The Swindon Festival of Literature has announced it will return to Swindon, Wiltshire, from 4 to 10 May 2026. This year marks the 33rd year of the event, which brings writers and readers together for a week of talks and performances across the town.
Festival Organiser Matt Holland confirmed the dates and noted that the full programme will be released at 12 midday (BST) on Thursday 2 April 2026. Residents will be able to view the complete schedule when the programme is launched at midday on 2 April; ticket booking is typically available at the time of the launch and popular events often sell out quickly.
The festival will begin with its traditional Dawn Chorus event at 5:30am (BST) on 4 May 2026 in Lawn Woods. This early morning gathering usually features poetry and live performances to mark the start of the week-long celebration.
Other planned activities include author talks held at the Swindon Arts Centre, local libraries, and bookshops. The line-up also features a film night and a competition for very short stories called the Flash Fiction Slam.
The week will conclude with a Children & Families Activities Day on 10 May 2026. Mr Holland said the festival aims to provide a space for people to “talk and really listen to one another” through the world of books and stories.
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