Welcome to
our Festival
Save the Date
16-24 October 2026
Set up in 1992 to celebrate the written word
Our 2026 Sponsors
Principal Festival Sponsor
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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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…
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Trio in Top 40 reads
Three of the Festival’s speakers have appeared in a list of the top 40 summer books featured in the Sunday Times. Andrea Wulf, Katja Hoyer and Jess Venner are all named as well worth a look in the newspaper’s guide to summer reading. Andrea Wulf’s The Traveller follows the fascinating life of George Forster who,…
