” Those interested in supporting this initiative can contact Frankie at .
Workshop Week
Youth Fest 2025 marks the beginning of an exciting year for Open Book Festival, with Workshop Week scheduled for 2 to 7 June, and the main festival following on 5 – 7 September. Further details about these events will be announced throughout the year.
The organisers extend gratitude to the City of Cape Town for their continued support, and to our valued partners, including the Otto Foundation, the Cape Town Museum of Childhood, the Bookery, Ikamva Youth, Red Wheelbarrow and Youth Capital. These collaborations make Youth Fest possible.
For programme updates and event information, visit openbookfestival.co.za. Programming announcements will also be made on social media. Follow @openbookfest on Instagram and BlueSky and @openbookfestival on Facebook for the latest news. Exclusive updates and readings by featured authors will also be posted on the WhatsApp Channel @Open Book Fest.
In a nutshell
Open Book Festival and Book Lounge Present Youth Fest 2025 – Celebrating Young Voices and Stories
IG: https://www.instagram.com/openbookfest/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/openbookfestival
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/openbookfestival.bsky.social
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaynL9QGE56uvxkj8532
