Events, Festivals and Exhibitions

Could there be a more appropriate setting for The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival than the historic Regency spa town of Cheltenham?

Originally held in the town hall, the festival was the world’s first literary festival. It forms a key part of the Cheltenham Festivals season.

This year, the Festival is harnessing digital technology as part of its drive to create a world in which everyone can explore culture.

Cheltenham Festivals’ YouTube channel will broadcast highlights from each day of the Festival, and there will also be more than 140 recordings of events on demand via the #CheltLitFest Player.

The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2020 Highlights

Authors appearing either in person or virtually at this year’s festival include: Jeanette Winterson, Sebastian Faulks, Colm Tóibín, Jonathan Franzen, Elif Shafak, Leïla Slimani, Katherine Heiny, Ruth Ozeki, Lauren Groff and Sarah Hall.

Comedians Jack Dee, Katherine Ryan, Phil Wang, Josh Widdicombe and Julian Clary will also be present at this year’s festival. Actors Joan Collins, Eileen Atkins and Dawn French will discuss their careers and interests.

Foodie Events

This year the festival will include a seires of foodie events featuring Shamil Thakrar, the co-founder of Dishoom, Raymond Blanc and Ainsley Harriott.

Cheltenham: The Perfect Setting

Since therapeutic mineral waters were discovered there in the early 18^th Century, Cheltenham has been a magnet for visitors.

On the edge of the Cotswolds with its gentle, quintessentially English scenery, Cheltenham is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with The River Chelt flowing through the town on its way to the River Severn. Unsurprisingly, with this scenic location, the town is home to several festivals throughout the year, as the Cheltenham Festivals, including this world famous Literary Festival, which is held every October.

Key societal changes will be explored through novels of the past seventy years, especially for those interested in the development of societal literary norms over the past seven decades.

Cheltenham Literature Festival 2021 Line-Up

The full programme of what’s on at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, can be found here.

Cheltenham Literature Festival 2020 Dates

8 to 17 October, 2021.

Cheltenham Literature Festival Tickets

Information about tickets can be found from the box office on 01242 850270 or [email protected]

More information on Cheltenham Festivals.

For more information on both the Cheltenham Literature Festival and other Cheltenham Festivals, including the Cheltenham Music Festival and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, click here. Main image Ashley Dotty Charles, BBC Productions.