Welcome to
our Festival
16-24 October 2026
Set up in 1992 to celebrate the written word
Tickets now on sale
2026 Speakers
Our 2026 Sponsors
Principal Festival Sponsor
2026 Brochure
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
Education projects
Wells Festival of Literature
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
News
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Happy Days!
Looking back on the 2024 Festival, it’s almost impossible to decide who enjoyed it most. Was it the speakers themselves? There were 35 of them, each with a very different tale to tell, all fascinating and all inspirational in the telling. But then what about the interviewers, including our dedicated Festival Associates? It certainly looks…
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Changes to the Festival programme
As often happens, speakers change their plans after our brochure has been printed. Luckily, however, we are almost always able to find a suitable replacement. The following speakers will not after all be appearing at Wells this year: Marianna Spring, Zeinab Badawi, Michael Taylor. But we do have excellent replacements for all of them: Rafael…
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A Game Changer
Not long until the 2024 Festival kicks off but as we warm up for the starting line there has been some unexpected movement on the field and, in true championship style, we have a few last minute changes in the line-up. Charlie Taylor the well-known BBC Radio Somerset radio presenter, cricket commentator and podcaster will…
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Getting ahead of ourselves!
The 2024 Festival starts on Friday 18 October but if you were in Cedars Hall on 11 July, you might well have thought it had already begun! Those who were lucky enough to be invited to a packed Cedars Hall enjoyed a foretaste of what lies ahead. Mike Gunton, Creative Director of the BBC Natural…
