April Festival
Our 2026 Festival dates are Friday 17 to Sunday 19 April.
Download Festival Programme
Fri 17 Apr 2026
Fiction Friday Day Pass | Get all 4 events and save £12
One ticket to see Lynda La Plante, Patrick Gale, Sarah Vaughan and Dame Vikki Heywood,
Story Time at Winchester Library – The Moon Keeper by Zosienka
Story time with Zosienka
Sarah Vaughan | Based on A True Story
Sarah Vaughan in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher
Story Time at Winchester Library – Alfie Saves the Day by Emma Challis
Storytime with Emma Challis
Dame Harriet Walter and Dame Vikki Heywood
Dame Vikki Heywood and Dame Harriet Walter in conversation with Greg Mosse
Lynda La Plante | Sacrifice
Lynda La Plante in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher
Patrick Gale | Love Lane
Patrick Gale in conversation with Judith Heneghan
Tristan Gooley | The Hidden Seasons
The Natural Navigator, Tristan Gooley, discusses the seasons
Sir Tony Robinson | The House of Wolf
From Blackadder to Alfred The Great
Sat 18 Apr 2026
Eleanor Houghton | Charlotte Bronte’s Life Through Clothes
Eleanor Houghton in convesation with Gillian Dow
Rosalind Freeborn | Prince George and Master Frederick
Rosalind Freeborn talks about her novel
Rose Lihou | Tiny Dogs
Family event with Rose Lihou
Tom Bradby | Red Scorpion
TV Presenter and author Tom Bradby discusses his new novel
Annie Garthwaite | The King’s Mother
Annie Garthwaite discusses her new novel
Mary Portas | I Shop, Therefore I Am
Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, in conversation with Gaby Huddart
A Fun Cartoon Workshop Event! Jon Lock and Nich Angell | Tiny Hercules: The World’s Tiniest, Mightiest Hero!
Workshop event with John Lock and Nich Angell
Dr Victoria Bateman | Economica and Dr Elizabeth Norton | Women Who Ruled the World
Victoria Bateman and Elizabeth Norton in conversation
Marina Gibson | Cast, Catch, Release and Jeremy Wade | River Monsters and Think Like A Fish
Marina Gibson and Jeremy Wade in conversation
Kit Kemp | Design Stories
Kit Kemp in conversation with Giles Kime
Katy Hessel | The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists
Katy Hessel talks about the history of art through women artists with Fee Mak
Mark Urban | Tank: The 10 War Machines that Changed the World and the Remarkable Men Behind Them
Marc Urban in conversation with Sir Nick Borton
Jo Thompson | The New Romantic Garden
Celebrated garden designer Jo Thompson in conversation wtih Natasha Poliszczuk
‘Draw With Rob’ – Rob Biddulph is coming to the Winchester Books Festival!
Rob Biddulph talks about his latest book
Tim Bouverie | Allies at War: The Politics of Defeating Hitler
Tim Bouverie in conversation wtih Matt Frei
Nathanael Lessore | What Happens Online
Nathanael Lessore discusses his new book
Tom Gilbey | Thirsty: 100 Great Wines and Stories
YouTube's The Wine Guy, Tom Gilbey in conversation about his book.
Kathy Lette | The Sisterhood Rules
Kathy Lette in conversation with Jo Elvin
Sun 19 Apr 2026
The Next Chapter: Work, Identity and Life after Children | Dolly Jones in conversation with Sarah Turner
Dolly Jones in conversation with Sarah Turner
John Suchet | Beethoven
John Suchet in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher
Jennie Godfrey | The Barbecue at No.9
Jennie Godfrey in conversation with Natasha Poliszczk
Small Bomb at Dimperley | Lissa Evans in conversation with Claire Fuller – A Big Book Club Event
Lissa Evans in convesation with Claire Fuller - A Big Book Club Event