Whether you’re a dedicated bibliophile, a writer seeking inspiration, or just love a day or weekend full of author talks and bookish conversations, 2026 is packed with literary festival delights across the UK. From seaside storytelling weekends to grand international book gatherings, there’s something for every kind of reader, writer – and for every season.
Some are genre specific: Crime is very well represented, with Preston in Lancashire planning its inaugrual Crime Fiction Festival in 2026, plus Literary Historical Fiction at Cliveden, Travel Writing in Sherborne, Dorset, and the world’s only festival of biography and memoir in Ayreshire, Scotland, celebrating the work of Ayrshire biographer, Samuel Boswell of Auchileck – in whose home, Auchinleck House, I celebrated my 40th birthday!
What better way to celebrate 2026 – The National Year of Reading?!
Click HERE for a list of US and international literary festivals and conferences.
Read on for a month-by-month guide to the UK’s best literary festivals. You can also search the post by nation (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), County, or town. In 2026, there WILL be a festival near you!
January
Bournemouth Writing Festival Writing Sanctuary – 16 – 18 Jan 2026
Self Pub Fest – ONLINE – 25 Jan 2026
Morgen Bailey’s non-profit quarterly book festival celebrating self-published authors, with two online events, which are FREE but must be booked, and two in person events in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which include panels and talks, £10 for half day, £20 for full day.
Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival – Cove and Kilcreggan, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – Storytelling Workshop 31 Jan 2026 then events throughout the year.
Just an hour from Glasgow, Cove & Kilcreggan Book Festival is held on the last weekend of November over the Saturday and Sunday. Held in the magnificent Cove Burgh Hall on the Rosneath Peninsula and overlooking Loch Long.
February – March
Bay Tales (Crime Fiction Festival) – Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear – 27 Feb – 1 Mar 2026
A rising favourite for fans of fiction and mystery in a seaside setting.
Faversham Literary Festival – Faversham, Kent – 20 Feb – 1 Mar 2026 (tentative)
A creative celebration of books, writing and community.
Jewish Book Week – London (Kings Place & other venues) – Feb – Mar (annual)
Explore Jewish literature, ideas, and culture through panels and talks at London’s longest-running literary festival.
Aldeburgh Literary Festival – Aldeburgh, Suffolk – 5 – 8 Mar 2026
Intimate festival with a broad range of genres.
Farnham Literary Festival – Farnham, Surrey – 5 – 15 Mar 2026
A long-running spring favourite with a packed schedule.
Blandford Literary Festival International Womens’ Day Celebration – Blandford Forum, Dorset– 7 Mar 2026
Blandford Literary Festival marks International Women’s Day with a dedicated celebration championing womens’ voices and womens’ lived experiences. A day of conversation, ideas, and inspiration, exploring themes of empowerment, resilience, lived experience, and history’s hidden she-roes. GRAB YOUR EARLYBIRD ALL DAY TICKETS before the price goes up.
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival – Budleigh Salterton, East Devon – 13 – 14 Mar 2026
A biannual Spring (March) and Autumn (September) festival situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on East Devon’s World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, Budleigh Salterton hosts the most outstanding literary festival in South West England. As a registered charity, our mission is to celebrate books and their authors and promote the art of writing and the enjoyment of reading in our East Devon community and in our local schools.
Oxford Literary Festival – Oxford, Oxfordshire – 21 – 29 Mar 2026
World-class author talks as spring blooms in this historic city.
Reading the Land – Shaftesbury, Dorset – 20 – 22 Mar 2026
Shaftesbury’s biennial nature focused book festival invites you to share the passion and insight of authors for whom our natural world has significance, whether through observation, participation or experience. With a range of talks from award-winning authors, and children’s activities there is something to spark curiosity in all.
Crawley Festival of Words – Crawley, West Sussex – 8 – 28 Mar 2026
WORDfest is an arts organisation that celebrates words, reading and writing in their many forms over a month long series of events. At the heart of our prgramme is our author panels, but there are also many workshops for you to unleash your own creativity.
Alderney Literary Festival – Alderney, Channel Islands – Mar 2026 dates to be announced
A boutique festival of Historical Literature, featuring the convergence of historical fact and literary fiction. This festival is kept deliberately small to create a ‘salon’ feel and encourage interaction between authors and audience.
April
Chipping Campden Literature Festival – Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire – 10 – 11 April 2026
With two dates in April and May, Chipping Campden Literature Festival is renowned for presenting a series of thought provoking, original, and wide-ranging events featuring some of the world’s greatest writers.
