The Big Malarkey Festival is part of the Hull Libraries’ great offer for city schools.
We aim to encourage reading for pleasure and engagement with everything a library has to offer. We do this by providing opportunities for children to stretch their imaginations and discover their creative power, working alongside professional artists.
The festival will be back from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June 2026, offering a programme of Activity Days for Schools from Tuesday to Friday, including the James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award, for all members of our Hull Schools Library Service.
The programme is free of charge and includes sessions for EYFS and KS1 – KS3 pupils, author talks and a range of practical workshops.
Our theme this year is ‘It’s a Malarkey Mystery!’ – we’ll be encouraging the children to use their imaginations, practice problem solving, develop their critical thinking skills, enjoy sharing stories and ideas, and discover their own creative power through working alongside professional artists.
We can’t wait to welcome our amazing authors Michelle Robinson, Philippa Leathley and Sharna Jackson. We’re also delighted to be working with amazing artists including Hull Truck Theatre, Squarepeg Arts, Mambo Jambo, The Herd, Reel Creative CIC, Rewilding Youth, Pauline Quirk Academy, Half Frame Full Flavour, Tasneem Kausar, Liz Million and Hull Makerspace.
We’ll look forward to welcoming teachers and pupils to the 9th Big Malarkey Festival during this National Year of Reading – let’s go all in and explore stories and celebrate literature together!
THE BIG MALARKEY FESTIVAL SCHOOLS PROGRAMME 2026
OPEN FOR BOOKINGS ON WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2026. Bookings will be handled by the Schools Library Service Team. For any queries please contact HullSchoolsLibrary@hcandl.co.uk
JAMES RECKITT HULL CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2026
The Schools Activities Programme will run alongside the Book Award voting days on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June 2026. Please note that this is a separate event from the Activities Programme – please contact jrhcbookaward@hcandl.co.uk for further info.
The experience of The Big Malarkey is invaluable in raising the aspirations of Hull children. A unique experience incorporating dance, drama, poetry, art, music and technology. Appealing to all ages, this unmissable event needs to be a date in everyone’s diary!
We are grateful to the James Reckitt Library Trust for supporting the 2026 Activity Days for Schools festival programme.