The 2025 Farnham Literary Festival promises to be another bestseller with over 50 events taking place across more than a dozen venues from 6 to 16 March.
The festival is a celebration of literature in all its forms and includes a jam-packed programme of performances, workshops, author talks, competitions, panel discussions, and more.
Farnham Town Councillor Kika Mirylees, Lead Member for Community and Culture says: “This year’s festival is bigger than ever. In collaboration with our festival partners, Farnham Town Council has arranged dozens of events involving more than 100 writers, presenters and performers. Whether you are a seasoned literary festivalgoer or a first timer, I guarantee there to be something for everyone at Farnham Literary Festival.”
Headlining the festival are author talks from household names such as David Walliams; the cleric, broadcaster, and writer, the Reverend Richard Coles; literary novelist Louis De Bernières (best known for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin) and television presenter Lorraine Kelly.
For crime devotees, Kate Summerscale (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher), BBC’s Death in Paradise writer Robert Thorogood, Nicci French, B.A. Paris and Guy Morpuss, will all make an appearance.
Country Living columnist Sally Coulthard will discuss all things nature. Historians will enjoy Lissa Evans, Clare Chambers and Simon Scarrow; and the full History Day at Waverley Abbey with Damien Lewis, Alison Weir and Louise Morrish.
For those keen on current affairs, authors Michael Sheridan and Julian Evans will debate recent events in China and Ukraine.
Local authors will feature at a special event at Farnham Library and there are plenty of other poetry, theatre and comedy performances across the 10-day festival, including Luke Wright, the Booming Lovelies, Nia Broomhall, Daniel Bye and Andy Zaltzman, and plenty more besides.
There is also plenty to appeal to younger audiences. Together with Blue Bear Bookshop, Farnham Town Council has organised a schools’ programme which will see local and bestselling authors going into Farnham schools to share the enjoyment of books and reading with children and young people.
Farnham Literary Festival is organised by Farnham Town Council alongside a number of key partners and organisations. Principal sponsors are Frensham Heights and Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care. This support enables some of the events to be free of charge and helps make the festival a truly local community event.
For details about the events, competitions and how to book, visit www.farnhamliteraryfestival.co.uk, follow @farnhamlitfest across social media, or pick up a full festival brochure from the Town Hall on South Street.
