Exeter Unesco City of Literature

15/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the beautiful The Devon and Exeter Institution last night to hear from our Greenway Residency writers about lifelong connections, dodgy Wi-Fi being a surprising writing motivator, and the undeniable inspiration that comes from staying in Agatha Christie’s summer home, National Trust South Devon’s Greenway 🥰

We’ve had a wonderful time hosting Aining Wen, Judith Rossell, and Manjiri Prabhu these past few weeks and have loved seeing their Devon adventures during the residency, do check out what they’ve got up to by visiting their Instagrams! ⛵️✍️🍰

Aining - www.instagram.com/aining_wen
Judith - www.instagram.com/juderossell
Manjiri - www.instagram.com/manjiri11.11

Thank you as well to Fiona Williams for hosting the brilliant panel discussion, we can’t wait to see what you get up to on your Cities of Literature virtual residency with Melbourne City of Literature next month 🌍

14/10/2026

Join Spork at Exeter Library on Sunday 1st November to watch along with the incredible (and uniquely Cities of Literature) Grand Final! 🎤

Find out more and reserve your free ticket for this globetrotting night of slam poetry here: https://www.exetercityofliterature.com/event-picks -57afad6f-5cb8-40bf-8345-76d86ea8a663-event-58468233-bd40-4157-bc1d-6c4f7c36e7a8

🎤 SLAMOVISION 2026 IS ALMOST UPON US! 🎤🌍

It’s Eurovision but ✨ poetry ✨ and we’re having a watch party!

On Sunday 1st November, come hang with us at Exeter Library for a special livestream of the Slamovision Grand Final, coming to us all the way from Iowa City!

Poets from UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world will be battling it out for the title of Slamovision Champion, and we’ll be there to cheer on Exeter’s very own Casey Garfield! 🥳

We’re talking brilliant poetry, international rivalry (the friendly kind), and the potential for some VERY dramatic voting. What’s not to love?

So grab your FREE ticket, bring your favourite drink (make it boozy if you like) and let's make some noise for Casey! 🙌

📅 Sunday 1st November
📍 Exeter Library
⏰ 8pm–9:30pm (doors from 7:40pm)
🎟️ FREE - booking recommended, link in comments

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13/10/2026

Women in sport, ancient Greek tales, and moving memoirs - we've got you covered at the Penguin Books Vending Machine down at GWR's Exeter St Davids Train Station this October! 📚

13/10/2026

It's your last chance to pick up a FREE ticket for our UNESCO Cities of Literature Author event tomorrow evening at The Devon and Exeter Institution, as there are only a few left! 🎟️

Join us from 6pm to hear from a trio of international writers about their time at National Trust South Devon's Greenway for our very first Greenway Residency, as well as what it means to be a writer in the global network.

Aining Wen - Nanjing, China 🇨🇳

A children's book author and illustrator, Aining’s work has been translated and distributed across the globe.

Judith Rossell - Melbourne, Australia 🇦🇺

An award-winning middle grade author and illustrator, Judith has written 18 books and illustrated more than 80.

Manjiri Prabhu - Kozhikode, India 🇮🇳

A trailblazer in Indian literature, Manjiri is the first female mystery author from India to be published internationally.

Pick up a free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-life-of-a-unesco-writer-tickets-2001215419190

12/10/2026

Exeter's Fiona Williams is one of 9 writers from the global Cities of Literature network selected for Melbourne City of Literature's Virtual Writer in Residence programme! 🎉

Fiona joins writers from Abuja, Barcelona, Gdańsk, Iowa City, Jakarta, Kutaisi, and Manchester, who will all be working with a local community organisation in Australia.

Fiona will be working with Neighbourhood Collective Australia in November on a writing project about community, placemaking, stories, and belonging 🏡

10/10/2026

Today is , the annual one day celebration of all the wonderful benefits that high street bookshops can provide to their local communities! 📚

In Exeter, that means celebrating our pals Bookbag , and the brand new Little Zap Books! 🤩

We also uplift Devon's delightful indie bookshops at our yearly Book Market every June, so here are some throwback photos from our most recent edition down on Exeter Quay! ⛵️

You can discover all the independent bookshops Devon has to offer on the 'Resources' section of our website: https://www.exetercityofliterature.com/indie-bookshops

Got a favourite bookshop in Devon? Let us know in the comments to share the love 🥰

📸: Jorbein Photography

08/10/2026

Congrats to Emily, Literature Works' new Young City Laureate of Exeter!

08/10/2026

Devon-based fiction writers have two opportunities in 2027 to visit the beautiful Ljubljana, Unescovo mesto literature for a month long writing residency! 🇸🇮 ✍️

This highly regarded residency in Ljubljana, Slovenia provides peace and quiet for uninterrupted writing.

When: 1 month - March or November 2027

Who: Devon-based Writers who have published at least one book of fiction (be it prose, poetry or drama)

What: €1250 grant, apartment accommodation, chance to participate in the city’s literary life

Deadline: Friday 30th October: https://www.exetercityofliterature.com/creative-opportunities/ljubljana-residency-2027