Friday 16 - Sunday 18 April 2027
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.
Voting now open for Arts & Culture UK Festival of the Year
We’ve been shortlisted.
Winchester Books Festival is on the shortlist for Arts & Culture Festival of the Year at the UK Festival Awards 2026, alongside some truly brilliant festivals.
We’d love to bring this award home to Winchester, and we need your help.
Voting is open now and it only takes a minute.
Click on the link below to vote for us. Winners announced on 1 December.
Thank you to our audiences, authors, partners, volunteers, venues and supporters for making Winchester Books Festival so special.
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Open Call for authors to attend Winchester Books Festival 2027
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL THE AUTHORS WHO APPLIED.
Three years ago, in response to the number of authors seeking opportunities to participate in our April Festival, we created ‘Open Call’ — an initiative open to any author who has written a book.
Authors pitch their work to a panel of judges. The five-minute presentations are in person or via Teams, making it accessible to writers across the country.
The presentations are scored, and the winner is programmed into the April festival, taking their place alongside our headline authors.
This year, the judges offered winner Rosalind Freeborn an event to share her story, Prince George and Master Frederick, at the 2026 Festival. Children’s author Emma Challis impressed the judges and was invited to read her story, Alfie Saves the Day, to children on Fiction Friday at Winchester Library.
Who came to our April Festival 2026?
Stories come in many shapes and sizes
In 2026 we were thrilled to bring an extraordinary line up of authors, each sharing their stories and sparking imagination.
Celebrate the joy of reading.
Come back to see us, 16-18 April 2027!
Winchester Books Festival and the National Year of Reading
What better way to honour the joy of reading than by joining thousands of fellow book lovers at the Winchester Books Festival.
Make sure you are signed up to our newsletter to be among the first to hear our latest updates including our plans for the National Year of Reading.
UK Literary Festivals
Winchester Books Festival is one of many literary festivals listed on the UK Literary Festivals website. Click on the button below to find out more.