Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival

From the Festival Director – Janet Gleeson

The 2025 festival is now over and what a festival it was! We invited some incredible speakers to join our 11th festival, and whether you’re interested in fiction, crime, science, history, politics, the natural world, health, music, walking, biography or cosy crime, we hope you found plenty to enjoy.

A huge thank you goes to the festival team, sponsors, volunteers and ticket buyers without whose support the festival wouldn’t have been possible. A round of applause also to our brilliant photographers Pete Yendell and Jane Tearle, who took some wonderful photos that we’ll post below in the next few days.

Next year’s festival will take place from 17th-24th October 2026 so don’t forget to save the dates.

See you next October!

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Testimonials for past festivals

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Thanks so much for all you do. People have no concept of the enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes The Festival. really is getting noticeably better year on year. We can't wait for the 2024 10 year anniversary.

Hay on Wye and Cheltenham better watch out!!!

Caroline

Polly Toynbee and Ed Stourton have been favourite journalists of mine for decades and did not disappoint, nor did Kate Adie – a very astute interviewer who brought out the best in them while slipping in her own contributions.

It would be very difficult to think of ways to improve either of the events I attended. The venue was comfortable, the refreshments were a surprise and very tempting and everything ran exactly to time.

Margaret S

Congratulations on such a successful festival. What a lineup of authors! Your hard work is really appreciated and we look forward to next year. You obviously have a very loyal team behind you, they deserve our thanks also.

Jenny M

Just to let you know that I really enjoyed all seven of the events that I attended. It really stirred up my ageing brain. I look forward to next year's Festival.

Liz G

Everything I attended was excellent – thank you.

Lesley

I attended the Festival for the first time last Friday, for 3 of the speakers… Daniel Finkelstein, Tim Spector & Polly Toynbee. I was very impressed with all three.

I used to attend events at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, but found that gradually more & more T.V. ‘celebrities’ were being featured. The actual literary element seemed to me to be being watered down. So, it was refreshing to read the good spread of ‘literary’ content in your whole programme.

Jane F

Thank you for all your work. It was a great programme this year.

I went on the Hardys walking tour which was excellent – informative and entertaining (helped by the wonderful weather)…. And to Lemn Sissay – what a treat.

Susie M

I attended Angus Waycott’s talk on self publishing in the Museum. The talk was very informative and entertaining and the museum a lovely venue.

Maggie H

We attended about 6 events. All interesting and very well conducted. I think having someone like Kate or Michael to keep authors on topic is a good idea and worked well. Well done.

Roy B

We thoroughly enjoyed Julia Bradbury’s talk, what a wonderful speaker, so inspirational.

Susan A

An excellent festival!

Thank you and the team for organising. I only managed to attend four events but they were all incredibly informative and enlightening. A real range in diversity of themes and topics too.

Brilliant that this event was on my doorstep! I will certainly be booking again next year.

Maggie G

Michael and I loved the festival and were filled with enthusiasm by your speakers. You and Janet have added so much richness to the lives of the people of Dorset. We are looking forward to the 2024 festival.

Barbara

I thought that the talk we went to, on John Le Carre, was excellent. It was well organised, sound, and video was great. The interviewer was very good and the interviewee was interesting and entertaining. Keep up the good work and thank you for putting it on this year.

Joe

The festival was clearly a great success and a very successful partnership between each speaker and all the necessary organisational work.

Along with friends I look forward to 2024!

John H

17th–24th October 2026

Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival

Event photos from the amazing 2025 festival can be viewed here

Testimonials for past festivals

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Event photos from the amazing 2025 festival can be viewed here

Testimonials for past festivals

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