A Celebration of Creativity, Connection and Community
Welcome to the
Eastbourne Literary Festival
Save the dates!
25th, 26th and 27th September, 2026
We are so excited to be able to confirm that our first dates for the inaugural Eastbourne Literary Festival will be the 25th, 26th and 27th of September, 2026.
Lots more details to follow soon but we wanted to take this opportunity say a huge, heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already got in contact and is supporting this festival as we bring it to life!
New Podcast Episode
with Holly Seddon
Episode 2 of the Eastbourne Literary Festival Podcast is now available.
n our second episode of the Eastbourne Literary Festival podcast we had the pleasure to talk with Holly Seddon. Holly is the international, best-selling author of "Try Not to Breathe", "Don't Close Your Eyes", "Love Will Tear Us Apart", "The Hit List", "The Woman on the Bridge" and "The Short Straw". And if that wasn’t enough to be tremendously exciting, Holly also has a new novel, "59 Minutes", which will be published in September.
In this episode Holly shares her utter joy of writing and carefully explains the differences between writing and the process of publishing. She explores how she crafts commercial fiction, explores and protects fragile early ideas and trusts a messy, artistic and real writing process to help her deliver such wonderful stories.
Lastly, in harmony with our festival's mission of helping people realise they can write and already are a writer, Holly shares her tips for embarking on, and continuing, a writing life.
Some links from this episode:
We’re planning a warm and welcoming literary festival for all ages in our beautiful town and we need your support!
Imagine a vibrant gathering of readers, writers, and thinkers, of all ages coming together to explore the transformative power of literature in the most beautiful town on the South Coast. This festival will be more than just a celebration of books—it will be an immersive experience where stories come alive, ideas flourish, and communities are built.
The Perfect Location for a Literary Festival
In an age of constant digital noise, literature reminds us of the timeless value of storytelling.
A literary festival fosters connection—between authors and audiences, between ideas and inspiration, and between communities across generations.
We believe that Eastbourne is the perfect place for just such a festival. No other place has such a diversity of ages and communities that can be brought together with the power of writing and reading.
Want to learn more? Please get in touch using the button below:
Got an idea for the festival? Please get in touch using the button below:
What’s in the works?
Our Literary Festival will channel the many local authors and creatives, as well as incredible local businesses and hospitality facilities to provide an accessible literary experience like no other with:
Varied Programme: From keynote talks by bestselling authors to intimate workshops with rising literary stars, our festival will offer something for everyone.
Interactive Experiences: Book signings, writing retreats, live poetry readings, and panel discussions where the visiting audience becomes part of the story.
Creative Community: Partnering with local schools, libraries, wellness and self-care organisations, artists and photographers, and independent, national and international bookshops to create a literary movement that extends far beyond the festival weekend.
First class hospitality: Food, drink and accommodation from our host of incredible restaurants and hotels.
Inclusion and Diversity: We celebrate voices from all walks and ages of life, championing both established authors and emerging talent.
Got an idea for the festival? Please get in touch using the button below:
Festival Features & Ideas
We want your ideas and suggestions for how to make Eastbourne Literary Festival the best event it can possibly be. So far our ideas include:
The Writers’ Lounges & Poets Corner: A cozy space for authors and aspiring writers to network, share ideas, conduct workshops and retreats.
Children’s Storytime Tent: Ignite a love of reading in the next generation with interactive storytelling and workshops.
Competitions and Prizes: Local schools and clubs can run competitions where the winner will receive their prizes at the festival.
The Marketplaces: A vibrant hub for booksellers, publishers, and artisans to showcase their work.
Evening Escapes: Live music, walks on the South Downs and along our beautiful Seafront, dramatic readings, and literary-themed parties hosted by our cadre of participating hotels.
The Wellbeing Lounges: A gentle and relaxed space where people can experience various wellbeing and self-care treatments between the activities of the festival.
Got an idea for the festival? Please get in touch using the button below:
Why a Literary Festival in Eastbourne?
Eastbourne already has award-winning theatres, hospitality venues and the beach and South Downs. A Literary Festival can build on this and deliver so much more for the local culture of our wonderful town, including:
Establishing yet another landmark event on Eastbourne's calendar to drive interest and business into our beautiful town.
Creating a ripple effect of inspiration and creativity within the local and broader community across all age groups.
Fostering a lifelong love of reading and writing, and establish new writers within our local community.
Enhancing our town even more as a hub for arts and culture.
It all Starts Here.
To make this festival happen we need local organisations, people and businesses to register an interest in making this happen.
Get involved to help us plant the seeds for an experience in Eastbourne where stories grow, ideas thrive, and communities come together.
Together, let’s bring the Eastbourne Literary Festival to life!