Tickets are about to go on sale for this year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival, with this year’s 15th volume of the Cowes-based event promising a host of big names, special events and sections for children and for local authors.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sophie Raworth, Amanda Barrie, Celia Imrie and Larry Lamb are among the celebrity authors on the bill for the festival, which runs from 8th to 11th October 2026.
Clare Balding, Clive Tyldesley, Penny Junor and Robert Hardman are other top names speaking, while subjects from whisky to Europe’s great rivers, and from royals to Bob Dylan’s relationship with the Isle of Wight will be covered in a programme that has something for everybody.
Top names on this year’s bill
The Top Ten of IW Literary Festival authors
- Amanda Barrie – She may be 90 years old, but the former Corrie and Carry On star shows no sign of solving down
- Ann Cleeves – Crime queen and author of the TV-adapted Vera and Shetland series.
- Celia Imrie – Former Island resident Celia is back this year to talk about her latest book The Elegant Hustler
- Clare Balding – Clare returns to the festival to talk about her debut novel
- Clive Tyldesley – One of Britain’s best loved football commentators makes his first appearance
- Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – The chef and restaurateur will talk about his new book High Fibre Heroes and how simple food changes can transform our health
- Larry Lamb – The former EastEnder and Gavin & Stacey star will discuss his memoir Mummy’s Boy
- Mary Portas – The Queen of Shops will be a fascinating speaker, talking about her book I Shop Therefore I Am – The ’90s, Harvey Nicks and Me.
- Sophie Raworth – The BBC news presenter is to share her passion for running and the inspiration behind her new book.
- Stephen Sackur – The highly regarded former BBC foreign correspondent has written Hard Truth: Investigations That Shook the World and Why They Matter, which makes a passionate case for challenging government, criminals and the tech elite.
As well as these big names there are authors from many different genres and details can be found on the website.
But it is not just about the author sessions.
Beyond the author talks
Special events form a major part of the festival and these range from a wine-tasting with TV’s Helen McGinn, to a night of music with Cowes resident and G4 member Mike Christie.
Add to this former royal butler Grant Harrold hosting an afternoon tea while speaking about royal etiquette and a murder-mystery session penned by crime-writing queen Ann Cleeves (author of the Vera and Shetland series) .
Local writers and schools take centre stage
There is the Write on Wight local author thread which has become popular with Island writers and the hugely successful Schools’ Programme, which will involve every school on the Island receiving visits from top children and YA authors, to encourage literacy and love of books.
Festival chairman on 15 years of growth
Maggie Ankers, Literary Festival chairman, said,
“Over the past 15 years the festival has grown beyond anything we imagined and we are thrilled to be bringing such an exciting mix of famous authors, fascinating stories and hidden gems to the Island once again
“Whether you love history, crime, food, politics, sport or fiction there really is something for everyone.”
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