Save the Date
16-24 October 2026

We are delighted to announce that former England left-hander Brian Rose will be coming to Wells on Friday 26 October to discuss all aspects of cricket with Mike Brearley. Mike’s latest book On Cricket is a wonderful compendium of anecdotes and observations about the game. Brian of course is best remembered for leading Somerset to their…

Huge congratulations to forthcoming Festival speaker Liz Berry who has won the Forward Prize in the category ‘best single poem’. This much coveted award was made for her wonderful poem The Republic of Motherhood which features in her current collection of the same name.  The Forward Prize has played a key role in bringing contemporary poetry…

Now that the holiday season is here and the glorious sunshine is begging to be soaked up in the company of a good book, the Wells Festival of Literature has some wonderful recommendations for your holiday reading. To start with, there is Hannah Fry’s inspirational book Hello World which has just been shortlisted for the 2018…

When Michael and Anne Heseltine were delayed on their way to speak to last October’s Festival audience about the creation of their magnificent garden at Thenford in Northamptonshire, disappointment threatened.  When William and Caroline Waldegrave took to the stage instead, that danger was averted! The Waldegraves know the garden well, having visited it in the…