Cheltenham Literature Festival 2026 – Books, Authors & Big Ideas

It’s that time of year again in Cheltenham. From 9–18 October, the world’s longest-running literary festival returns to the town for ten days of brilliant books, big ideas and plenty of reasons to get excited about reading.

The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival brings together some of the biggest names in books, alongside fascinating thinkers, inspiring new voices, and familiar faces from beyond the literary world. This year’s line-up includes Maggie O’Farrell, Mel Giedroyc, David Olusoga, Joe Marler, Richard Osman, and Russell T Davies, with plenty more still to discover.

And you don’t have to be a serious bookworm to get stuck in. Whether you’re rediscovering a childhood favourite through your children eyes, listening to the latest romantasy audiobook, scrolling through BookTok for your next read or delving into new worlds with this year’s prize-winning novelists – there’s a story for everyone at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

V+ Top Tip – Don’t just book a talk and head home. Give yourself time to explore the festival village, grab something tasty from the street food stalls and check out the free workshops, talks and live music happening around the festival and across Cheltenham. You might even find a quiet corner to settle down with a good book!

With something happening for every generation, the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is one of the highlights of the Cheltenham calendar.

Discover more by visiting the website below.