Wells Festival of Literature has been a fixture in the calendar for over 30 years. The literature festival now runs for 9 days. In 2026, the festival will run from 16 – 24 October. Cedars Hall is the venue for all the events except the Wells Literary Quiz which usually takes place in a local hostelry. Cedars Hall is a state-of-the-art event venue with a well-stocked bar. It’s designed to hold concerts, so the acoustics are fantastic and the seats are comfortable!
Wells festival of literature helps the community
Wells Festival of Literature not only provides entertaining and thought-provoking talks it also makes a real difference to school children in the local community. Profits from the festival help to support important educational projects in Somerset.
2025 was the most successful Wells Literature Festival to date with record ticket sales. Around 9,000 people attended the huge range of events. This will help to fund trips for pupils to talks by a well-known author or two and help to provide subsidised books, theatre trips and transportation to other literary events. A large part of the festival’s work is to encourage young people to love books and reading. Incredibly worthwhile aims.
Following the brilliant charitable work of the festival, in 2025, the High Sheriff of Somerset bestowed an award for its “great and valuable services to the community”. Wells Festival of Literature is the largest volunteer-run literary festival in the country! An award was long overdue.
BUYing TICKETS for the festivaL
In 2026, tickets to the Wells Festival of Literature will go on general sale on Monday 24 August. General admission to an event is £12.50 (plus a £1 booking fee). Student tickets are £6 (plus £1 booking fee). ‘Friends’ of the festival receive a discount. Becoming a ‘Friend’ of Wells Festival of Literature has a number of benefits. Alongside helping to fund educational projects, a Friend of the festival receives a discount on tickets (£10 per ticket instead of £12.50), priority booking and invites to unique events. You can find out more here.
In 2026, Friends of Wells Literature Festival can book a place at a talk by author Jayne Chard. The event takes place on Thursday 9 July at Cedars Hall, Wells. Friends of the festival can also buy tickets to events a week earlier than the general public.
The festival always attracts some well-known authors and many events sell-out quickly. Tickets can be purchased via the Wells Festival of Literature website. It is sometimes possible to buy unsold tickets ‘on the door’ at Cedars Hall.
Talks by authors take place from lunchtime onwards. Several of the events include a two course lunch.
Above: Robert Harris in conversation with William Waldergrave
Wells Festival of literature 2026 itinerary
Literature Festival speakers include journalist and broadcaster Stephen Sackur, bestselling author of Storyland Amy Jeffs and archaeologist Dr Jess Venner who will be discussing The Lost Voices of Pompeii. Wine expert Oz Clarke is set to appear on Wednesday 21 October.
Other confirmed authors include; Rory Cormac, Arthur Snell and Rebecca Seal. You can also hear from geographer Nicholas Crane, scientist Daisy Fancourt and writer Rachel Seiffert.
Lady Hale is back again. She was the first woman to serve as President of the Supreme Court and famously ruled that Boris Johnson’s suspension of parliament was unlawful. MasterChef two-time champion, Ping Coombes is also attending the festival, as is Dame Maggie Aderin.
16 October
6pm – 7pm Patrick Gale in conversation with George Miller
7.45pm – 8.45pm Stephen Sackur in conversation with George Miller
17 October
10.30am – 11.30am Katja Hoyer
12.15pm – 1.15pm Adrian Woolridge in conversation with William Waldegrave
2pm – 3pm Louisa Young in conversation with Sarah LeFanu
3.45pm – 4.45pm Jess Venner
5.30pm – 6.30pm Jonathan Dimbleby in conversation with George Miller
7.15pm – 8.15pm Martin Sixsmith in conversation with Danial Sixsmith
18 October
12pm – 1pm Martin Gayford
2.30pm – 3.30pm Rachel Seiffert
4.15pm – 5.15pm Richard Elwes
6pm – 7pm Rory Cormac in conversation with Tim Willasey-Wilsey
7.15pm for a 7.45pm start. Literary Quiz
19 October
2pm – 5pm Poetry readings and prize giving (Free event)
6pm – 7pm Damien Lewis
7.45pm – 8.45pm Peter Ormerod in conversation with Chris Salmon
20 October
2pm – 3pm LUNCH with Elizabeth Goldring
4.15pm – 5.15pm Daisey Fancourt in conversation with Lucinda Hawksley
6pm – 7pm Arthur Snell in conversation with Charlie Taylor
7.45pm – 8.45pm Sophia Smith Galer
21 October
2pm – 3pm LUNCH with Sara Wheeler
4.15pm – 5.15pm Florence Hazrat
6pm – 7pm Oz Clarke in conversation with Neil Tully
7.45pm – 8.45pm Henry Normal
22 October
4.15pm – 5.15pm Amy Jeffs
6pm – 7pm Gavin Francis in conversation with Charlie Taylor
7.45pm – 8.45pm Oliver Bullough
23 October
2pm – 3pm LUNCH with Kate Williams
4.15pm – 5.15pm Rebecca Seal in conversation with Jo Durrant
6pm – 7pm Dan Cruickshank in conversation with David Lister
7.45pm – 8.45pm Andrea Wulf
24 October
10.30am – 11.30am Ping Coombes in conversation with Caroline Waldegrave
12.15pm – 1.15pm Nicholas Crane
2pm – 3pm Lady Hale in conversation with David Lister
3.45pm – 4.45pm Cathy Rentzenbrink in conversation with Jo Durrant
5.30pm – 6.30pm Blake Morrison in conversation with George Miller
7.15pm – 8.15pm Maggie Aderin in conversation with Charlie Taylor
An event that channels its profits into the education of children should be applauded. The many sponsors, patrons and volunteers do a fantastic job. The literature festival is another of Somerset’s great festivals. Long may it continue.
If you are traveling to the festival, The Cross at Croscombe is just a couple of miles from Wells.
Show case your literary talent
The Wells Festival of Literature, International Competition opened on 1 April. A total of £5,000 in prize money is on offer! There are four categories, Open poetry, Book for children, Short story and Young poet. Entries for the first 3 categories close on 30 June, while the Young poet category is open for entries until 31 July. Find out more. Good luck!