Arts, Events & Entertainment | Posted on May 6th, 2026 | return to news

Bournemouth Writing Festival beats records

The three-day festival in April saw 100 free and ticketed workshops and many people attending for the first time.

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This year’s Bournemouth Writing Festival – which ran from 24-26 April – had its busiest year ever attracting almost 2,000 people.

The event included more than 100 free and ticketed workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, poetry events, and children’s activities.

A total of 57 per cent of attendees were joining for the first time and 55 per cent travelled from outside the BH postcode area. The festival welcomed visitors from Australia, Norway, the United States, Belgium, Berlin, and wider Germany.

Festival Director, Dominic Wong said: “I’m thrilled about the success of Bournemouth Writing Festival this year. It’s a privilege to welcome so many writers – from complete beginners to those already published – in an encouraging and supportive environment, while hosting over 1,000 visitors from outside Bournemouth.

“I’m excited to hear more success stories from the time spent at the festival, as the impact of the learnings and connections made continue to develop and grow.”

Debut author, Sacha Hughes from Poole said: “What a joy, honour, and privilege it was to launch my debut novel, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot, at the Bournemouth Writing Festival. The atmosphere was incredible, and I met so many wonderful people, all brought together by a shared love of writing.

“It felt like such a full-circle moment for me, because just last year I went to Bournemouth Writing Festival with a very messy manuscript and absolutely no idea how to move forward from there. I threw myself into the workshops and loved every single one. Now just 12 months later, I’ve launched my book.”

The festival’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of writers was demonstrated by welcoming 200 plus under 18s who took part in children’s workshops and activities. These sessions offered young people hands on opportunities to explore writing in an inspiring, supportive environment with writing professionals.

Another highlight of the weekend was the festival’s industry engagement. A total of 144 slots were secured for one-to-one time with literary agents and writing professionals, with all sessions fully booked. These meetings have become a defining feature of the festival, offering rare access to industry insight and opening doors for emerging talent.

To continue the ongoing success in supporting aspiring writers, Bournemouth Writing Festival will be hosting the Bournemouth Writing Sanctuary in June and the Romance Writing Festival in October. Full information is available at: https://www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/