Welcome to
our Festival
Save the Date
16-24 October 2026
Set up in 1992 to celebrate the written word
Wells Festival of Literature
Celebrating its 34th Year in 2026
Wells Festival of Literature is a registered charity entirely run by a committee of volunteers, funded by ticket sales, competition entries and generous local sponsors and Friends.
IN 2025
VISITORS A YEAR
Education projects
Fleur Hitchcock visits Longvernal Primary
Dicheat School Book Club meet to discuss The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
St John’s enjoy a visit from Tracey Corderoy
Wookey Sch reading their new books
Waterstones visit by Bishop Henderson Sch
Emily Lloyd-Gale at St John’s
Following a visit from A.F. Harrold:
“It was an enriching session that enhanced our pupils’ appreciation and understanding of poetry. Huge thanks to the Education Team at The Wells Festival of Literature for organising and funding this visit!”
Fairlands Middle School – Cheddar
News
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Mariella to launch our 2023 Festival
Somerset resident and one of the UK’s most recognised cultural critics, Mariella Frostrup is the natural choice to launch our 31st Festival! Having spent 20 years presenting Open Book on BBC Radio 4, she now helms a current affairs and culture show on @TimesRadio which airs at lunchtime on Monday to Thursday. Mariella has also…
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The pictures speak volumes
As you can probably guess from Jo Shepherd’s comprehensive pictorial round-up of our 30th Anniversary Festival, it was a record-breaking event – and hugely welcome. Although we were proud of the fact that we kept the Festival going through the past two Covid-affected ‘lean years’, we were understandably saddened by the empty seats in Cedars…
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Dotting the i i i i i i i i i i i ….. And crossing the t t t t t t t
You’ve booked your tickets, double-checked the time your event/s will start and googled how best to get to Cedars Hall!What else is there? Will there be any Covid restrictions at the Festival? There are currently no special measures in place and no requirements regarding social distancing or mask-wearing. We want everyone to feel comfortable at…
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It promises an unforgettable nine days in October
As Richard Manning, Festival Chairman, revealed first to a specially invited audience in Cedars Hall, the Festival will open with the magnificent actor Sheila Hancock talking about her Old Rage, and close with best-selling author Robert Harris on a thrilling hunt for the murderers of Charles I. Two more disparate books would be hard to find!…