Marlborough Literature Festival

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Marlborough Literature Festival 23-26 September 2027. Become a Friend of LitFest for priority booking!

An annual literary festival in the market town of Marlborough with events for all ages, celebrating books, storytelling, ideas and conversation, with a community outreach programme. We celebrate the best of writing and literature during our annual festival held in the beautiful market town of Marlborough. Over the years we've had terrific authors such as Lionel Shriver, Howard Jacobson, Alexander McCall Smith, Fay Weldon and Michael Morpurgo. However its not all about celebrity, we also look for new writing talent and those who are less well known. We love to inspire readers of all ages and provide free events to local schools as part of the festival.

As we emerge from Marlborough LitFest 2026 we'd like to thank our brilliant festival independent bookshop in Marlborough...
06/10/2026

As we emerge from Marlborough LitFest 2026 we'd like to thank our brilliant festival independent bookshop in Marlborough: The White Horse Bookshop for all their hard work over the festival weekend🙏🥳

From managing book sales and author signings at venues around Marlborough to hosting LitFest events in the bookshop (as well as running the actual bookshop on the High Street 😀), the team was everywhere!

📸 Ben Phillips Photography (except for photos 1, 2 and 9)

See you all next year from 23-26 September!

Main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret’s Prep Calne

🌟 To celebrate National Poetry Day we're sharing what we offered poetry fans at this year's LitFest, with award-winning ...
01/10/2026

🌟 To celebrate National Poetry Day we're sharing what we offered poetry fans at this year's LitFest, with award-winning poets, workshops and our annnual open mic session:

🌊 Poet, playwright and writer led a poetry workshop exploring 'The Poetics of Water'. As National Canal Laureate 2022-25 he explored the nature and history of the UK canal network. The LitFest workshop explored the myths, journeys, personal experiences, emotions and stories linked to poetic descriptions of water.

🎤 The annual LitFest Poetry in the Pub event allows all poets of any age to gather for an open mic event. This year's theme was 'Wonder', replicating the National Day of Poetry.

📚 Shortlisted for the 2026 Dylan Thomas Prize, 'Under the Blue' is debut poetry collection. Designed to be read from beginning to end to experience the intensity of its narrative progression, Evans treated her audience at The White Horse Bookshop to some live readings.

Marlborough LitFest is proud to offer a range of literary genres and events at its festival; planning will start shortly for our 2027 LitFest!

2026 Main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret's Preparatory School

📸 Ben Phillips Photography

Save the date for 2027: 23-26 September😀

🌟THANK YOU to everyone who came to this year's LitFest! Thank you so much to all our fantastic authors, interviewers, sp...
28/09/2026

🌟THANK YOU to everyone who came to this year's LitFest!

Thank you so much to all our fantastic authors, interviewers, sponsors, Friends, partners, supporters, volunteers and audiences for taking part this year in supporting LitFest and making it such a fun weekend.

Special thanks to our patron, Sir Simon Russell Beale (who sadly couldn't be here this year due to acting commitments) and to The White Horse Bookshop who work tirelessly over the festival weekend throughout our venues.

Our volunteer-led committee work hard throughout the year to put LitFest together and it's been a incredible to see our audiences enjoying over 45 literary events for all ages and all genres at this year's festival.

Please save the date for next year: 23-26 September 2027. (The committee takes a very short break before starting to plan for next year!)

With huge thanks to all our 2026 sponsors: Founder Sponsor Robert Hiscox
Main Event Sponsor: St Mary's Calne St Margaret’s Prep Calne
Event Sponsors: Fine & Country Hamilton Brookes The Little Gallery - Marlborough Mcfarlane Property Marlborough Wansbroughs William Golding
General Sponsors: The Arts Society Haine & Smith Opticians

📸 Ben Phillips Photography

Join in our children's events this weekend at LitFest - Sue Hendra's talk is now sold out but there's availability for:🐇...
25/09/2026

Join in our children's events this weekend at LitFest - Sue Hendra's talk is now sold out but there's availability for:

🐇'Raising Hare', Chloe Dalton: A heartwarming story about this beautiful but elusive creature and its place in the natural world. The international bestselling book has been given a beautiful illustrated makeover especially for children.
📆 4pm, Sat 26 Sept
📍 Marlborough Town Hall
🎟 https://www.ticketsource.com/marlboroughlitfest/chloe-dalton-raising-hare/e-glvmgk
Recommended for ages 8-12

🌟 Comic Masterclass with Kev F Sutherland: Bring your budding comic artists to this workshop with the comic writer, artist and performer who has worked on The Beano.
📆 11.30am and 1pm, Sat 26 Sept
📍 The White Horse Bookshop
🎟 https://www.ticketsource.com/marlboroughlitfest/kev-f-sutherland-comic-workshop-11-30/e-evzaex
Recommended for ages 7+

We also have free family events taking place - check out our website for more info! https://www.marlboroughlitfest.org/childrens-litfest/

We look forward to seeing you over the weekend in Marlborough.

Looking to for some entertainment this weekend for your children? We've got you covered with some fab FREE events taking...
22/09/2026

Looking to for some entertainment this weekend for your children? We've got you covered with some fab FREE events taking place over the LitFest weekend in Marlborough (24-27 September)!