Travel by Book – Sherbourne, Dorset – 10 – 12 Apr 2026
Founded and curated by historian and travel writer Rory MacLean (Stalin’s Nose), Sherborne Travel Writing Festival is the leading UK festival devoted exclusively to travel writing. Early bird tickets already available.
Abergavenny Writing Festival – Abergavenny, Wales – 17 – 18 Apr 2026
A celebration of writing with workshops and community vibes.
Cambridge Literary Festival – Cambridge, Cambridgeshire – 22 – 26 Apr 2026
Join hundreds of other book lovers at our Spring Festival at venues across Cambridge.
Colonsay Book Festival – Colonsay, Hebrides, Scotland – 25 – 26 Apr 2026
The people of Colonsay, like many communities large and small, have always shared a love of books and literature, joining in book groups and participating in fringe poetry sessions at the music festival. One of the most remote and most beautiful in the Southern Hebrides, is a 2 hours, 20 minutes sail from Oban, on the west coast of Scotland. Famous for its golden beaches, such as Kiloran and Balnahard, it is home to a wealth of bird, animal and plant life, and has a fascinating history and archaeology. Whatever your interest – walking, swimming, fishing, golf, painting or photography – you will be able to enjoy it here.
Self Pub Fest – Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire – 26 Apr 2026
Morgen Bailey’s non-profit quarterly book festival celebrating self-published authors, with two online events, which are FREE but must be booked, and two in person events in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which include panels and talks, £10 for half day, £20 for full day.
Bournemouth Writing Festival – Bournemouth, Dorset – 24 – 26 Apr 2026
A multi-award-winning seaside literary event with 100 free and ticketed events and activities to inspire writers, from pitching your novel to literary agents to bestselling authors sharing their writing journey, IN MY HOME TOWN! I can vouch for it being a stupendous event to learn and network with other writers. Bournemouth Writing Festival also organises and hosts community writing events throughout the year, including a Writing Sanctuary and Romance Writing Festival in October – follow Bournemouth Writing Festival on social media to keep up with their fabulous programme of free and community events throughout the year.
May
Cromarty Crime and Thrillers Weekend – Ross and Cromarty, Scotland – 1 – 3 May 2026
A gem in the Scottish crime festival calendar. We are based in the beautiful Highland town of Cromarty, on the Black Isle. Our goals are to promote and embrace the arts, education, environment, history of the Highlands, and the conservation of buildings of historical or architectural importance.
Chipping Campden Literature Festival – Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire – 4 – 9 May 2026
With two dates in April and May, Chipping Campden Literature Festival is renowned for presenting a series of thought provoking, original, and wide-ranging events featuring some of the world’s greatest writers.
Chalfont St Giles and Jordans Literary Festival – Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire BIENNIAL – 5 – 17 May 2026
Set in the heart of the Chiltern Hills, in some of the village’s most historic buildings, a selection of speakers cover a wide variety of subjects in both serious and humorous ways.
Stratford Literary Festival – Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire – 7 – 10 May 2026
Shakespeare’s hometown celebrates books of all kinds.
Boswell Book Festival – Ayreshire, Scotland – 8 – 10 May 2026
The world’s only festival of biography and memoir draws an enthusiastic audience attracted by its unique theme. Inspired by the great Ayrshire biographer James Boswell of Auchinleck, at the heart of the Festival is a programme of stories taken from the inspirational lives of people past and present – told through talks, drama, art and music
Charleston Festival – Firle, East Sussex – 14 – 26 May 2026
Bold voices and brilliant minds share stories, spark ideas and make sense of our ever-changing world over two weeks at Charleston Farmhouse, home of the Bloomsbury set.
Beyond the Book – Brighton, East Sussex – 16 May 2026
As part of the Brighton Fringe, the Beyond the Book Festival aims to connect readers with writers, to enhance the role of reading and writing in Brighton and Hove, and to celebrate the cultural and creative city that we call home.
Bath Literature Festival – Bath, Somerset – 16 – 24 May 2026
Classic talks and events in a UNESCO World Heritage city.
Sykehouse International Film and Writers’ Festival – Doncaster, South Yorkshire – 16-17 May 2026
The festival celebrates and supports independent film makers and writers with screenings, panels, awards, and networking opportunities. Submissions are open via platforms like FilmFreeway.
Hay Festival – Hay-on-Wye, Wales – 21 – 31 May 2026
One of the world’s iconic literary festivals among the rolling hills of the Welsh Borders.
