Isle of Wight Literary Festival

15/04/2026

The team is working hard at bringing another quality event to the Isle of Wight...watch this space!

21/10/2025

📚✨ This year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival Schools’ Programme was our biggest yet — and what an inspiring two days it was! 🌟

More than 20 amazing authors visited schools across the Island, sharing stories, laughter and creativity with thousands of students aged 8–18.

We were thrilled to welcome Carnegie Medal winner Anthony McGowan, who visited Carisbrooke, Medina, Ryde Academy and Ryde School, and John Dougherty, whose poems, stories and songs brought smiles to primary pupils.

Dr Stuart Lawrence, brother of murdered Londoner Stephen Lawrence, led powerful discussions on racism and equality, inspiring young people to use their voices for change. ✊

Other visiting authors included Kev Sutherland , who created comic covers with his workshops (shown in the carousel) Zohra Nabi (The Kingdom Over the Sea), Annelise Gray (Circus Maximus), local island author Christopher Stevens (The Pirate Queen and Half-Plucked Chicken) and Pilot Ollie from Let’s Go See and Robert Johnson , who helped launch their Educational Outreach Programme across 36 Island primary schools — where one in three children leave school unable to read at age level. ✈️

To view all our visiting schools’ authors who inspired so many island children this year, please visit: https://www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.com/schools-programme

Our Schools’ co-ordinator Dawn Haig-Thomas said:

“The IWLF Schools’ Programme has gone from strength to strength. We’re so grateful for the generosity of our donors who make these visits free for every school.”

“An author visit can often be the spark that ignites a life-long love of literature in a young person.”

At Brighstone CE Primary, teacher Dyan Northard told us:

“Author Philip Kavvadias really ignited the children’s imaginations… he promised to take on board their ideas as he writes his next story series.”

We’re already planning our 2026 Schools’ Programme, which will tie into the National Year of Reading 2026. 📖✨

We couldn’t be prouder to help spark a love of reading across the Isle of Wight. ❤️

20/10/2025

✨ What a 2025 Festival — a sensational celebration of stories, ideas and imagination! 📚💫

This year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival brought together brilliant minds, inspiring voices, and unforgettable conversations. From headline authors to emerging local talent, every moment reminded us how words connect and transform us. Thank you !!

A festival of this scale truly takes a huge amount of work, and we couldn’t do it without our amazing award winning volunteers, charitable supporters, generous sponsors, and of course, you, our wonderful audience.

💛 Thank you for attending, listening, asking questions, and supporting literary culture here on the Island. 🌊

🏠 A huge thank you to our main host Northwood House for providing such a charming and beautiful backdrop to our festival, it looked stunning.

🏡 Enormous thanks also go to Official Cowes Enterprise College Island Sailing Club Royal Yacht Squadron and St Mary’s Church for allowing us to hold sessions at your venues.

🙏 A heartfelt THANK YOU to our sponsors and private benefactors, without whose support the festival wouldn’t be what it is today:
Northwood House
Seabourn
Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferry
Visit Isle of Wight
IF Mackinnon
HTP Apprenticeship College
Daisy Rich Trust
Kendalls Fine Art
Jack Thompson and Co
Represent
Spence Willard
NFU Mutual Isle of Wight
Rouse Ltd
Harwoods Garage
Ryde School with Upper Chine, Isle of Wight
the Chocolate Detective
Isle of Wight Distillery
Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council
Medina Bookshop
Robertson Foster
Ventnor Botanic Garden
Naked Figleaf Collective
Villa Rothsay
Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
CowesFringe
The Garlic Farm
Helena Nicklin
The Isle of Wight Cheese Company
Hovertravel
Schools Readers
Cowes Town Council
Isle of Wight Tomatoes
Carisbrooke Flower Farm
Isle of Wight Libraries

🎥 Here is our wrap-up reel to relive the highlights — the laughter, the applause, and the magic of the written word.

Here’s to literature, community, and the authors who have inspired us in 2025. ✨



Music from https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/city-lights License code: NNH3F1Q3PJWRAW01

14/10/2025

13/10/2025

An episode by Vectis Radio

13/10/2025

🎾💫 A very special Sunday session with Sue Barker! 💫🎾

We were honoured to welcome the legendary Sue Barker to the Isle of Wight Literary Festival yesterday, where she spoke about her beautiful new book “Wimbledon: The Players, The Place, The Magic – A Personal History”. 🌿✨

Drawing on her lifelong connection with the tournament — from walking through the gates as a 13-year-old player to becoming one of its most iconic broadcasters — Sue shared behind-the-scenes stories, unforgettable moments, and insights into the champions who have defined Wimbledon’s enduring magic.

It was a captivating hour of nostalgia, laughter, and love for the game that has shaped so much of her remarkable life and career. 💚🎾

This session was kindly sponsored by Seabourn

Thank you to Official Cowes Enterprise College for hosting us.

📺 Interview courtesy of Airways TV

12/10/2025