We are delighted to announce that the programme for the 2026 Marlborough LitFest has now been released, and excited that both St Mary’s and St Margaret’s Calne, sponsors of this year’s festival, are strengthening our partnership with this wonderful and much-loved community event. By encouraging a lifelong love of reading and celebrating the transformative power of books, the festival champions values that lie at the heart of both schools’ ethos.
Set in the heart of beautiful Wiltshire, Marlborough LitFest offers a vibrant programme of events for all ages. From thought-provoking conversations and bestselling authors to engaging storytelling and family-friendly sessions, the festival brings together a rich mix of voices and ideas across four inspiring days in one of the county’s most picturesque market towns.
We are proud to support such an inspiring initiative and look forward to seeing many of our Calne families enjoying the festival this year. Tickets are now on sale to Friends of LitFest, with general booking opening on Friday 10 July.
In this National Year of Reading, the festival has placed a particular emphasis on reaching young people, working to spread the joy of reading as widely as possible. This year, more than 1,500 pupils will be invited to attend free author events across Marlborough, Pewsey, Calne and Devizes, an initiative that closely reflects our own commitment to nurturing curiosity, imagination and confidence through reading.
Founded in 2010, Marlborough LitFest has grown into a much-loved cultural event, showcasing both fiction and non-fiction alongside children’s events, writing workshops, poetry readings and more.
As a charity, the festival continues to make a meaningful impact in the community by offering free events for young children, local schools and adults each year. Most recently, it reached over 1,200 primary and secondary school pupils across Marlborough, Pewsey, Devizes and Calne.
