Swindon Festival of Literature

Swindon Festival of Literature Swindon Festival of Literature presents...
4th - 10th May 2026

A May festival that brings people together in Swindon to enjoy things well-thought, well-written, and well-said.

SUNDAY FUNDAY!We had a jam packed last day of the 33rd Swindon Festival of Literature. We spent the day having fun on th...
15/05/2026

SUNDAY FUNDAY!
We had a jam packed last day of the 33rd Swindon Festival of Literature.
We spent the day having fun on the farm for Children and Families Day! We had the preforming in the Cowshed, reading poems in the Centre, telling tales around the campfire. We had circus skills workshops and showstopper of a final performance from and . Thank you all so much for coming along!

In the evening we headed to the Arts Centre for a fabulous Finale! Pun-loving got audience members to squirm on stage, while empath man subtly seduced them, and and wowed them with rhythmic and gravity-defying performances. A memorable night, which ended the Festival as it had begun, with the mournful sound of the watering can.

A huge thanks to all our authors, performers, musicians, Festival Helpers, collaborators, venues, photographers, videographers, supporters, and sponsors for working with us to put on a wonderful week.
Thank YOU for coming along to our various, varied events!

And finally a HUGE thanks to our Festival Organiser Matt Holland, without whom none of this would have happened!

Until next year!

📸 Festival Helpers and

We had a BUSY Saturday! During the day writers enjoyed a delicious lunch and engaging workshop with at a sunny Thanks ...
13/05/2026

We had a BUSY Saturday! During the day writers enjoyed a delicious lunch and engaging workshop with at a sunny Thanks Alice!

We also had Dr Rosa Matheson at the library with 100 everyday women, if anyone took pictures of the event, please share them with us. Thank you!

Our friends hosted a sold show with and .griggs. It was a heart-stopping old Cornish tale beautifully embellished with harp, transporting us back to a bygone age, but with references to current world events woven in. Thank you so much!

Over at the Arts Centre .mangan and disagreed about their favourite authors, heartily condemn the theft of writers work by AI and agreed that second hand book shops represent freedom! Thank you both!

We ended the night with a tight and thrilling contest, in which all writers and readers excelled on stage, the Flash Fiction Slam was won by brilliant young Swindon writer Gagandeep Kaur.
Runner up was former Slam champion
Thanks to our sparkling hostess with the mostess

Last night at the Arts Centre started with who said "Mainstream politicians promise much then simply tinker on the marg...
09/05/2026

Last night at the Arts Centre started with who said "Mainstream politicians promise much then simply tinker on the margins". He gave examples from other countries, like Japan & Morocco showing that positive societal change is possible. We learned that Taiwan has achieved maximum empowerment via digital democratisation whe citizens control their own data. Japan successfully arranges cheap accommodation for students who share it with senior citizens.

Then we had on how to make a good society, she endorses Home Education and Universal Basic Income.

She also asked us to consider the potential democratic power found by holding People's Assemblies for community engagement and decision-making.

At lunchtime took us on a musical tour through The Four Seasons and the little-known sonnets Vivaldi wrote to accompany...
08/05/2026

At lunchtime took us on a musical tour through The Four Seasons and the little-known sonnets Vivaldi wrote to accompany them. She revealed how the sonnets act as a guide to the music’s storytelling, bringing fresh insight to this familiar piece.
Followed by at Christ Church with on the art of pairing beer and music! Our festival volunteer has had a great time learning what beer works well with what beats!
&Beats

IT’S FRIDAY! We have 4 wonderful events happening today! 12:30 at the Arts Centre we have sharing the Seasons of Vivald...
08/05/2026

IT’S FRIDAY! We have 4 wonderful events happening today! 12:30 at the Arts Centre we have sharing the Seasons of Vivaldi.
At 2pm head to Christ Church for beer paired with beats and books!! Join presented in association with and enjoy perfectly paired beers and beats.
Our evening at the Arts Centre starts with at 6:30pm with a Braver New World.
At 8pm we have on how we make a good society.
Tickets available on our website, see link in bio.
What a great Friday we have ahead!

Last night at the Arts Centre we heard from about the heroics of rescuing refugees trying to cross the Channel and remi...
08/05/2026

Last night at the Arts Centre we heard from about the heroics of rescuing refugees trying to cross the Channel and reminding us of stories of a greater Britain.
then took us on a journey through various tellings of the shocking tragedy of Medea in her trademark witty and erudite style.

Thank you both so much for coming!

At lunchtime in the Arts Centre we heard from that studies show younger people who have a negative view of old age live...
07/05/2026

At lunchtime in the Arts Centre we heard from that studies show younger people who have a negative view of old age live 7 years less than people who thought positively about aging! Attitude is everything!
Thanks for coming Helen!

Here is what we have for you this Thursday! At 12:30pm we have at the Arts Centre with a book that may cause side effec...
07/05/2026

Here is what we have for you this Thursday!
At 12:30pm we have at the Arts Centre with a book that may cause side effects….
This evening we are back at the Arts Centre, at 6:30pm we have with stories of a greater Britain.
At 8:30pm we have with No Friends to this House.
See you there?

What a wonderful Wednesday night! We had 3 events happening! we had the pleasure of hosting and .horton8 for a wonder...
07/05/2026

What a wonderful Wednesday night! We had 3 events happening! we had the pleasure of hosting and .horton8 for a wonderful evening of poetry hosted by the amazing , assisted by .hillier . Thank you all so much for a wonderful evening.
Over at the Arts Centre we had a brilliant and thought provoking evening on the value of art and the place of artists for our health and wellbeing with Daisy Fancourt and . Thank you so much for coming to the Festival!

This afternoon at the Arts Centre we heard from about her time teaching, what she learnt and continues to learn from he...
06/05/2026

This afternoon at the Arts Centre we heard from about her time teaching, what she learnt and continues to learn from her students. Thank you Kate for sharing your story.
And over at we had .hillier hosting the Words on Wednesday Open Mic event, showcasing local poets.
More poetry this evening at at 7pm with , & .horton8 -tickets available on the door
And 2 more authors at the Arts Centre Daisy Fancourt at 6.30 and at 8pm

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SN55PJ

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++44 1793 771080

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