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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2019 Competitions: Closing Soon
As competition entries zoom in from all corners of the globe towards the smallest city in England, it’s time to warn potential competitors that the gate will shortly be closing… All our 2019 competitions end at midnight on 30 June – so you still have some time to get creative. But please don’t wait too…
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2019 Festival: Sneak Preview
Even before this year’s Festival events are all confirmed, we can guarantee that it will feature a fantastic finale – an event quite unlike anything we have ever staged before. The legendary Liverpool poet Roger McGough will join forces with a toe-tapping trio of musicians known as LiTTLe MACHiNe (all are pictured here in a…
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2019 Competitions: Our Judge Chosen as Poet Laureate!
Congratulations to this year’s poetry judge for his recent elevation: It was announced on 10 May 2019 that Her Majesty The Queen ‘has been pleased to approve the appointment of Simon Armitage as the next Poet Laureate for a fixed-term of ten years’. We are delighted with this news and wish Simon all the very…
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Exclusive: Our First 2019 Event
On Monday 15 July local writer and historian Ben Kane will be speaking at Cedars Hall at a very special – invitation only – event for our Friends and supporters. Known chiefly for his hugely enjoyable and engaging historical novels set in Roman times, Ben is also highly respected for his meticulous research and authentic…