Tickets now on sale for the 2026 Bournemouth Writing Festival! Masterclasses, agent 121s, talks, walks and much, much more!
See the programme here
Activities and networking
Charge those creativity cells with our fun free and ticketed experiences, activities and networking opportunities.​
Friday 24th April 2026
Headshot Photos
Get professional headshots for your book, publicity and social media in our photography studio.
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£45 for a minimum of 12 licence-free photos in our photography studio.
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Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Pavilion Dance
Cunard's Literature Cruise
Book your place on Cunard's Literature Festival at Sea with Jo and Jo – your specialist travel consultants. This spectacular 7-night Transatlantic Crossing on Queen Mary 2, in partnership with Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Times and Sunday Times, sails from New York to Southampton with bestselling authors, publishers and journalists.
Enjoy book signings, writing workshops and Q&As. Sailings in Winter 2026 and 2027. Chat to Jo at the Festival Hub on Friday and Sunday to start planning your voyage.
Bookshop by The Mysterious Bookcase
Westbourne's newest bookshop - The Mysterious Bookcase - is our official bookseller for the festival and will be located in the Festival Hub at Pavilion Dance.
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You can buy books from our speakers (and get them signed!), as well as a Blind Date With A Book - a mysterious book full of surprises.
Friday Night Networking
Meet and mingle with fellow authors, writers and attendees at our informal networking event at Urban Gardens,
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£15 and includes your first drink
Saturday 25th April
Headshot Photos
Get professional headshots for your book, publicity and social media in our photography studio.
​
£45 for a minimum of 12 licence-free photos in our photography studio.
​
Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Pavilion Dance.
Genre Breakfasts
Informal, volunteer-led meetups in cafes on both Saturday and Sunday at 9am before the Festival starts.
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See "Read More" for genres and locations. Free to attend but we encourage you to support our local cafes.
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Bookshop by The Mysterious Bookcase
Westbourne's newest bookshop - The Mysterious Bookcase - is our official bookseller for the festival and will be located in the Festival Hub at Pavilion Dance.
​
You can buy books from our speakers (and get them signed!), as well as a Blind Date With A Book - a mysterious book full of surprises!
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Writing for Beginners
Thinking about writing but not sure what to write? Have a kernel of an idea? Always thought about it, but never got started?
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Then come along to the Russell-Cotes Museum to chat to the Hengistbury Head Writers' Group to get friendly tips and pointers - and maybe even put pen to paper and take your first step.
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10am to 12pm.
Poetry Marquee - FREE
Free facilitated drop-in sessions and performances inspiring wordplay and expression through poetry. For all ages and abilities.
Saturday and Sunday in the marquee in Horseshoe Common from 10am to 6pm.
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Curated by the Winchester Poetry Festival and Kim West.
Free 1-2-1 Discover Session
Book in a Free Discover Session to discuss how you can work on your Author Brand.
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Isabelle Knight, founder of Build Your Author Brand, will be in the main area offering Free 121 Discover sessions to find out more about how you can work to grow your readership and create success for your books with your Author Brand.
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Isabelle will be at the Festival Hub on Saturday
Free 1-2-1 advice for your author website
Finished your book and need an author website?
Then book in a free 1-2-1 chat with founder of Digital Authors Toolkit Stu Grant to get a proper online presence and be found on Google through a professional author website.
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Stu will be at the Festival Hub on Saturday
Writing on the Beach - Free
Christine Aziz will return with her giant washing line to Bournemouth Beach for writing inspired by the sea, sand and sun!
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Write your words on pillow cases and bedsheets and watch your words flutter in the sea breeze. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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10:30am to 1pm
Networking lunch - Saturday
Join fellow writers and authors for an informal lunch between 12pm and 2pm so you aren't eating alone.
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Hosted by a volunteer in a choice of two restaurants.
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Free but we encourage you to support our local restaurants and cafes.
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Poetry Walk
A 90-minute poetry workshop walking and writing around Bournemouth, honing the essential writers' skills of observation and note-taking led by Ellora Sutton.
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2pm to 3:30pm, £15. Only 15 spaces.
Starts at Pavilion Dance and ends at the Poetry Marquee.​
Words for Wellbeing Chill Out Zone
This drop-in chillout session explores how silence and space can add an extra dimension of meaning to your poems, focusing on line breaks, enjambement, and the power of evocation over explanation.
Hosted by C.W. Blackburn at the Russell-Cotes Museum.​
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2pm to 4pm
Networking dinner - Saturday
Join fellow writers and authors for an informal dinner between 5pm and 7pm so you aren't eating alone.
