The shortlisted works across all 13 categories of the British Fantasy Awards have been announced! Find out who’s in the mix over on our blog. Winners announced at Fantasycon in October.
For all things fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction
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Announcement:
BFS In-Person Events
In addition to our suite of digital events, the BFS also organises in-person events in certain regions of the UK. We’d be honoured to have you attend.
Please be aware many of our events are run with external partners. Please see event websites for specific details on accessibility and support needs. If you’d like to run an event with the BFS, please get in touch.
If you’d like to be involved in one of our in-person events, you can submit your interest via the form (click your area). Please note, we currently cover the following the areas:
Imagined Worlds
Date/Time: Saturday 6th June 2026, 2pm (BST)
Location: Urmston Library, 28 Golden Way, Manchester
Cost: General Admission Free
Trafford’s Celebration of Reading is a day of free literary events held in Urmston Library, co-organised by Trafford Libraries and Urmston Books and Board Games. A blend between a book fair and festival, the event offers talks and workshops across all ages as well as a chance for local authors to exhibit their latest books and introduce them to a local audience.
Ever thought that science fiction or fantasy isn’t for you? Find out about the growth in popularity of speculative fiction genres in recent years, the breadth and depth of books on offer, why some ideas transcend genres and why people love exploring new worlds.
All events are free, but booking to watch the panels is recommended due to space. Imagined Worlds panel at 2pm. Full day 10:30am to 3:30pm.
An Evening with AK Faulkner & Bex Benjamin
Date/Time: Monday 8th June 2026, 6pm (BST)
Location: The Portal Bookshop, 5 Patrick Pool, York
Cost: Free (tickets are required to guarantee entry)
The BFS is excited to announce our first in-person York event with AK Faulkner and Bex Benjamin.
Come and celebrate queer books with AK Faulkner, Bex Benjamin, and the British Fantasy Society at Portal Bookshop!
Author readings, Q&A plus book signings after the panel.
Love & Sacrifice
Date/Time: Thursday 25th June 2026, 7pm (BST)
Location: Waterstones, Clapham Junction, London
Cost: General Admission Free
The BFS is excited to announce our first Clapham event, Love & Sacrifice.
Love and sacrifice are powerful themes in fantasy, helping fuel the popularity of romantasy. Join our expert romance authors for an evening of discussion on the enduring nature of love.
Audience Q&A and book signing after the panel.
Free event, but please fill in the form to avoid disappointment.
Order Out of Chaos
Date/Time: Thursday 9th July 2026, 7pm (BST)
Location: Waterstones, Albion Street, Leeds
Cost: General Admission £5
The BFS is excited to announce our next in-person Leeds event, Storytelling: Order Out of Chaos.
Come and chat all things storytelling with Waterstones and the British Fantasy Society. Join moderator Katie Bruce as she talks to RJ Barker, Sarah Rees Brennan, Ruth Frances Long, and Thomas D Lee about the chaos in their storytelling and how they wrangle it into order – or not.
Author Q&A plus book signings after the panel.
Outwith Reality – Scottish Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror
Date/Time: Wednesday 26th August 2026, 7pm (BST)
Location: Waterstones, Albion Street, Leeds
Cost: General Admission £5
The BFS is excited to announce the next of our in-person Leeds events, Outwith Reality – Scottish Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror.
Come and discuss Scottish storytelling, mythology and folklore with the British Fantasy Society and Waterstones. Join moderator Katie Bruce as she talks to Ian Green, Shona Kinsella, Rafael Torrubia and Lorraine Wilson about all things outwith reality.
Author Q&A plus book signings after the panel.
We Are All Haunted: A Folk and Gothic Horror Panel
Date/Time: Thursday 16th September 2026, 7pm (BST)
Location: Waterstones, Albion Street, Leeds
Cost: General Admission £5
The BFS is excited to announce our next in-person Leeds event, We Are All Haunted: A Folk and Gothic Horror Panel.
Join the British Fantasy Society and Waterstones to discuss all things folk horror and gothic horror with David Barnett, Rhiannon Grist, MK Hardy and moderator Yvonne Battle-Felton.
Author Q&A plus book signings after the panel.