🎨Story-themed craft activities with Aldbourne Children's Book Group
📆 1pm-4pm, Sat 26 Sept
📍 The Parade Cinema Marlborough
🎟 FREE event, just drop in
Recommended for ages 4+

📚Storytelling
📆 3pm, Sat 26 Sept
📍 The Parade Cinema Marlborough
🎟 FREE event, just drop in
Recommended for ages 3+

🎭 Tall Tales Theatre performance of 'Goldilocks' with music
📆 10am, Sun 27 Sept
📍 The White Horse Bookshop
🎟 FREE event, just drop in
Recommended for ages 3-8

With thanks to all our LitFest supporters: main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret’s Prep Calne and sponsors Mcfarlane Property Marlborough The Arts Society Haine & Smith Opticians William Golding Hamilton Brookes

🌟The countdown has begun to Marlborough LitFest 2026!!The banners are up on Marlborough Town Hall, which transforms into...
21/09/2026

🌟The countdown has begun to Marlborough LitFest 2026!!

The banners are up on Marlborough Town Hall, which transforms into our festival home later this week. We host events there as well as running our cafe and the festival Box Office. Our fab festival indie The White Horse Bookshop also runs a pop-up bookshop in the Town Hall.

We can't wait to welcome everyone to our 17th LitFest from 24-27 September for a four-day celebration of books, ideas and storytelling for all ages😍📚

Please check our website for ticket availability and our full programme.

With thanks to our main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret's Preparatory School

Many thanks to the fabulous Lizzie Lewis and team at for bringing her adaptation of 'Little Red Riding Hood' to two FR...
19/09/2026

Many thanks to the fabulous Lizzie Lewis and team at for bringing her adaptation of 'Little Red Riding Hood' to two FREE LitFest performances at and Marlborough Library today - their fun and enthusiasm was infectious and kept all the children thoroughly entertained😀

Lizzie will be returning to LitFest next Sunday, 27 September at 10am in The White Horse Bookshop to perform an adaptation of 'Goldilocks'. This is also a FREE event, recommended for ages 3-8. No tickets required.

For more info and our full Children's LitFest programme: www.marlboroughlitfest.org

Join us from 24-27 September for 40+ events for all ages in Marlborough!

With thanks to main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret’s Prep Calne

Not long now until this year's LitFest opens but there's still time to book your tickets! We have 40+ literary events fo...
19/09/2026

Not long now until this year's LitFest opens but there's still time to book your tickets! We have 40+ literary events for all ages from 24-27 September in Marlborough - please check availability through our website.

Our 2026 is the latest novel by Kit de Waal. Longlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction, 'The Best of Everything' has been called a tender and funny tale of found family and forgiveness. De Waal will be in conversation with author Susan Fletcher.
📆 5.30pm, Sun 27 Sept
📍 Marlborough Town Hall
🎟 Link in bio
With thanks to event sponsor

Tash Aw's 2025 Booker Prize-longlisted novel 'The South' is a coming-of-age novel about family, desire and inheritance in 1990s rural Malaysia. Aw will be in conversation with author Kate Weinberg.
📆 2.30pm, Sun 27 Sept
📍 Marlborough Town Hall
🎟 Link in bio

Geraldine Roberts will recount the sweeping biography of the Regency couple banished to Washington after a scandal in London, who went on to lay the groundwork for modern global diplomacy in 'The Rebel and the Peacemaker'. Roberts will be in conversation with biographer Katherine MacInnes.
📆 5.30pm, Sun 27 Sept
📍 St Peter's Marlborough
🎟 Link in bio

Please check ticket availability through our website. With thanks to main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret’s Prep Calne

We look forward to seeing everyone in Marlborough for this year's LitFest from 24-27 September📚♥️

FREE CHILDREN'S EVENTS - Looking to entertain your little one tomorrow? Tall Tales Theatre performs traditional tales wi...
18/09/2026

FREE CHILDREN'S EVENTS - Looking to entertain your little one tomorrow?

Tall Tales Theatre performs traditional tales with live music aimed at 3-8 year olds. This year's performance with Lizzie Lewis will be an adaptation of 'Little Red Riding Hood' with music: "A little song, a little magic and a wolf hiding in plain sight"...

Recommended for ages 3-8

📆 10am, Sat 19 Sept
📍 Pewsey Library
🎟 FREE but call Pewsey Library on 01672 562265

📆 1pm, Sat 19 Sept
📍 Marlborough Library
🎟 FREE but call Marlborough Library on 01672 512663

We look forward to seeing you then!

18/09/2026

We can't wait to launch this year's festival next week!

And we're so grateful to our main event sponsor St Mary's Calne St Margaret’s Prep Calne for supporting LitFest this year. As a small, volunteer-led charitable arts organisation, their support is invaluable to us.

Check out the link in our bio for ticket availability for 24-27 September and we look forward to seeing everyone in Marlborough😀

Address

The Town Hall
Marlborough
SN8

Website

https://www.marlboroughlitfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LitFest-Brochure-2026.pdf,

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