Stroud Book Festival

07/06/2026

Are you ready for this year’s Stroud Book Festival? 😍

We are back the National Year of Reading with a five day feast for readers of all ages📚

With two events already announced (and one sold out!), we suggest you put the dates in your diary and turn on our post notifications to be the first to hear about all we have planned for this November 👀

For now, enjoy this teaser made by some talented students at Bath Spa Univeristy 💛

29/05/2026

We promised you an exciting announcement and here it is….🥳

We are delighted that one of Britain’s best and most beloved contemporary novelists will be joining us for an in-conversation event to discuss her new novel, “Land”.

📍Saturday 10th October 11am at

🎟️Tickets on sale NEXT FRIDAY 5 June

NOTE: This is a Stroud Book Festival event but it is not during our festival weekend. It IS happening during Stroud’s brand new theatre festival weekend. Be sure to check out schedule to coordinate your culture filled October weekend. 🎭

25/05/2026

There is still time to enter the Laurie Lee Prize 2026! 🥳

Poet and LLP Judge .horovitz talks through this years theme and rules👀

👉🏼 Deadline: 15 July 2026
👉🏼Find more details on our website, link in bio

It’s time to get writing! 📝🫵🏼

Adam also sports a badge from our friends who are campaigning for Stroud Outdoor Pool to be reopened, please do support their campaign💛

01/05/2026

🔔We are thrilled to announce our guest poet for Stroud Book Festival 2026 🔔

The one and only will be joining us at Stroud Sub Rooms on Friday 6th November, 8.30-9.30pm.

Expect strong language, adult content and much worldly wisdom as Hollie shares poems from her latest acclaimed collection, “Virgin”

Tickets will go on sale next week via Priced at £14 (including booking fee), they will be on general sale from Friday 8th May (a day or two earlier for Sub Rooms Patrons and Members). Please note this event includes adult content and is therefore recommended for ages 14+.

We can’t wait! ☀️👀

26/04/2026

20/04/2026

Author and Chair of Judges offers some more insight into the Laurie Lee Prize and why you should apply👀❤️

👉🏼 Deadline: 15 July 2026
👉🏼Find more details on our website, link in bio

It’s time to get writing! 📝🫵🏼

01/04/2026

🚨The Laurie Lee Prize for Writing 2026 is now open for entries🚨

👉🏼Free to enter
👉🏼Open to unpublished writers currently resident, studying or working in Gloucestershire, and to those who were born in the county
👉🏼This year’s theme is BEGINNINGS
👉🏼 Submissions can be fiction, non-fiction or poetry

📝The closing dates is Wednesday 15th July 📝

The 2026 judges are , Jessy Lee (Laurie Lee’s daughter); Norah Perkins (Laurie Lee’s literary agent); Gloucestershire writers, Jamila Gavin, .horovitz, and this year’s guest judge, award-winning scriptwriter Maurice Gran

Please visit our website (link in bio) for full details of eligibility criteria and how to enter.

Happy writing! ❤️

04/02/2026

We are delighted to be bringing a series of special events to Stroud over the coming months. Firstly:

🌿 Ease into spring with The Clearing – a new creative writing series developed in collaboration with and supported by Arts Council England.

Across four gently guided sessions, participants are invited to slow down and reconnect with themselves and the world around them through creative writing, shared reading and simple reflective practices that encourage noticing what nourishes us.

Led by local poet , the sessions draw inspiration from Stroud’s landscape and cultural spaces, from Rodborough Common to the Museum in the Park. Whether you are returning to writing or trying it for the first time, The Clearing offers a chance to make space for yourself, create, connect and feel restored as we move into spring.

📅 11 February – 18 March

Tickets are free but spaces are limited. To register please head to our website.

19/01/2026

We are delighted to be working with Stroud Arts Festival and Lansdown Hall & Gallery to bring Daisy Fancourt to Stroud to talk about her new book Art Cure on Saturday 21 March!

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16/01/2026

🎉To kick off our 80th celebrations, join us for a very special evening with award-winning scientist Professor Daisy Fancourt, one of the world’s leading voices on arts and health, in conversation with Caroline Sanderson about her new bestselling book
🎨 📖 Art Cure — revealing how the arts can transform our health and wellbeing.
In collaboration with the Stroud Book Festival this is an evening not to be missed!

Saturday 21 March
6.30pm at Lansdown Hall & Gallery
Book now: https://stroudartsfestival.org/event/professor-daisy-fancourt-art-cure/