2026 EVENTS | Swindon LitFest

ALL FESTIVAL EVENTS 2026

Monday 4th May

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Dawn Chorus

Lawn Woods, High Street, Old Town SN1 3EN 5.30am!

Freedom run/walk

Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA 2pm

One Small Step . . . the story of parkrun, with PAUL SINTON-HEWITT
Lydiard Conference Centre, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA 3pm

The Genius of Trees – with HARRIET RIX
Lower Shaw Farm, Old Shaw Lane, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 6.30pm

Tuesday 5th May

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Two Wiltshire Writers – with ELEANOR BARKER-WHITE and JILL SHARP
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

Imaginary Landscapes – with CHRIS TUTTON and LUCY NOLAN
Central Library, Regents Circus, Swindon SN1 1QG 2.30pm

Pets and their People . . . with CHARLES FOSTER
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

Broken Threads – with MISHAL HUSAIN, in conversation with Kate Clark, and with you
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8pm

Wednesday 6th May

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Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me – with KATE CLANCHY
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

Words on Wednesday Open Mic
Swindon Hub, 36 The Parade, Swindon SN1 1BA 1.30pm to 4pm

Art Cure – what the arts can do for our health – DAISY FANCOURT
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

The Genius Myth – with HELEN LEWIS, in conversation with Matt Holland, and with you
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8pm

Poets Three: KAREN DOWNS-BARTON, ZOE BROOKS, and CHRISTOPHER HORTON
Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 7pm

Thursday 7th May

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This Book May Cause Side Effects – with HELEN PILCHER
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

We Came by Sea: stories of a greater Britain – with HORATIO CLARE
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

No Friend to this House . . . the myth of Medea, with NATALIE HAYNES
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8pm

Friday 8th May

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Listening to the Seasons, with Vivaldi – and Dr HANNAH FRENCH
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

Tasting Notes: the art and science of pairing beer and music – with PETE BROWN
Christ Church, 26 Cricklade Street, Swindon SN1 3HG 2pm

Braver New World – with JOHN KAMPFNER
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

The Good Society, and how we make it – with KATE PICKETT
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8pm

Saturday 9th May

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Poetry Mentoring – one-to-one with SARA-JANE ARBURY
Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 10am - 5pm

A Day in the Life of 100 Women – with Dr ROSA MATHESON
Reading Room, Central Library, Swindon SN1 1QG 1.30pm

Writing Workshop and Writers’ Lunch with ALICE JOLLY
Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 12noon - 4.30pm

Reading, writing, and good books – with LUCY MANGAN and ALICE JOLLY
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

The Prophecy of Merlin: a storytelling show – with MIKE O'CONNOR & BARBARA GRIGGS
Lydiard Millicent Village Hall, 1 The Butts, Swindon SN5 3LS 6.30pm

Flash Fiction Slam – hosted by SARA-JANE ARBURY, aided by MATT HOLLAND
Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8pm

Sunday 10th May

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Children & Families Day

Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 10am - 4pm

Festival Finale

Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 7pm