Winchester Books Festival 2026

Friday 17 - Sunday 19 April 2026

Hello and welcome to the Winchester Books Festival.   

Winchester is a city steeped in literary history and famously the resting place of one of the UK’s most beloved authors, Jane Austen.  Our festival is a vibrant celebration of books, authors and the power of words. 

Each April, we bring together an extraordinary line up of authors for a weekend filled with inspiration, imagination and lively discussion.  From captivating fiction and thought-provoking non-fiction to enchanting children’s stories, we aim for our festival to have something for everyone.   

In addition to our annual festival, we also host special events throughout the year to keep the magic of books alive in Winchester. 

We look forward to you joining us as we celebrate the best of books and the writers who create them.

Mary Berry & Book Jacket 90

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

An Evening with Mary Berry

Friday 17 October | 7pm

Middle Brook Centre, Winchester

 

We are thrilled to have been selected as one of the very few places to host Dame Mary Berry this autumn as she celebrates both her 90th birthday and the release of her latest book, Mary 90.

Mary’s brand-new cookbook, Mary 90 —featuring 90 of her most iconic recipes —will be published in October from BBC Books to coincide with a major new BBC TV series. It promises to be an evening brimming with heart-warming anecdotes, practical baking wisdom, trademark humour—and absolutely no soggy bottoms.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be in the company of a cookery legend and the opportunity to put your own culinary questions to Mary herself.

Dame Mary Berry will be in conversation with Gaby Huddart.

Tickets on sale now!

Philips Law logo small

Our Dame Mary Berry event is kindly sponsored by Phillips Law.

“Books have a unique way of bringing people together, sparking conversations, and inspiring creativity.

Phillips Law is delighted to sponsor the Winchester Books Festival and support a cultural event within Hampshire that champions the joy and importance of storytelling.” Jack Gardener, Partner.

Our April 2025 Festival Authors

Jeremy Bowen (c) Johnny Ring

Jeremy Bowen

Federica Amati

Federica Amati

Patrick Grant

Patrick Grant

Pollyanna Wilkinson

Pollyanna Wilkinson

Tom Holland, photographed by Charlie Hopkinson ©

Tom Holland

Lady Carnarvon

Lady Carnarvon

William Hanson

William Hanson

Col. Dame Kelly Holmes

Dame Kelly Holmes

Claire Douglas

Claire Douglas

Susie Dent author image credit Stewart Williams

Susie Dent

L. V. Matthews

LV Matthews

Kate Kemp credit Bronac McNeill

Kate Kemp

Joanna Miller - Lucy Noble Photography

Joanna Miller

Simon Heffer

Simon Heffer

Andy Hussey

Andy Hussey

Margaret Sturton

Margaret Sturton

Nicky Smith-Dale

Nicky Smith-Dale

Sohail Husain

Sohail Husain

Rob Eastaway

Rob Eastaway

Marcel Dirsu

Marcel Dirsus

Author and photographer Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson

Kathryn Sutherland

Kathryn Sutherland

Ben Pentreath

Ben Pentreath

Carrie Sellon

Carrie Sellon

Maz Evans

Maz Evans

Judy Murray

Judy Murray

Judith Heneghan

Judith Heneghan

Tom Bromley

Tom Bromley

Kate Nicholson

Kate Nicholson

Franco Fubini credit Natoora

Franco Fubini

Eleanor Mills Credit Amelia Troubridge

Eleanor Mills

Hannah Bourne Taylor - credit TIM FLACH

Hannah Bourne-Taylor

Ferdia Lennon

Ferdia Lennon

Claire Fuller

Claire Fuller

Ben Macintyre

Ben Macintyre

David-Nicholls

David Nicholls

BAFA logo

Delighted to be a BAFA Member 2025

We are thrilled to have become a BAFA member.

As a new festival we have be bowled over by the support of local people and sponsors.

“BAFA support and inspire arts festivals to fulfil their creative ambitions, on their own terms. It’s not just about the festivals, but the people who run them.”

Explore the Winchester Books Festival.

 

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