Literature Festival
Where stories, ideas and debate take centre stage.
The world’s longest-running Literature Festival returns with conversations that challenge, entertain and inspire — from leading writers and thinkers to unforgettable live moments across the town.
Save the dates
- Festival dates: 9 – 18 October 2026
- Programme announcement: Coming soon
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Take a look at last year's brochures:
Explore What's On See all events
Is It Going to Rain?
How do meteorologists predict storms? Has weather ever started a war? Can we change the weather? Explore the fascinating world of weather and weather forecasting, revealing the science behind the thing we most love to talk about. Simon…
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
Ten years after its first release, A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived: The Stories in Our Genes returns in a fully updated anniversary edition. Join author and geneticist Adam Rutherford to explore it live.In conversation with…
Why Are We Obsessed with True Crime?
Get to grips with humanity's dark side with psychologist and co-host of the Bad People podcast Julia Shaw, former forensic scientist-turned-comedian Ria Lina and psychologist and behavioural geneticist Kathryn Paige Harden. Whether it's…
VOICEBOX: DAVID LARBI: FREQUENTLY HAPPY
Writer, creator and musician David Larbi shares a mix of poetry and conversation rooted in wellbeing. With over 1.4 million social media followers, David has built a community that celebrates emotional connection. Drawing on his book…
TikTok Science
Can you separate science-fact from science-fiction? Join Jamie Gallagher as we put TikTok experiments to the test and recreate some of social media’s bestloved science stunts. How explosive can Mentos and Coke really be? Can a candle trick…
The Science of Wine
Join Josh Smalley and John Manley for a deep dive into the science behind wine. From the quantum mechanics behind its colour to the chemistry hidden in every sip, discover why the science of wine is rich, suprising and deliciously…
Cheltenham Literature Festival is the world’s longest-running literature Festival, leading the way in celebrating the written and spoken word. Each year we present the best new voices in fiction and poetry alongside literary greats, high-profile speakers and inspiring thinkers.
We recently marked the Festival's 75th anniversary where we were joined by our President Dame Judi Dench as well as more than 100,000 visitors.
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Booking for our Literature for Schools programme is now open!
View the full programme and book tickets for your school...Latest Festivals News
Pick Up Your 2026 Festival Brochures
Tuesday 10 February 2026Looking for a brochure? Pick one up at any of the following locations from Tuesday 10 February.Explore the Festival line-ups here.Please note: brochures for Members, Patrons and pre-orders have been posted to your address.
The Times And Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival Celebrates The Power Of Storytelling With Record-Breaking Crowds
Monday 27 October 2025The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2025 has concluded with a landmark edition, marking a record-breaking year for ticket sales and reaffirming the enduring power of literature festivals. Over ten vibrant days,…
Run an Event at Cheltenham Science Festival 2026
Thursday 25 September 2025Cheltenham Science Festival 2026 is taking place from 2 – 7 June 2026. The Festival is a celebration of all things science (where science means science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, communicated using all…