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Wells Festival of Literature

Welcome to
our Festival


16-24 October 2026

Set up in 1992 to celebrate the written word

Tickets now on sale

  • FRI
    16th
    OCT
  • SAT
    17th
    OCT
  • SUN
    18th
    OCT
  • MON
    19th
    OCT
  • TUE
    20th
    OCT
  • WED
    21st
    OCT
  • THU
    22nd
    OCT
  • FRI
    23rd
    OCT
  • SAT
    24th
    OCT

2026 Speakers

  • Patrick Gale

    Fiction

  • Stephen Sackur

    Current Affairs

  • Katja Hoyer

    History

  • Adrian Wooldridge

    Current Affairs

  • Louisa Young

    Literature

  • Jess Venner

    History

  • Jonathan Dimbleby

    Current Affairs

  • Martin Sixsmith

    Current Affairs

  • Martin Gayford

    Art

  • Rachel Seiffert

    Literature

  • Richard Elwes

    Science

  • Rory Cormac

    Current Affairs

  • Wells Literary Quiz

    Quiz

  • International Competitions

    International Competitons

  • Damien Lewis

    History

  • Peter Ormerod

    Music

  • Elizabeth Goldring

    Art

  • Daisy Fancourt

    Health

  • Arthur Snell

    Current Affairs

  • Sophia Smith Galer

    Language

  • Sara Wheeler

    Biography

  • Florence Hazrat

    Literature

  • Oz Clarke

    Food and Drink

  • Henry Normal

    Poetry

  • Amy Jeffs

    History

  • Gavin Francis

    Health

  • Oliver Bullough

    Current Affairs

  • Kate Williams

    History

  • Rebecca Seal

    Health

  • Dan Cruickshank

    Art

  • Andrea Wulf

    Biography

  • Ping Coombes

    Food

  • Nicholas Crane

    Travel

  • Lady Hale

    Current Affairs

  • Cathy Rentzenbrink

    Health/Centenary

  • Blake Morrison

    Memoir

  • Maggie Aderin

    Memoir

Our 2026 Sponsors

Principal Festival Sponsor

2026 Brochure

Download PDF Brochure View Digital 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

  • Sam Sedgman – Year 6 Festival Event
  • St John’s visit to Waterstones
  • Enjoying their books & an ice cream to follow the Waterstones visit.
  • Launch of Make The Sunshine in Shepton Mallet supported by WFL.
  • Students from Whitstone visit Blossoms Cafe to discuss their new books from Waterstones.
  • Ashcott & West Pennard meet as part of the Small Schools Book Club
  • Books donated to Bishop Henderson Sch
  • A.F. Harrold at St Aldhelm’s
  • St Aldhelm’s visit Waterstones
  • High Sheriff of Somerset visits the Festival

  • Hugh Sexey Middle Sch visit to Waterstones
  • Emily Lloyd-Gale at St John’s
  • Dicheat School Book Club meet to discuss The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
  • Wookey Sch reading their new books
  • Fleur Hitchcock visits Longvernal Primary
  • St John’s enjoy a visit from Tracey Corderoy
  • Waterstones visit by Bishop Henderson Sch

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.

SPENT IN 2025 ON PROJECTS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS
CHILDREN INVOLVED
IN 2025
EVENTS
HAPPY FESTIVAL
VISITORS A YEAR

News


  • Personal Poems On Request

    Personal Poems On Request

    Kit the Poet is packing up his portable typewriter and bringing it to the Festival where he will write poems on demand. For a personal poem, all you need to do is pick a topic, approach the poet, watch while he taps out your poem, and pay him what you think is a fair price.…

    16 October 2025
  • Fine Food at the Festival

    Fine Food at the Festival

    Eight local eateries just a short walk from Cedars Hall are offering Discounted Dining for festivalgoers who book in advance. Just give them a call, show your Festival tickets on arrival, and you will receive a discount of 10% on your bill. The eight are: The Thai food stall Secret Recipe will no longer be…

    10 October 2025
  • Still time to book the Quiz

    Still time to book the Quiz

    Brainy bookworms have the chance to test their literary know-how at the Festival’s fun quiz night at Cedars Hall. Once again quirky quizmaster Gary Wigglesworth, author of The Book Lover’s Quiz Book, will host another lively evening of testing teasers. The former bookseller began writing and hosting his own quizzes when he discovered that it…

    7 October 2025
  • Small boats, big Hearts

    Small boats, big Hearts

    We Came By Sea, by Horatio Clare, gives a different side to the small boats crisis from the one we hear on the news every day. Instead, the travel writer and memoirist reveals a side to the British people that is rarely acknowledged. It is the story of the volunteers who help thousands of refugees…

    3 October 2025
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Competitions
Education
Friends
  • Nick Trend with visitor
  • Physics Students meet Frank Close

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