Stratford Literary Festival

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Stratford Literary Festival

Four days in spring and autumn packed with celebrity guests, bestselling authors, workshops and family fun

Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival takes place in spring each year and features a variety of events including celebrity authors and personalities, panel discussions, writing workshops, guidance on getting published and discussions on politics and current affairs. The Festival takes authors into schools, and has a Children's Book day featuring authors, illustrators and workshops. The festival also runs projects based in the community, working especially with the elderly.

02/09/2026

What’s a family story that gets told differently depending on who’s telling it?

Maybe it’s an argument, a holiday, a childhood memory - the details changing depending on who was older, who was in the room, who’s telling it now.

That’s exactly what author Jarred McGinnis explores in his workshop, Memory and Story. Bring a parent, sibling, close friend, or come alone, and learn techniques for drawing out the memories that shape your shared history - whether for family history, fiction, or just for the joy of it.

📅 Thursday 29th October, 10am–12pm
📍 Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon
🎟️ £30 / £28 students

Book via the link in our bio!

30/08/2026

We have not one but two talented Gregs with us this autumn; here’s another one of them 📚

Actor and writer Greg Wise, known for his roles in Sense and Sensibility and The Crown (and husband to Emma Thompson), joins us to talk about his book Grief Talking, a candid and moving exploration of loss, drawing on his own experiences to encourage a more open, honest conversation around grief.

A thoughtful session for anyone navigating loss, or supporting someone who is.

📅 Sunday 1st November
🕗 5:30pm

Tickets are on sale now - book via the link in our bio.

28/08/2026

She’s ALWAYS a best seller and there’s only 3 tickets left for one of her inspiring workshops on 29th October (the morning session has already sold out).

Under Alix’s expert guidance you’ll create something to be really proud of. But be quick! Once places have gone they’ve gone. Booking link in our bio.

26/08/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Bonnie Garmus to Stratford-upon-Avon 📚

Bonnie shot to global fame with her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry, a bestseller translated into over forty languages and adapted into an Apple TV series. Now she returns with her hugely anticipated second novel, Peck & Peck, a witty and heartfelt story following a young man who finds himself thrown into the secretive, high-stakes world of a prestigious New York poetry journal.

Expect the same wit, warmth and sharp observation that made Lessons in Chemistry a phenomenon.

📅 Sunday 1st November
🕗 5:30pm

Tickets are on sale now - book via the link in our bio.

23/08/2026

Fancy a last day of half-term treat for the children? 🍩📚

We can’t wait to welcome the Phoenix Comic artist Neill Cameron to Stratford Literary Festival, bringing his hugely popular and bonkers Donut Squad to the stage - the hilarious graphic novel series about a gang of donuts with big plans for world domination, and sworn enemies of the dastardly Bagel Battalion.

A brilliant and special way to round off half term before it’s back to school on Monday!

📅 Sunday 1st November
🕗 11:00am

Tickets are on sale now - book via the link in our bio.

19/08/2026

We’re excited to welcome Greg James to Stratford Literary Festival 🎙️📚

You’ll know Greg as the host of BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show and Radio 4 Rewinder, alongside his podcasts and bestselling children’s books, and now he’s bringing his warmth and humour to the stage with his first book for adults, All the Best for the Future.

Part reflection, part life guide, the book is a funny and heartfelt look at growing up without losing your sense of fun along the way - described by the Sunday Times as “brilliantly funny and life-affirming.” Plus his wife, bestselling author Bella Mackie, will be interviewing him! We can’t wait to hear all about it.

📅 Saturday 31st October
🕗 8:00pm

Tickets are on sale now - book via the link in our bio.

16/08/2026

Have you seen our Autumn Festival programme and felt tempted to join us? 📚

We’ll let some of our Spring Festival attendees do the talking...

From “inspiring” to “informative”, “something for everyone”, and, rather wonderfully, “a life highlight”... not bad, if we say so ourselves! 🤭

We’d love to see you this October - take a look at the full programme and book your tickets now via the link in our bio. (OR INSERT FOR FB)

14/08/2026

Booking is now open for our Autumn Festival! 🍂📚

Swipe through to see just a few of the fantastic speakers joining us this October, from bestselling authors to familiar faces from screen and stage.

Tickets are going fast - book yours now via the link in our bio.

06/08/2026

Our Autumn Festival programme is here 🍂📚

We're delighted to welcome some fantastic names to Stratford this October, including Greg James, Bonnie Garmus, Matt Baker, Joanne Harris, Bella Mackie and Sir Nicholas Hytner - alongside many more brilliant authors and speakers.

Booking dates:
📅 Friends & Benefactors: Monday 10th August
📅 General sale: Friday 14th August

The full programme is ready to explore - https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events

31/07/2026

Big drink for a rather parched tree in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church today. His twin Judith was pretty thirsty too.

It’s lovely that so many visitors - including the two ladies from Australia who came over for a chat - are enjoying the tribute to Shakespeare’s children we helped make happen with Maggie O'Farrell.

Address

Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37

Website

http://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/

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