Gladfest Literary Festival!

About

Saturday 29th August 2026 – 10am-9pm (See full programme on our website!)
The UK's friendliest literary festival!
Tickets from £20!

Get ready for a jam-packed day! With four talks from incredible authors as well as a talk from our Warden and Head of Collections, a programme of drop-in workshops, activities, and exhibitions, a garden party atmosphere with lawn games and our pop-up cafe, lunch and dinner by our incredible Food for Thought team and more!

We bring together beloved voices, emerging talent and passionate readers for a day of stories and conversation. Think thought-provoking talks, exploring new topics, discovering new-to-you authors, musical performances, an opportunity to experience our Engagement and Learning programme, artist workshops, delicious food and more.

This year we welcome to Gladfest:

Nikita Gill, poet, playwright, writer and illustrator (she has written and illustrated 7 bestselling collections of poetry and three novel in verses, including the Sunday Times Bestseller and Number 1 New York Times Bestseller, Hekate.)
Sheena Kalayil, author and teacher (her fourth novel, The Others, was longlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction)
Dr Abdul-Azim Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK at Cardiff University (author of Muslim Wales: A History in 9 Places)
Matson Taylor, novelist and design historian (his third novel, Roman Mornings, was published in July 2026)
Edward Foster, artist, musician & author – returning to Gladfest to deliver an artistic workshop and musical performance, after a sell-out talk and musical performance in 2025!

Whether you're a longtime Gladfest attendee, a Gladstone's Library supporter, or discovering us for the first time, we can't wait to see you. Guests of all ages are welcome, with activities available for all. Talks are aimed at ages 16+.