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
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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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voice from the grave
Former war correspondent and best-selling author Damien Lewis brings to life WWII Special Forces hero Archie Gibson in his new book Behind Enemy Lines. Gibson miraculously survived a harrowing attack in the desert by an 88mm German gun and went on to spearhead a string of daring missions by the Long Range Desert Group patrol,…
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Climate Upheaval
After a summer of wildfires, drought and natural disasters across the world – and the first hosepipe ban in Somerset in 50 years – climate and geopolitics expert Arthur Snell should prove a fascinating guest at the Festival. In his book Elemental he suggests that, while natural disasters and increased scarcity of food shake the…
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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…
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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…
