Follow Charleston Festival’s next programme for literary conversations at Charleston in Firle, East Sussex. Exact 2027 festival dates have not been announced yet. The talks below are from the completed May 2026 programme. Read the venue and transport advice before deciding whether to stay nearby or travel from a wider base.
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.
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
After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal
· Festival Tent, Charleston in Firle
Merlin Holland discussed Oscar Wilde’s posthumous reputation with David Hare, considering the myths around the writer and the ways his life and work continued to be interpreted after his death.
History Repeating
· Festival Tent, Charleston in Firle
William Dalrymple and Bidisha Mamata examined contemporary world events through a historical lens, discussing the forces behind international change and whether the present moment echoed patterns and tensions from earlier periods.
My Life in Art
· Festival Tent, Charleston in Firle
Rose Wylie reflected on her career in a My Life in Art conversation with Jennifer Higgie and James Norton, bringing a painter’s working life into the festival’s wider discussion of creativity.
Plan your visit
Read the Charleston 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 and onward connection
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