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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2020 International Competitions: Now Open
The first day of April is a very familiar date! But as far as Wells Festival of Literature is concerned, that’s because it’s the day our competitions traditionally open. And this year, despite all the change and uncertainty around us, is no exception – we are delighted to declare our competitions officially open. Entries can…
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2019 Festival: Starts with Pizzaz!
The 27th Wells Festival of Literature opened yesterday evening with a packed audience at a sell-out event – Diarmaid MacCulloch’s fascinating revelations about Thomas Cromwell. Following the life of Cromwell, we were treated to the life of Johnny Normal, brought to us by his dad Henry. This brilliant and inspirational talk about life with an…
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2019 Festival: Change of Speaker
We are sorry to report that Peter Hennessy, who was due to speak at a Literary Lunch on Friday 25 October, has had to pull out of the Festival for health reasons. Lord Hennessy was due to discuss his book Winds of Change with Festival Patron William Waldegrave and we are very grateful to Lord…
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2019 Festival: Additional tit-bits!
Our 29th Festival will be jam-packed with appetising events – including a mouth-watering discussion between Felicity Cloake and Caroline Waldegrave at 10.30am on Saturday 26 October: One more Croissant for the Road. Other appetising attractions include our Literary Lunches which take place in the Dining Hall, a short stroll across from Cedars Hall. The speaker…