Bude Literary Festival

Bude celebrates all things literary, from 12-16 May 2027, when authors, actors, musicians, comedians and workshop leaders head to the North Cornish coast to inspire and delight locals and visitors alike, via the written and spoken word. Our 6th annual festival is packed with literary gems and surprises for all ages and interests.... and, thanks to FEAST and local businesses, the festival also includes four months of build-up workshops with young people plus 10 days of intensive free author workshops in our schools to follow on from 'The National Year of Reading 2026'.

With multiple opportunities to get involved in Bude Literary Festival in 2027 you’ll be playing literary-limbo if you intend to get to every event, workshop, walk or talk, but whichever element of the festival appeals to you, we hope you and your friends & family enjoy each experience. We are proud to support ‘Read For Good’ which sends storytellers for children into UK hospitals. We will raise funds for them via raffles at our main evening events. Thanks to all the authors, comedians and creatives, our 15 host venues, 12 local schools, 35 ‘Bookworm’ volunteers, our interviewers, our funders and Business Supporters, our fundraisers, and to you for your valued support. Special thanks to Bude Stratton Town Council for originally initiating the festival and for continuing to support it now that it is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company.

There will be too many exciting events and opportunities to name them all, but we will update you all soon and print a full programme by 1 March 2027. There will certainly be free lunchtime music at the bandstand and various 'Busk Stops' throughout the town, plus quests, competitions and new for 2027 - an Art Trail to celebrate the work of local artists.

In 2026 we launched a Friends scheme to reward our regulars with special events and booking priority. The scheme will help us to secure the future of the festival. £25 per person per year. Please email us for details