Events
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Joanna Lilley leads a poetry workshop in a wall tent at the Northern Nights Festival (Photograph: Louise Dumayne) |
Planet Earth Poetry
Hear Joanna read at Planet Earth Poetry, Victoria's 30-year-old weekly reading series, with Ronna Bloom and Tom Wayman.
7 pm to sign up for the open mic
7.30pm, Friday 8 May 2026
Russell Books, 747 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
National Year of Reading 2026
Joanna is taking part in two events as part of Libraries Unlimited and the UK's National Year of Reading: Go All In.
Writing workshop: You’re a poet and deep down you know it
A two-hour, in person workshop with Joanna Lilley for anyone who'd like to give poetry a go. Tickets are £2.16, including the booking fee.
10.30am to 12.30pm, Saturday 16 May 2026
Barnstaple Library, July Street, Barnstaple, Devon, England.
Author Talk: Three Pieces of Sea New Poetry from Joanna Lilley
Join author Joanna Lilley for a portrait in words of the late artist Rebecca Lilley who grew up on Dartmoor’s edges. As well as presenting her sister Rebecca’s art in words, Joanna’s poems delve into topics such as single motherhood, neurodiversity, connecting with art and nature and how to find a way through losing a loved one too soon. This is a free event but you'll need to book.2 to 3pm, Saturday 16 May 2026
Barnstaple Library, July Street, Barnstaple, Devon, England.
South Downs Poetry Festival
Binsted Prize Awards Ceremony
Join the Binsted Prize winners and commended poets at the Grade 1 listed St John’s Chapel in Chichester to hear their poems. Competition judge Joanna Lilley will also perform a reading.
If you entered the competition, you automatically have a ticket for the event.
7pm, Saturday 23 May 2026
St John's Chapel, St John's Street, Chichester, West Sussex, England
Chichester Poetry
Come along to the Chichester Poetry open mic and hear Joanna read alongside her niece, emerging writer Leonora Lilley.
7.30pm, Wednesday 27 May 2026
New Park Centre, New Park Road, Chichester, West Sussex, England
Portsmouth Poetry and University of Portsmouth
Joanna is taking part in a Portsmouth Poetry and University of Portsmouth celebration of poetry also featuring Majid Dhana from the 432 Nomads collective and young poets from the Power of the Beat project.
7pm, Friday 29 May 2026
Rees Hall, University of Portsmouth, Southsea Terrace, Portsmouth, England
Find out more about Portsmouth Poetry.
Invite Joanna to your event or book club
Joanna has given readings, talks and workshops at as far afield as Iceland and Alaska as well as in her home town of Whitehorse, Yukon, and online. She's read on a train, boat and lakeshore and in a meadow and a gallery, as well as in libraries, theatres, cafes and community centres.
Reach out via the contact page if you'd like Joanna to join your event online or in person.
Joanna is also available for book club appearances. You can use book club questions to spark discussion about Joanna's poetry book, Endlings, which is all about extinct animals.
You can borrow Joanna's novel, Worry Stones, as a book club set at the Whitehorse Public Library in Yukon.
It wouldn't happen without them
Joanna is enormously grateful to all the organizers, funders and publishers who create and support events. She also very much appreciates the financial support of the Government of Yukon Touring Artist Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts, the League of Canadian Poets and The Writers' Union of Canada and other funders for all the events she's participated in over the years.
