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 incredible 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 probably long overdue.
BUYing TICKETS for the festivaL
In 2025, tickets to the Wells Festival of Literature went on general sale at the beginning of August. General admission to an event was £12.50 (plus a booking fee). Student tickets were £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.
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 speakers
Literature Festival speakers already confirmed for 2026 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.
Other confirmed authors include; Rory Cormac, Arthur Snell and Rebecca Seal. Many more esteemed authors, politicians and celebrities are bound to be announced in the coming weeks.
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!