June
Belfast Book Festival – Belfast, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland – 4 – 11 Jun 2026
Books by the Beach – Scarborough, North Yorkshire – 5 – 7 Jun 2026
A coastal celebration of books, authors and readings.
Boston Book Festival Crime – Boston, Lincolnshire – 6 – 7 Jun 2026
Distinct from the boston General Book Festival in September – not to be confused with Boston USA.
Borders Book Festival – Melrose, Scottish Borders – 11 – 14 Jun 2026
Borders Book Festival hosts more than 100 events in June each year. With the latest fiction, current affairs, history, and politics, along with personalities from sport, music and entertainment, there is something for every age and interest. We also host a range of health and wellbeing sessions to take part in during the festival. Our family-friendly site is free for all to explore, where you can enjoy local artisan food and drink, browse the bookshop and marketplace, and be entertained by local artists and musicians, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Scottish Borders.
Sturminster Newton Literary Festival – Sturminster Newton, Dorset – 12 – 21 Jun 2026
A celelbration of three writers associated with the town Thomas Hardy, and Dorset dialect poets William Barnes and Robert Young – as well as current Dorset and Wessex writers. Enjoy talks by renowned authors, writing workshops, guided walks combining writing and local literature, a military history day, as well as crime and fantasy/sci-fi themed events.
Capital Crime Fest – London, England – 18 – 20 Jun 2026
One of the world’s largest celebrations of crime and thriller fiction.
Buckingham Literary Festival – Buckingham, Buckinghamshire – 19 – 21 Jun 2026
A boutique festival held in the beautiful market town of Buckingham. Over five days in June it showcases some 35 writers and thinkers in a diverse range of talks, discussions, spoken word, theatre, workshops and foodie events designed to inspire, inform, entertain – and provoke.
Barnes Children’s Literature Festival – London (Barnes) – 27 – 28 Jun 2026
A weekend dedicated to young readers with events and workshops.
Crossing the Tees Book Festival – Tees Valley Jun 2026 – held in Jun 25: dates to be confirmed
July
Self Pub Fest – ONLINE – 5 Jul 2026
Morgen Bailey’s non-profit quarterly book festival celebrating self-published authors, with two online events, which are FREE but must be booked, and two in person events in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which include panels and talks, £10 for half day, £20 for full day.
Bradford Literature Festival – Bradford, West Yorkshire 3 – 12 Jul 2026
A lively festival spanning literature, music, spoken word and more. The Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing is part of Bradford Literature Festival and is often in late September, so keep an eye on the website for dates.
Buxton International Festival – Buxton, Buckinghamshire – 9 – 26 Jul 2026
Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the UK’s leading arts festivals, Buxton International Festival is a summer celebration of the very best opera, music and literature at the heart of the beautiful Peak District.
Beaconlit Festival – Ivinghoe, Derbyshire– 11 Jul 2026
A high quality event that attracts best sellers, exciting new authors, and a wealth of eclectic talent from the book world. From panels, interviews, poetry circles an workshops, there’s something for everyone. So, if you love literature, you’re sure to love BeaconLit! All profits go to the Beacon Villages Community Library.
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival – Harrogate, North Yorkshire 23 – 26 Jul 2026
A must-visit for crime and mystery fans.
August
Edinburgh International Book Festival – Edinburgh, Scotland 15 – 30 Aug 2026
One of the world’s largest book festivals with hundreds of events.
Queen’s Park Book Festival – London (Queens Park) Aug 2026 (dates TBC)
Local author talks and literary art at community pace.
September
Chiswick Book Festival – London (Chiwick) – 9-14 Sept 2026
Bringing together top authors and their readers for a week of history, poetry, biography, creative writing, fiction, thrillers, food, wine, politics and children’s books.
Appledore Bookfest – Appledore, North Devon – 18-27 Sept 2026
Celebrating literature and arts by the sea in a beautiful maritime village. Appledore Book Festival is one of the most vibrant cultural Festivals in the UK, which attracts world-class authors, speakers & performers and plays host to almost 100 events over 10 days.
Bloody Scotland – Stirling, Scotland – 18-20 Sept 2026
Scotland’s acclaimed international crime writing festival.
Boston Book Festival – Boston, Lincolnshire – 19 – 20 Sept 2026
Distinct from the boston Crime Book Festival in June – neither to be confused with Boston USA.
