Exeter Unesco City of Literature

Exeter Unesco City of Literature A UNESCO designated City of Literature since 2019. We champion stories and storytellers locally and globally.

Exeter's UNESCO City of Literature designation enables us to bring literary skills, events, and opportunities to Exeter and Devon through a large international network. As an Arts Council supported organisation, we're committed to supporting creativity and culture in our communities, and we believe in the power of words to imagine new possibilities. Follow us for the latest literary news and events in Exeter and beyond!

Our friends and colleagues on the MA Publishing course at University of Exeter are launching the first issue of 'Zawn' t...
15/06/2026

Our friends and colleagues on the MA Publishing course at University of Exeter are launching the first issue of 'Zawn' tonight at Bookbag from 6pm! 📢

Featuring both new and established voices with ties to the South West, the launch event will offer the chance to experience the work of Zawn live, and hear more about the ideas and processes that shaped this edition of Zawn.

Pick up a free ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zawn-launch-event-tickets-1991189121263

Echoes Literature Festival takes place in Exeter from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June with events at Bookbag and Exeter ...
15/06/2026

Echoes Literature Festival takes place in Exeter from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June with events at Bookbag and Exeter Phoenix! 📚

This new three day festival celebrating words, poetry & film through workshops, author talks, and a book club.

Pick up tickets for the events here: https://echoeslitfest.co.uk/

Applications are now open for the the first international Writer-in-Residence Programme of Tukums Literatūras Pilsēta! 🏰...
12/06/2026

Applications are now open for the the first international Writer-in-Residence Programme of Tukums Literatūras Pilsēta! 🏰 🇱🇻

Writers, poets, playwrights and screenwriters connected to UNESCO Cities of Literature (this includes writers from across Devon thanks to our City of Literature status in Exeter!) are invited to apply for a 2–4 week residency at the medieval Jaunpils Pils in Latvia in October 2026 ✍🏻

Located in a medieval castle founded in 1301, the residency offers dedicated time for writing in one of Latvia's most literary regions and includes:
♦️ A private apartment in a 725-year-old castle
♦️ A scholarship of €800 (4 weeks) or €400 (2 weeks)
♦️ Opportunities to engage with the literary and cultural life of Tukums UNESCO City of Literature

📅 Residency period: October 2026
⌛️ Application deadline: 30 June 2026

Head to exetercityofliterature.com/creative-opportunities for more information about the application process!

For any questions related to the residency, please contact [email protected]

Photo credit: Juris Grīnfelds and Vineta Zelča-Barone

Did you know Exeter is one of the few cities with the ancient right to appoint a Bard? 🎭We headed to Exeter Library a f...
10/06/2026

Did you know Exeter is one of the few cities with the ancient right to appoint a Bard? 🎭

We headed to Exeter Library a few weeks ago to enjoy an evening of storytelling, poetry, and ancient bardic traditions as part of the annual competition to appoint the next Bard of Exeter! 🎶

It was an exciting evening of bard-based dramatics as outgoing Bard Kev Payne passed on the blue robes to a PAIR of new bards, Casey Garfield and Katy Cawkwell.

After 7 years of service, Grand Bard of Exeter Kimwei McCarthy nominated Ceri Baker to take on the Grand title. Ceri is now Grand Bard of Exeter until 2033!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Book Market 2026 - it was our biggest and busiest Book Market yet! We're incr...
08/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Book Market 2026 - it was our biggest and busiest Book Market yet!

We're incredibly proud of the work of our charity and amazing volunteers put in to make it happen! A special thanks to the incredible authors, independent bookshops, vendors, and activity hosts that joined us on Sunday as well! 🥰

Now the work on 2027's Book Market begins...

If you'd like to share your thoughts about The Book Market and be in with a chance of winning one of five £10 National Book Tokens, fill in our survey before Monday 29th June: https://forms.gle/Eto1KkvSt9wz1eQEA

More Book Fairies drops as we gear up for The Book Market 2026 on Sunday 7th June! 🧚‍♀️Thanks to donations from Faber Bo...
06/06/2026

More Book Fairies drops as we gear up for The Book Market 2026 on Sunday 7th June! 🧚‍♀️

Thanks to donations from Faber Books , Nine Arches Press, and Penguin Books, we've been able to share books from Book Market Authors Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Fiona Benson, Fiona Williams, Erica Hesketh, and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo! 📚

Be it Smugglers Cove in Shaldon, Topsham Brewery & Taproom in Exeter, or Newton Abbot Library in Newton Abbot, we've been working hard alongside some of our fantastic volunteers to share free books across the county! 📚

Have you discovered one of our wrapped up books? Please let us know in the comments!

06/06/2026

We’re 24 hours away from The Book Market 2026, can you believe it?!? 🤯

Join us tomorrow from 11am - 4pm down on Exeter Quay for an incredible day full of free literary activities, author talks, and 13 of Devon’s best independent bookshops all in one place! 🥰

📚 Bookshops 📚
Bookbag| Book Relief | Design For Today | First Draft Books | Graham York Rare Books | Gumshoe Books | Lavender Menace Books | Seven Fables Dulverton | The Bookery, Crediton | The Dawlish Bookshop | The Mint Press | The Ivybridge Bookshop | The Old Queeriosity Shop

📚 Vendors 📚
Bookonahookco | Celandine Books | The Cakery Exeter

📚 Activities 📚
Bibliotherapy taster sessions | Face Painting by Cara | Francis Kay Vintage Typewriters | Inky Fingers | Literary Dream Machine | Penguin Books Vending Machine | Prodigy Escapes & Experiences | Raw Writing | Silent Book Club Exeter | Tales with The Old Wyvern

📚 Community Stand 📚
Dartmoor Preservation Association | The Devon and Exeter Institution | The Folklore Library and Archive

📚 Authors 📚

Ashley Hickson-Lovence | Ayanna Lloyd Banwo | Casey Garfield | Erica Hesketh | Fiona Benson | Fiona Williams | Kev Payne | Rio Johan

It’s not long to go before we take over Exeter Quay on Sunday 7th June for The Book Market 2026! It looks like the weath...
05/06/2026

It’s not long to go before we take over Exeter Quay on Sunday 7th June for The Book Market 2026! It looks like the weather is (mostly) on our side, so all we need now is for you to join us for this wonderful FREE day of literary loveliness! 🌞

We'll have some of the best indie bookshops from across Devon on the piazza at Exeter Quay, FREE literary activities in Exeter Custom House - ECQT , and our fabulous Author Tent will be hosting FREE talks all afternoon under the Transit Shed.

🗓️ Sunday 7th June
⏰ 11am - 4pm
📍 Exeter Quay, Piazza Terracina

We're back with the Book Fairies! 🧚‍♀️Thanks to donations from Faber Books , Nine Arches Press, and Penguin Books, we've...
04/06/2026

We're back with the Book Fairies! 🧚‍♀️

Thanks to donations from Faber Books , Nine Arches Press, and Penguin Books, we've been able to share books from The Book Market 2026 authors with the people of Devon by hiding away brand new books for readers to discover across the county in celebration of The Book Market on Sunday 7th June! 📚

Have you discovered one of our wrapped up books? Please let us know in the comments!

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