With names such as Sophie Raworth, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Celia Imrie and Larry Lamb at the top of the bill, the 2026 Isle of Wight Literary Festival is not short of star quality.
But dig a bit deeper into the author list and you will find some lesser-known writers who are speaking about some fascinating subjects.
From global politics to antiques, Bob Dylan to Isle of Wight fossils, there are many hidden gems in the line up of the festival, which fruns in Cowes from 8th to 11th October 2026.
Here are ten of our favourites, but visit the website to discover even more.
1) Edward Abel-Smith – A Hateful Decision
Historian and broadcaster Abel-Smith tells the incredible story of the British attack on the French Navy in 1940.
With the Nazis closing in and time running out, Winston Churchill ordered Operation Catapult. By the end of one of the most agonising but necessary military operations, a large part of the French navy would be destroyed and nearly 1,300 French sailors would be dead, a number which would haunt all involved for the rest of their lives.
Hear the author speak about this fascinating, untold wartime story.
2) Hugo Burnand – Crowns, Cameras and Coronations, The Day Britain Changed Reigns
In May 2023, Hugo Burnand was given the extraordinary task of photographing the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. In this entertaining talk, he opens his diary and takes audiences behind the scenes of one of the most historic days in modern Britain.
Royal photographer Burnand talks about everything from preparations and rehearsals to the final portraits seen around the world.
3) Nicholas Courtney – Gale Force 10
Few who hear the shipping forecast, with its familiar sequence of numbers denoting the expected force of the wind, know what lies behind the man who gave the world the Beaufort Scale, a system that has never been bettered or replaced.
But Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort’s enduring contribution to maritime science is just one part of his remarkable legacy.
4) Jill Dougherty – Writing in a Time of War
War, and the threat of war, plagues our world – from Ukraine to the Middle East and the South China Sea.
Jill Dougherty has reported on wars and political instability for decades, from Moscow as CNN’s bureau chief, from Hong Kong, from the White House, and the US State Department.
For the past year, she has travelled along the border of Russia, talking with political leaders, military officers and average citizens, trying to understand the seismic changes we are facing. Join her for a discussion of her new book, My Russia: What I Saw inside the Kremlin.
5) Michael Gray – Which Bob Dylan Came to the Isle of Wight?
Bob Dylan was still in his twenties when he turned down Woodstock in 1969 and came instead to the second Isle of Wight Festival that August – by no means the first surprise of a career that spanned traditional folk, rock’n’roll, country music, blues, and mainstream literature.
Drawing on rare audio and footage, world-leading Dylan authority Gray unpacks the many strands of Dylan’s artistry and shines a spotlight on the Isle of Wight chapter of his story.
6) Megan Jacobs – A Field Guide to the Fossils and Geology of the Isle of Wight
This book written by Islander Megan offers a welcoming and informative introduction to one of the UK’s most fossil-rich landscapes.
Fossil fans will find that Megan is passionate about sharing the Island’s prehistoric story. She co-runs Wight Coast Fossils, leading fossil walks around the Island coast all year round.
7) Kit Kemp – Design Stories
With her unapologetic use of colour, exquisite layering of pattern, and an eye for the unexpected, Kit Kemp has revolutionised contemporary interior design.
She invites readers into her imaginative world, revealing how she transforms interiors into richly woven stories of texture, craft, and individuality.
Brimming with stunning photography by Simon Brown, Design Stories is an invitation to break free from the ordinary and create interiors that reflect personality, passion, and a true sense of place.
8) Julian Francis Godolphin & Karen Phillipps – Get Thorpe
One of the most sensational political scandals of the twentieth century culminated in the 1979 trial of former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe, who stood accused of conspiracy to murder.
For Get Thorpe, lawyer and author Julian Francis Godolphin joins barrister and Get Carman author Karen Phillipps for a fascinating analysis of the extraordinary events that led to the trial and the courtroom drama that followed.
At the centre of the case was George Carman QC, whose successful defence of Thorpe brought him to national prominence.
9) Mark Stuckey – Bright Spark
Mark Stuckey has repaired hundreds of treasured items and countless broken hearts as the mechanical maestro of the BBC’s much-loved The Repair Shop. But what the programme’s millions of viewers don’t know is that the enigmatic engineer has kept an incredible secret – even from his fellow experts on the show.
For the first time, Mark reveals how he spent decades as a top magician, performing at iconic venues and on television, before going behind the scenes to work on classic shows including Red Dwarf and developing original projects for legendary producers Gerry Anderson and Peter Rogers. All of this was achieved under a different name – an alter ego he has kept private until now.
10) Tim Wonnacott – A Life of Antiques, Auctions and TV
After four years, Tim returns to the festival with part two of a talk on his life of antiques, auctions and TV.
It’s a life that started with a 25-year career with Sotheby’s conducting auctions throughout the UK and around the world, and progressed to years on TV as an expert on the Antiques Roadshow and presenter of Bargain Hunt and Celebrity Bargain Hunt.
These years have provided Wonnacott with a wealth of anecdotes to share.
Visit the website to see the full programme.
Our thanks to Isle of Wight Literary Festival for sponsoring this event feature. They and other businesses taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free
