.png)
Capturing The Creativity of Young People
A Festival made by young people, for young people
The Lit is a Waterford Youth Arts project and Europe's first youth-led festival of reading and writing. It began in 2016 as an idea during a weekend creative writing class for 14–19 year olds, and has grown into a festival programmed, produced and run by young people from across Waterford City and County.
This year, 28 young Co-Organisers, the biggest group in The Lit's history – have curated a weekend of workshops, conversations, open mics and meet-and-greets, with activism on their minds.
When
Friday 9 – Sunday 11 October 2026
Where
Waterford Libraries, Little Lane Bookshop, The Book Centre, St Patrick's Gateway Centre and Dubray Books
Who it's for
The Lit Festival is Europe's first festival of reading and writing organised by young people, for young people ages 14-19
The Lit in numbers
1st
Literature festival in Europe created for young people by young people
60+
Young leaders, curators, programmers and artists nurtured
80+
Professional creatives platformed
5000+
Young people reached, at the festival and beyond
The Lit has a two-prong approach: it hosts the Co-Organisers Programme which trains the next generation of young curators, organisers and event managers and a festival for young adults with a programme designed by the Co-Organisers. This summer The Lit held its first-ever dedicated Summer School which brought free creative programming masterclasses to young people from across Waterford City and County.
​
The programme now boasts over fifty young people having gone through its festival-building Co-Organisers Programme and nearly one-hundred artists highlighted during the festival’s eight years of operation.