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival – Budleigh Salterton, East Devon – 23 – 27 Sep 2026
A biannual Spring (March) and Autumn (September) festival situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on East Devon’s World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, Budleigh Salterton hosts the most outstanding literary festival in South West England. As a registered charity, our mission is to celebrate books and their authors and promote the art of writing and the enjoyment of reading in our East Devon community and in our local schools.
Marlborough Litfest – Marlborough, Wiltshire – 24-27 Sept 2026
Great writers are a product of this delightful market town set amid rural Wiltshire’s rolling hills and white horses. William Golding’s life at his house on The Green is vividly portrayed in his novel The Pyramid. Other famous literary sons include John Betjeman, Siegfried Sassoon and Louis MacNeice, so the town is a perfect home for the Literature Festival, which is now firmly established on both the Marlborough calendar and national literary schedule.
Barnes Bookfest – London (Barnes) – 25-27 Sept 2026
Writers of all genres meet in London’s SW13 for a weekend of books and lively debate – from politics, history and new fiction to memoir, music and art. Authors join us to discuss their writing and share insights into their research and specialist subjects.
Braemar Literary Festival – Aberdeenshire, Scotland – 25-27 Sept 2026
A weekend celebrating the power and quiet beauty of the written and spoken word and the creative use of text across all artforms.
Coastal Crime – Southampton, Hapmshire – 26 Sept 2026
Get ready for a brand-new festival celebrating crime writing in all its thrilling forms!
Cliveden Literary Festival – Cliveden House, Maidenhead, Berkshire – Sept 2026 – dates to be announced
‘The most dignified and beautiful literary festival on the planet’ Alain de Botton
Chorlton Book Festival – Manchester (Chorlton) – Sept 2026 – dates to be announced
Chorlton’s annual celebration of all the best reading and writing. There’ll be the usual mix of fiction, fact, history, poetry, family fun and er…. cake!
OCTOBER – November
Bournemouth Romance Writing Festival – Bournemouth, Dorset – 3 Oct 2026
Features talks, workshops and activities in this genre, as well as Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Fforde (From London with Love).
Chiltern Kills – Gerrard Cross, Buckinghamshire – 3 Oct 2026
The single most intense one day of crime & thriller writing entertainment, with many of the biggest names in crime writing & celeb moderators, all together with @centrepointuk to help young people escape and avoid homelessness.
Henley Literary Festival Henley-on-Thames 3-11 Oct 2026
Self Pub Fest – Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire– 4 Oct 2026
Morgen Bailey’s non-profit quarterly book festival celebrating self-published authors, with two online events, which are FREE but must be booked, and two in person events in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which include panels and talks, £10 for half day, £20 for full day.
Berwick Literary Festival – Berwick-upon-Tweed, England! – 5 – 11 Oct 2026
Since 2014, Berwick Literary Festival has brought together writers, thinkers, and audiences – from the locality and far beyond – to explore the power of words. Set in the heart of historic Berwick-upon-Tweed – crowned ‘The happiest place to live in the UK’ in 2025 by The Guardian – the festival is a place for conversation, creativity, and community.
Bury St Edmunds Literary Festival – Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk – 8 – 11 Oct 2026
Although Bury St Edmunds has a rich literary history, it was only in 2017, that a literature festival for the town was established. The festival was founded by a small committee of passionate book lovers keen to make space for the celebration of books and writing in Bury’s cultural calendar.
Cheltenham Literary Festival – Cheltenhem, Gloucestershire – 9 – 18 Oct 2026
Butser Book Festival – Waterlooville, Hampshire – Oct 2026 dates to be announced
Ilkley Literature Festival – Ilkley, West Yorkshire – Oct 2026 dates to be announced
For over 50 years, Ilkley Literature Festival has been bringing together the very best writers of contemporary fiction, non-fiction and poetry with book-loving audiences. Every autumn, we are joined by 14,000 readers and 100+ writers in creating conversations, tackling tricky topics and encouraging exploration. Discover new writers, encounter new ideas and enjoy a very warm Yorkshire welcome!
Durham Book Festival – Durham, Co. Durham – Oct 2026 dates to be announced
Birmingham Literature Festival – Birmingham, West Midlands – Oct 2026 dates to be announced
Taking place every Autumn, the Birmingham Literature Festival is a leading festival in the Midlands, showcasing the very best writers, speakers, thinkers, activists and artists from the UK and across the world. We programme and commission a wide range of innovative literature and literature-inspired work, creating unique opportunities for audiences to experience high quality events via our annual festival programmes and associated projects. We work with a wide range of partners and venues, presenting live events and activities across the city, as well as in digital formats and online.
