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Contains Strong Language

BBC Contains Strong Language 2026 Line Up

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Get your tickets here for BBC Contains Strong Language Festival 2026.

Tuesday 15 September 2026

MediaCity Studios

BBC Philharmonic Studio

Contains Strong Language Festival presents: Words and Music
Contains Strong Language Festival presents: Words and Music

Thursday 24 September 2026

University of Salford

Digital Media Performance Lab

16:00 Young Poet Laureate Prizegiving Ceremony
Young Poet Laureate Prizegiving Ceremony

The Lowry, Salford Quays

Quays Theatre, The Lowry

16:00 The Archers Podcast
The Archers Podcast
19:00 BBC Radio 4 Front Row
BBC Radio 4 Front Row

Blues Kitchen, Manchester

Blues Kitchen

19:00 Young Identity presents One Mic Stand
Young Identity presents One Mic Stand

Friday 25 September 2026

MediaCity Studios

BBC Philharmonic Studio

10:00 BBC Get Singing
BBC Get Singing
14:00 BBC Radio 4 Start The Week
BBC Radio 4 Start The Week
16:30 BBC Radio Club Showcase
BBC Radio Club Showcase
19:00 The Laurel Prize: Panel & Prizegiving
The Laurel Prize: Panel & Prizegiving

Gallery

14:00 Writing & Mental Health Poetry Workshop
Writing & Mental Health Poetry Workshop

Piazza Stage

13:00 Bradford Poets: Class of 2025
Bradford Poets: Class of 2025

University of Salford

Digital Media Performance Lab

12:30 BBC Writers: Who We Are and What We Do
BBC Writers: Who We Are and What We Do
15:30 Poetry & Place
Poetry & Place
17:00 Hope Collective: Poetry to Soothe the Soul
Hope Collective: Poetry to Soothe the Soul
19:00 Deaf Time - Film & Discussion
Deaf Time - Film & Discussion
14:00 Poetry & The Imagination: A Readerbank Workshop
Poetry & The Imagination: A Readerbank Workshop

Media City Campus

17:00 Jackie Kay: A Life in Poetry
Jackie Kay: A Life in Poetry

Maxwell Hall, Peel Park Campus

18:30 Joelle Taylor: Maryville
Joelle Taylor: Maryville
21:00 Listen In: Gilgamesh with Simon Armitage
Listen In: Gilgamesh with Simon Armitage

Salford Youth Zone

19:00 Open Mic at Salford Youth Zone
Open Mic at Salford Youth Zone

Saturday 26 September 2026

MediaCity Studios

BBC Philharmonic Studio

13:00 CSL Poetry Gala: Part I
CSL Poetry Gala: Part I
15:30 BBC Radio 4 The Verb (Saturday recording)
BBC Radio 4 The Verb (Saturday recording)
18:00 BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends
BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends
20:00 John Cooper Clarke: In Conversation with Simon Armitage
John Cooper Clarke: In Conversation with Simon Armitage

University of Salford

Media City Campus

The Laurel Prize Workshop: Writing the Quays
The Laurel Prize Workshop: Writing the Quays
14:00 The Laurel Prize Workshop: As Easily as Leaves to a Tree: A Workshop in Negative Capability
The Laurel Prize Workshop: As Easily as Leaves to a Tree: A Workshop in Negative Capability
10:30 "Wordsworth the nature lover" - Can his poetry change your life?
"Wordsworth the nature lover" - Can his poetry change your life?
12:00 Inspirations: Joelle Taylor, Testament & Owen Sheers
Inspirations: Joelle Taylor, Testament & Owen Sheers
16:00 Journeys Into Poetry: Jackie Kay & Jason Allen-Paisant
Journeys Into Poetry: Jackie Kay & Jason Allen-Paisant
17:30 Tony Harrison's Film Poems
Tony Harrison's Film Poems
16:30 Future Focus: The Writing Squad, Jay Mitra & Griot Gabriel
Future Focus: The Writing Squad, Jay Mitra & Griot Gabriel
18:00 Imaginative Leaps: Paul Farley, Karen McCarthy Woolf & Khadijah Ibrahiim
Imaginative Leaps: Paul Farley, Karen McCarthy Woolf & Khadijah Ibrahiim
15:45 Writing To Be Well Workshop
Writing To Be Well Workshop
14:00 Alice Oswald: Rhapsody
Alice Oswald: Rhapsody
12:00 People's Poetry Forum: Paul Farley & Liz Berry
People's Poetry Forum: Paul Farley & Liz Berry
17:45 The Poems We Made Along the Way Podcast
The Poems We Made Along the Way Podcast
19:00 Lyrics, Salford & Songwriting: Songs of Salford 
Lyrics, Salford & Songwriting: Songs of Salford 

Imperial War Museum North

11:00 Meet the Author: Liz Kessler
Meet the Author: Liz Kessler

Nells, Media City

21:15 Brazil: Music and Poetry - Khadijah Ibrahim with Valen, Mileny, Ryane Leaõ
Brazil: Music and Poetry - Khadijah Ibrahim with Valen, Mileny, Ryane Leaõ

Sunday 27 September 2026

MediaCity Studios

BBC Philharmonic Studio

11:00 BBC Radio 4 Beyond Belief
BBC Radio 4 Beyond Belief
12:30 CSL Poetry Gala: Part II
CSL Poetry Gala: Part II
15:00 Poetry Across Borders: 10 Years of the British Council at Contains Strong Language
Poetry Across Borders: 10 Years of the British Council at Contains Strong Language
17:00 BBC Radio 4 The Verb (Sunday recording)
BBC Radio 4 The Verb (Sunday recording)

University of Salford

Digital Media Performance Lab

11:30 Green Lines: A Green Poetry Celebration.
Green Lines: A Green Poetry Celebration.
12:30 Green Lines: How to Make an Animated Film
Green Lines: How to Make an Animated Film
15:30 Poetry & Communities: Salford meets Seacroft
Poetry & Communities: Salford meets Seacroft

Media City Campus

11:30 Discussion: Generative AI & Poetry
Discussion: Generative AI & Poetry
11:30 People's Poetry Forum: Kate Ireland & Toria Garbutt
People's Poetry Forum: Kate Ireland & Toria Garbutt
14:00 Journeys Into Poetry: Joelle Taylor, Andrew McMillan & Toria Garbutt
Journeys Into Poetry: Joelle Taylor, Andrew McMillan & Toria Garbutt

Salford Youth Zone

12:00 Salford Youth Zone Members Workshop
Salford Youth Zone Members Workshop