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Hosted by a volunteer. Free but we encourage you to support our local restaurants.
Sunday 26th April
Headshot Photos
Get professional headshots for your book, publicity and social media in our photography studio.
​
£45 for a minimum of 12 licence-free photos in our photography studio.
​
Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Pavilion Dance.
Genre Breakfasts
Informal, volunteer-led meetups in cafes on both Saturday and Sunday at 9am before the Festival starts.
​
See "Read More" for genres and locations. Free to attend but we encourage you to support our local cafes.
​
​
Bookshop with The Mysterious Bookcase
Westbourne's newest bookshop - The Mysterious Bookcase - is our official bookseller for the festival and will be located in the Festival Hub at Pavilion Dance.
​
You can buy books from our speakers (and get them signed!), as well as a Blind Date With A Book - a mysterious book full of surprises!
Poetry Marquee - FREE
Free facilitated drop-in sessions and performances inspiring wordplay and expression through poetry. For all ages and abilities.
Saturday and Sunday in the marquee in Horseshoe Common from 10am to 6pm.
​
Curated by the Winchester Poetry Festival and Kim West.
Free - just turn up!​​​​​
Cunard's Literature Cruise
Book your place on Cunard's Literature Festival at Sea with Jo and Jo – your specialist travel consultants. This spectacular 7-night Transatlantic Crossing on Queen Mary 2, in partnership with Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Times and Sunday Times, sails from New York to Southampton with bestselling authors, publishers and journalists.
Enjoy book signings, writing workshops and Q&As. Sailings in Winter 2026 and 2027. Chat to Jo at the Festival Hub on Friday and Sunday to start planning your voyage.
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People with Dementia drop-in
Free drop-in sessions for people with dementia, early-stage dementia and their carers. Read poems, stories, and letters created through our free workshops and contributions sent in from home.
Local charity Prama Care will be available
throughout the session to provide support,
share advice, and answer any questions
about living with dementia and caring for those who have it.
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10am to 12pm, Free
Writers' Hive - Free
Meet, chat and support a range of local authors and writer support services at Patch, where there will be book launches, signings and celebrations! Plus free Lucky Saint non-alcoholic beer, Clipper Tea and Pier Journal (see below)
Stalls are now full up but spaces for your book launch are still available.
9:30am to 5:30pm, Sunday only.
Patch - 1st Floor of Bobbys.​
Literary Walk of Bournemouth
Hattie Miles will be leading another literary walk of Bournemouth on Sunday 26th April at 10:30am.
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For the past two years, the walk has sold out, so make sure you secure your spot.
Limited spaces and is a moderate walk and includes some slopes and steps with a rail. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
Starts at the Pavilion Dance.
£15, only 15 spaces available.
Networking lunch - Sunday
Join fellow writers and authors for an informal lunch between 12pm and 2pm so you aren't eating alone.
​
Hosted by a volunteer in a choice of two restaurants.
​
Free but we encourage you to support our local restaurants and cafes.
​
Sea Cipher: The Interactive Walking Adventure
Sea Cipher is a 90-minute interactive adventure that unfolds in Bournemouth’s lower gardens. complete with actors and interactive elements to get you inspired! Expect surprises!
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With Bradford Gyori and Jackson Gyori.
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£15. Only 24 spaces available.
2pm to 3:30pm
Chill Out Zone
Join Abby G Poetree at the Russell-Cotes Museum for a chill-out session, where Abby will be available with poetry prompts to inspire you to write. A free, 30-minute tour of the museum will also take place for workshop attendees (max 20).
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Informal, and a place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the festival.
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FREE. 2pm to 4pm.​
Networking dinner - Sunday
Join fellow writers and authors for an informal dinner between 5pm and 7pm so you aren't eating alone.
​
Hosted by a volunteer. Free but we encourage you to support our local restaurants.
The Write Move Showcase Finale
A showcase of poetry and movement to celebrate the culmination of Bournemouth Writing Festival 2026, hosted by Dr James Cole.
The evening will comprise dynamic live movement/dance responses to recordings of poetry by local writers and students.
Headliners Dean Atta and Ashley Hickson-Lovence will close the evening, with Dean offering an exclusive screening of his award-winning animated film Two Black Boys in Paradise and Ashley sharing work from his new novel, About to Fall Apart, and a sneak peek at his upcoming YA novel Dead Ends published in August.
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Pay What You Can
Sunday, 7:30pm
Pavilion Dance
Events are subject to change.
Bournemouth Writing Festival is not responsible for the content of the events.