This page follows the next main spring edition of Cambridge Literary Festival. Exact spring 2027 dates have not been announced yet. Cambridge also has a separate winter festival on 21–22 November 2026. The spring conversations below took place in April 2026, in venues including the Cambridge Union and the Palmerston Room.
Confirmed for 2027
The 2027 programme hasn’t been announced yet.
Check the organiser’s programme before choosing a speaker or an individual day. The earlier events below are a way to explore the festival’s range; they are not a list of returning guests. A festival date and a confirmed author appearance are separate pieces of information.
The separate winter festival runs on 21–22 November 2026; see the winter programme in the visitor guide.
What 2026 looked like
These three events were in the 2026 programme. Follow each title to the visitor guide for the wider selection and the official event links.
Earlier 2026 conversations
Andrew Miller | The Land in Winter
· Palmerston Room
Andrew Miller discussed The Land in Winter with Alex Clark, exploring the novel’s marriages and village life during a severe winter.
Mary Berry with Martha Kearney | My Gardening Life
· Cambridge Union, TTP Stage
Mary Berry spoke with Martha Kearney about My Gardening Life, considering plants, changing seasons and the personal experiences behind her gardening memoir.
2026 event detailsAt 3 festivals in 2026
Cressida Cowell | Which Way to the Future
· TTP Stage (Cambridge Union)
Cressida Cowell introduced Which Way to the Future and shared writing and drawing ideas in a spring session aimed at children aged seven to twelve.
2026 event detailsAt 3 festivals in 2026
Plan your visit
Read the Cambridge Literary Festival visitor guide for venues, official tickets, travel and access information. Compare the stay areas before reserving a room. Choose the events that matter most to you, then put their actual venues alongside the accommodation address.
### By train
A room booked before the programme appears is a provisional travel choice. Read the cancellation deadline and payment schedule, keep them with your reservation and revisit the booking when you know the events you want. A room rate does not include festival tickets unless the seller explicitly says it does.
For an evening visit, check the final journey from the venue as well as the outward train. Allow time to leave, collect a bag or attend a signing if one is actually listed. If a taxi is essential, check the pickup arrangements before making a reservation that depends on it.
Choosing when to book
Start with the official dates and your own flexibility. If your visit depends on one particular writer, wait for that appearance to be announced before buying inflexible travel. Check the event’s age guidance, accompanying-adult requirements and access arrangements separately from any membership or accommodation purchase.
When the programme is available, compare the length of each session and the transfer to the next venue. Leave a proper break for food and browsing, and keep the last journey home in view. You can use our first-festival planning guide to put the day together.
Sources
- Official festival programme and dates (checked 28 October 2026)
- Official 2026 programme (checked 28 October 2026)
- Visitor guide and its official travel sources