Chipping Campden Literature Festival 2026
Cidermill Theatre hosts Chipping Campden Literature Festival.
Founded in 2010 by Vicky Bennett, Chipping Campden Literature Festival has become renowned for presenting a series of thought provoking, original, and wide-ranging events featuring some of the world's greatest writers. From 2024 onwards she was joined by her husband Charlie as Co-Director.
Events at Cidermill Theatre
Monday 4th May10:30am The Spy In The Archive: Gordon Corera
Monday 4th May 12 noon The Epic of the Earth: Edith Hall
Monday 4th May 2pm Crick: A Mind in Motion: Matthew Cobb
Monday 4th May 3.30pm Fashioning The Crown: Justine Picardie
Monday 4th May 5pm The Predicament: William Boyd
Monday 4th May 7pm Turner & Constable: Nicola Moorby
Tuesday 5th May 6pm Six Weeks By The Sea: Paula Byrne & Jonathan Bate
Tuesday 5th May 7.30pm Myra Hess; National Treasure: Jessica Duchen
Wednesday 6th May 6pm The Traitors Circle: Jonathan Freedland
Wednesday 6th May 7.30pm An Evening with Charlie Chaplin: Jacqueline Riding; & Stephen Horne piano
Thursday 7th May 7pm A Tribute to Cleo Laine
Friday 8th May 6pm The Power and the Glory: Jonathan Wilson
Friday 8th May 7.30pm Influenced: Anna Whitehouse
Saturday 9th May 10.30am A Barrister For The Earth
Saturday 9th May 12 noon These Divided Isles: Philip Stephens
Saturday 9th May 2pm Rasputin and the Downfall of the Romanovs: Antony Beevor
Saturday 9th May 3.30pm A Short History of America: Simon Jenkins
Saturday 9th May 5pm A Long and Messy Business: Rowley Leigh
Full list of Festival events https://www.campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/literature/events
What some of our authors say about us:
Loyd Grossman
"Inspiring writers, enthusiastic audiences and a beautiful setting are the ingredients that make the Chipping Campden Literature Festival one of the best in the land"
Gilliam Slovo
"The Chipping Campden hosts looked after me so well, and the audience was wonderfully engaged. A great experience"
Patrick Gale
"However gruelling an author’s touring schedule, a chance to appear at Chipping Campden is a reliable treat"
Peter Frankopan
"A glorious festival – one of the loveliest in the UK"
Michael Billington
"I have always relished coming to the Chipping Campden Literature Festival because of the beauty of the location and the informed and alert nature of both the audience and the interviewers"
Jane Martinson
"One of my favourite Literature Festivals. The audience for my talk was so engaged and the location and atmosphere wonderful"
Professor Sir Stanley Wells
“It’s always a joy to speak to the well informed and enthusiastic audiences of the Chipping Campden Literary Festival - and in such beautiful surroundings too!”
Rupert Christiansen
"One of the most delightful of all literary festivals - such a pleasure to talk about my book to such an appreciative audience in the loveliest of Cotswold villages"