Winchester Books Festival 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.
An Evening with Martin Clunes, Friday, 1 May
Best known for his roles in the hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly, the hugely popular drama Doc Martin and recently a starring role in the new film of Wuthering Heights, Martin Clunes has been a familiar face on the big and small screen since the 1990s.
In this special event Clunes, in conversation with Gaby Huddart, will reflect on his remarkable career and share stories from a lifetime spent in the company of animals. A lifelong animal lover, he has surrounded himself with them both on screen and at home—but none have caused quite as much chaos as John and Murray, two mischievous Jack Russell puppies who bounded into his life and quickly took over.
With warmth and humour, Clunes will talk about his new book which recounts the trials and triumphs of training these unruly companions, the unforgettable adventures that followed and the life lessons he has learned along the way including the unbreakable bond between a man and his dogs.
Claire Fuller book launch for Hunger & Thirst, Friday, 8 May
Come and celebrate the publication of Claire’s new novel, Hunger and Thirst.
Claire Fuller’s sixth novel, and the first to be set in Winchester, is about Ursula who in 1987 works in the post room of an art school. There she meets wild-child Sue and Sue’s boyfriend, who convinces Ursula to move into a local squat, a mysterious house whose owners met a terrible end, and she can’t resist the promise of a readymade, hodgepodge family. But Sue’s demands become more extreme, and Ursula who has always been hungry – for food – and more importantly for love, acceptance and belonging, carries out her friend’s terrible dare. It’s a decision that will haunt her for decades.
Claire’s previous novels include Our Endless Numbered Days which won the Desmond Elliott Prize, and Unsettled Ground which won the Costa Novel Award and was shortlisted for The Women’s Prize for Fiction.
This is set to be a fun and lively evening with the opportunity to meet other readers as well as Claire.
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!
Print the programmes & timetable!
Who came to our 2026 Festival? View our Festival Programme, Timetable and the Family Programme to save and peruse.
Interested in Family Events?
Print the Family Programme
We enjoyed hosting brilliant family events in 2026.
Our authors include the fantastic Rob Biddulph – bestselling, award-winning children’s author, illustrator and YouTube sensation via his ‘Draw with Rob’ channel. Rob will be at the Festival, along with a host of other family-friendly events and authors.
We had so many treats for families. On Saturday 18 April our Family Zone was a welcoming place where families could drop in and celebrate their love of books. There were creative activities for all to enjoy. The host for family events was BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Fee Mak!
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.
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