TikTokThanks to our community of bookworms and literature enthusiasts, #BookTok has generated over 53 Billion views in app, and is one of the most active communities on TikTok 📚❤️ From #bookrecs and #bookrecommendations to live readings, hauls and #Booktropes, #BookTok is playing a pivotal role in identifying new forms of literature, book reviews and fan culture.
#BookTok and has seen classics including The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller find a resurgence and propelled debut authors like Casey McQuiston to the mainstream. What's more, the thriving #BookTok community is full of variety: genres like #romancebooks and #spicybooktok are keeping things hot, whilst #poetry, #spokenword, #urdupoetry and #songwriting are also capturing the hearts and imaginations of readers.
Now, we're excited to be able to bring the magic of #BookTok to Hay Festival, the world’s leading arts and literary festival, as Digital Media Partner.
Taking place 26th May - 5th June 2022, TikTok will be entertaining and inspiring book lovers at the Festival's 35th spring edition in Hay-on-Wye. We'll be sponsoring three panels at Hay Festival, including 'An Introduction to BookTok' where panellists including BookTok creator Tolusuniverse and a panel of industry experts will discuss how the TikTok community are sharing their passion for books with millions and reshaping the publishing world in the process. Throughout the festival there will be a specially created programme on Hay Festival's official TikTok account (@hayfestival), which will feature exclusive content and behind the scenes access to the festival.
As Digital Media Partner, we'll be supporting Hay Festival as it looks to reach more diverse audiences, while also bringing some much loved faces from the #BookTok community to the event. abbysbooks, zai_rambles and emilymiahreads amongst others will attend the 11 day event to discuss the best new fiction and non-fiction on official Hay Festival panels and report on the Hay Festival experience via LIVEs and through exclusive in-app content live from the TikTok Green Room at Hay Festival. Make sure tune in to see what goes down!
As a platform designed to entertain, TikTok will offer reading fans a window into the UK's most iconic literary and arts festival. This year, Hay Festival will feature in-person appearances from Hillary Clinton, Svetlana Alexievich, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Stephen Fry, Nicola Sturgeon, Minnie Driver, Monica Ali, Damian Lewis and Jimmy Page, who will take part in the Festival’s global conversation, sharing the latest thinking in the arts and sciences with curious audiences across a series of panel discussions.
Hay Festival communications director Christopher Bone said: "As Hay Festival returns in-person for the first time in three years, we're delighted to work with TikTok in bringing our programme to the widest possible audience while offering Festival fans a fun look behind the scenes. This spring, the conversations that take place in our green field will reach further than ever before."
James Stafford, Head of Partnerships & Community, UK said: " The #BookTok phenomenon really has captured the hearts of our community; with creators, reading enthusiasts and authors alike coming together to share their passion for literature in a uniquely TikTok way. With over 53 Billion views, #BookTok has given classics a new life and helped to propel authors into the mainstream.
"Being able to bring the #BookTok community to the iconic Hay Festival is an honour, as the joy of reading and writing is shared with an even bigger global community."
Hay Festival returns to Hay-on-Wye, with more than 500 in-person events over 11 days, on 26 May–5 June 2022. Tickets are on sale now at hayfestival.org/wales or on 01497 822 629.
Don't miss out, grab your tickets today. And if you can't wait until Hay for your literature fix, make sure you watch out for even more #BookTok activity coming soon . . . !
In the meantime make sure you're following the movers and shakers of the TikTok #BookTok scene:
@nickyreads - for nail on the head, laugh out loud book tropes.
@tolusuniverse - for smart takes and recommendations on books by people of colour, as well as their experience of the Hay Festival.
@anexwilson - if you're in the mood for popular fan theories, analysis with a dash of fantasy books Anex is your man.
@elizabday @candicebraithwaite and @erikaljames - some of the bestseller authors embracing TikTok, even actor and foodie @Stanley.Tucci is embracing the #BookTok community!
Other TikTokers to follow, who'll be at this year's Hay Festival, include: @sophiasmithgaler, @abbysbooks, @jackbenedwards and @zai_rambles. 📚❤️
New to TikTok and can’t wait to get discover even more inspiring #BookTok content? Getting involved couldn't be easier, simply download the app for free via the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon.
