April Festival

Our 2026 Festival dates are Friday 17 to Sunday 19 April.

Download Festival Programme

31 events

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,

Sold out

Story Time at Winchester Library – The Moon Keeper by Zosienka

Story time with Zosienka

Sarah Vaughan headshot and book jacket Based on a True Story (1)
Fri 17 Apr | 10:30am

Sarah Vaughan | Based on A True Story

Sarah Vaughan in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher

Emma Challis
Fri 17 Apr | 11:00am

Story Time at Winchester Library – Alfie Saves the Day by Emma Challis

Storytime with Emma Challis

Harriet Walter and Vikki Heywood headshots
Fri 17 Apr | 12:00pm

Dame Harriet Walter and Dame Vikki Heywood

Dame Vikki Heywood and Dame Harriet Walter in conversation with Greg Mosse

Lynda La Plante headshot and book jacket for Sacrifice
Fri 17 Apr | 2:00pm

Lynda La Plante | Sacrifice

Lynda La Plante in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher

Patrick Gale headshot and book jacket Love Lane
Fri 17 Apr | 4:00pm

Patrick Gale | Love Lane

Patrick Gale in conversation with Judith Heneghan

Tristan Gooley headshot and book jacket The Hidden Seasons
Fri 17 Apr | 6:00pm

Tristan Gooley | The Hidden Seasons

The Natural Navigator, Tristan Gooley, discusses the seasons

Sir Tony Robinson headshot and book jacket The House of Wolf
Fri 17 Apr | 8:00pm

Sir Tony Robinson | The House of Wolf

From Blackadder to Alfred The Great

Sat 18 Apr 2026

Dr. Eleanor Houghton headshot and books jacket Charlotte Bronte's Life Through Clothes
Sat 18 Apr | 9:00am

Eleanor Houghton | Charlotte Bronte’s Life Through Clothes

Eleanor Houghton in convesation with Gillian Dow

Rosalind Freeborn headshot and book jacket Prince George and Master Frederick
Sat 18 Apr | 10:00am

Rosalind Freeborn | Prince George and Master Frederick

Rosalind Freeborn talks about her novel

Rose Lihou Tiny Dogs
Sat 18 Apr | 10:30am

Rose Lihou | Tiny Dogs

Family event with Rose Lihou

Tom Bradby headshot and book jacket Red Scorpion
Sat 18 Apr | 11:00am

Tom Bradby | Red Scorpion

TV Presenter and author Tom Bradby discusses his new novel

Annie Garthwaite headshot and book jacket The King's Mother
Sat 18 Apr | 11:30am

Annie Garthwaite | The King’s Mother

Annie Garthwaite discusses her new novel

Mary Portas headshot and book jacket I Shop Therefore I Am
Sat 18 Apr | 12:00pm

Mary Portas | I Shop, Therefore I Am

Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, in conversation with Gaby Huddart

Jon Lock and Nich Angell headshot with book jacket Tiny Hercules The World's Tiniest, Mightiest Hero
Sat 18 Apr | 12:00pm

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 and Dr. Elizabeth Norton headshots
Sat 18 Apr | 1:00pm

Dr Victoria Bateman | Economica and Dr Elizabeth Norton | Women Who Ruled the World

Victoria Bateman and Elizabeth Norton in conversation

headshots of Marina Gibson and Jeremy Wade
Sat 18 Apr | 1:30pm

Marina Gibson | Cast, Catch, Release and Jeremy Wade | River Monsters and Think Like A Fish

Marina Gibson and Jeremy Wade in conversation

Kit Kemp headshot by Simon Brown and book jacket Design Stories (2)
Sat 18 Apr | 2:00pm

Kit Kemp | Design Stories

Kit Kemp in conversation with Giles Kime

Katy Hessel headshot with book jacket The History of Art Without Men
Sat 18 Apr | 2:00pm

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 headshot and book jacket Tank
Sat 18 Apr | 2:30pm

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 headshot and book jacket New Romantic Garden
Sat 18 Apr | 3:30pm

Jo Thompson | The New Romantic Garden

Celebrated garden designer Jo Thompson in conversation wtih Natasha Poliszczuk

Rob Biddulph
Sat 18 Apr | 3:30pm

‘Draw With Rob’ – Rob Biddulph is coming to the Winchester Books Festival!

Rob Biddulph talks about his latest book

Tim Bouverie headshot and book jacket Allies at War_ The Politics of Defeating Hitler
Sat 18 Apr | 4:00pm

Tim Bouverie | Allies at War: The Politics of Defeating Hitler

Tim Bouverie in conversation wtih Matt Frei

Nathanael Lessore
Sat 18 Apr | 4:30pm

Nathanael Lessore | What Happens Online

Nathanael Lessore discusses his new book

Tom Gilbey and book jacket Thirsty
Sat 18 Apr | 5:30pm

Tom Gilbey | Thirsty: 100 Great Wines and Stories

YouTube's The Wine Guy, Tom Gilbey in conversation about his book.

Kathy Lette and book jacket The Sisterhood Rules
Sat 18 Apr | 7:00pm

Kathy Lette | The Sisterhood Rules

Kathy Lette in conversation with Jo Elvin

Sun 19 Apr 2026

Dolly Jones and Sarah Turner headshots (1)
Sun 19 Apr | 11:00am

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 headshot and book jacket Beethoven
Sun 19 Apr | 12:30pm

John Suchet | Beethoven

John Suchet in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher

Jennie Godfrey headshot and book jacket The Barbecue at No. 9 (1)
Sun 19 Apr | 2:00pm

Jennie Godfrey | The Barbecue at No.9

Jennie Godfrey in conversation with Natasha Poliszczk

Lissa Evans and Claire Fuller headshots
Sun 19 Apr | 4:30pm

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