Black British Book Festival – London – Oct 2026 dates to be announced
More than just an event—the BBBF is a movement dedicated to uplifting and celebrating Black British literature. Since its inception, BBBF has become a powerful platform for amplifying the voices and stories of Black British authors, creating spaces where diverse narratives can flourish, and nurturing a vibrant community committed to enhancing visibility and opportunities for Black British writers.
Dorchester Literary Festival – Dorchester, Dorset – 17-25 Oct 2026
A major literary festival, which attracts a stellar line-up of authors.
Petworth Literary Festival – Petworth, West Sussex – 28 Oct – 8 Nov 2026
Debates, discussions, and appearances from well-known literary figures. Tickets usually go on sale in mid-September.
Bridport Literary Festival – Bridport, Dorset – 31 Oct – 7 Nov 2026
Spawned from the internationally celebrated Bridport Prize, the Festival was conceived over two decades ago to deliver a programme of literary events to be enjoyed by the local community and audiences from across West Dorset. Since BridLit was registered as a charity in 2012, the Festival has grown in stature to be recognised nationally and enjoyed both by writers and all lovers of literature from across the country.
Clapham Book Festival – London (Clapham) – Oct 2026 dates to be confirmed
Organised by Clapham Writers, a registered charitable organisation. We bring books and writing to Clapham through our annual festival and online Zoom talks, as well as raising income from local sponsors and public donations to present free events at Clapham Library and elsewhere.
BerkoFest Book Festival – Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire – Oct or Nov 2026 dates to be confirmed
An exciting mixture of internationally acclaimed names. Ranging from Sunday Times top-selling fiction and nonfiction writers to musicians to comedians to scientists, and sports people, many of whom have won prizes and awards in their areas of expertise.
Swanage Literary Festival – The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage, Dorset – early November 2026
Blandford Literary Festival – Blandford Forum, Dorset – 14 Nov 2026
Inspired by a shared love of words and a desire to use the beautiful town of Blandford and its fabulous buildings to take people on an exciting journey incorporating stories, plays, poems, song and much more. This is an opportunity to bring people, businesses and schools together.
Kendal Mountain Book Festival – Kendal, Cumbria – 19-22 Nov 2026
Part of the famous Kendal Mountain Festival, a four-day event celebrating adventure, exploration, and literature in the Lake District. You can also find related tours and content through their online streaming platform, Kendal Mountain Player, and Kendal Mountain Festival UK Tour events happening from February to May 2026.
Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival – Cove and Kilcreggan, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 28-29 Nov 2026
Just an hour from Glasgow, Cove & Kilcreggan Book Festival is held on the last weekend of November over the Saturday and Sunday. Held in the magnificent Cove Burgh Hall on the Rosneath Peninsula and overlooking Loch Long. In addition to the main festival, there are other events throughout the year
Angus Bookfest – Montrose, Angus, Scotland – Nov 2026 dates to be confirmed
An annual event held to coincide with Book Week Scotland.
BOOKMARK Blair – Blairgowrie, Scotland – Nov 2026 dates to be confirmed
BOOKMARK’s October Festival is an engaging mix of household names and the up-and-coming; from prize-winners entertaining newcomers; what BOOKMARK promises is a first-class experience promoting the best of the world of books from Scotland and beyond. BOOKMARK organises not only a two-day Festival in October, but also holds local ‘Meet the Author’ events for adults and local schools.
Clevedon Litfest – Clevedon, Somerset – 2026 dates to be confirmed
A destination for quality cultural offerings for everyone. Enhancing and enriching our community, bringing a greater sense of connection and belonging, as well as individual wellbeing.
Creative Folkstone Book Festival – Folkstone, Kent – 2026 dates to be confirmed
Festival Links & Where to Book
I have tried to include the main literary festivals by month to help you plan your diary. I have also included the online events which I have not advertised widely elsewhere. For an extensive alphabetical list of UK literary festivals, large and small, check out UK Literary Festivals. You will find that many towns around the country hold their own – so there WILL be one near you! Happy Festival Season!
Tips for Festival-Goers
- Book early – ticket-popular talks sell out fast, especially at Hay and Edinburgh.
- Mix big with small – seaside, community and regional events can be just as magical as the headline names.
- Plan travel & stays early – some literary festivals coincide with peak local tourism.
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Jacqueline Lambert 