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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This Book Is The Business
Congratulations to innovative academic Tim Minshall who has been long listed for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year award. His book Your Life is Manufactured, subtitled How We Make Things, Why It Matters and How We Can Do It Better, is in the category Growth. Minshall takes an eye-opening journey through…
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From night owls to nightshifts
Nightmares, nightshifts and night owls all get a mention in Dan Richards‘ fascinating book Overnight in which he travels, goes on bat hunts, and has conversations with ferrymen, street sleepers and the Dusty Knuckle bakers. For Dan there is something special about the night. It’s the time when things go bump, owls take wing and…
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Regency romp revisited
Comedian Rachel Parris, best known for her TV appearances on The Mash Report and Late Night Mash, brings some racy romance to the Festival with a witty sequel to Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. Her new book Introducing Mrs Collins takes up the story of Charlotte Lucas who married pompous clergyman Mr Collins, upsetting…
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Pick of popular scientists
Science writers Masud Husain and Tim Minshall, both speakers at this year’s Festival, have been picked for the shortlist of a prestigious award for popular science writing. They are among just six writers selected from 254 entries in the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize for 2025. The shortlisted titles represent the judges’ pick of…
