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.
Dan Jones in Winchester Saturday 10 October
Bestselling historian, broadcaster and award-winning author Dan Jones comes to Winchester on 10 October to discuss his major new book, CASTLES—an epic history that spans continents and millennia.
In this illustrated talk, Dan will share the stories behind CASTLES, exploring the ambition, ingenuity and resilience that lie behind the world’s greatest fortifications. Combining vivid storytelling with the latest historical research, he’ll bring to life the people, places and pivotal moments that make CASTLES a sweeping history of civilisation told through its most iconic monuments.
Ben Macintyre in Winchester Friday 23 October
We are thrilled to announce an extraordinary evening with the renowned historian Ben Macintyre, returning to Winchester with his latest captivating book: Redwood.
For those who were fortunate enough to join us at Ben’s last event, where he masterfully unravelled the gripping tale of “The Siege,” you know what an exceptional storyteller he is. His remarkable ability to breathe life into historical events keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.
Lauded by Mick Herron as “The pre-eminent historian of the secret world,” Ben’s latest book delves into a little-known yet staggering Cold War narrative—one that reveals how a single, enigmatic spy altered the course of history and averted nuclear disaster.
Open Call for authors to attend Winchester Books Festival 2027
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.
The ‘Open Call‘ audition for a place at the 15-18 April 2027 Winchester Books Festival:
Date: Friday, 4 December
Time: 2 pm – 4 pm
Venue: The Arc, Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8SB
Please complete the form via the link below to be considered for our Open Call audition.
Sign up to our newsletter
Never miss a thing!
Sign up today to be the first to hear about when tickets go on sale, new events and our fantastic festival line-up.
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!
We can’t wait to see you!
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.