Welcome to
our Festival
Save the Date
16-24 October 2026
Set up in 1992 to celebrate the written word
2026 Speakers
2026 Brochure
Our 2026 Sponsors
Principal Festival Sponsor
Become A Friend – Enjoy Priority Booking 17 August
General Sales Open 24 August
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
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.
IN 2025
VISITORS A YEAR
News
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Destiny In The Stars
Budding astronomers inspired by the recent solar eclipse can reach for the skies once more duringthe Festival.Dame Maggie Aderin, space scientist and presenter of BBC4’s The Sky at Night, will tell the fascinating story of how her destiny was always written in the stars.Her memoir Starchild: My Life Under the Night Sky reveals how she…
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Young Poets’ Record High
A record number of 170 entries has been received in the Young Poets’ category of this year’s Festival competitions, beating 2021’s previous high of 106 entries during the second Covid lockdown. Entries for 2026 closed on Friday 31 July. This increase in numbers follows an extended deadline of an extra month for Young Poets, aged…
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A Homage To Rice
Rice will be at the heart of the chef slot this year with the appearance of Malaysian-born chef Ping Coombes whose new book is called, quite simply, Rice. Her book is a homage to the grain, in which she offers advice and timeless recipes, along with tips on the different ways to cook rice perfectly…
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Author’s life of crime
Former film and TV producer Jayne Chard gave a fascinating account at a special event for Festival Friends of how her career has evolved into her becoming a best-selling author of murder mysteries. In a talk ranging from tales of making action movies in the Australian outback – where everything in the bush “wants to…
