The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is celebrating its 75th year with an amazing lineup this October, including world-famous journalists and even a touch of royalty.
Spanning from October 4 to October 13, the festival is running more than 400 different events and filling Montpellier Gardens with bestselling authors, exciting new writers and well-known broadcasters.
Two new venues this year
This 75th festival will sport two new venues – The Snug and The Hush – where visitors can attend book clubs, craft events and debates. There’s also The Nook on Five rooftop restaurant and extra off-site events at Dunkertons taproom in Charlton Kings.
This year also involves a programme of free events, with 25% of events costing to join – the Lit Crawl, VOICEBOX stage and various family-friendly activities in The Wild Wood.
A milestone birthday
This year’s festival is looking at some of the biggest literary works published since 1949 – the year Orwell’s 1984 hit the shelves – to see how the world and technology has changed since then. It’s also looking to the future to see what coming decades may bring us.
Who’s on the 2024 Lineup for the Cheltenham Literature Festival?
This year promised some big names and it looks set to deliver them, with Dame Judi Dench, Miriam Margolyes and Trevor McDonald being just three.
Other luminaries heading to Cheltenham include Miranda Hart, Fearne Cotton, Richard Ayoade, Michael Palin and Julian Clary, as well as Carol Vorderman and Caroline Quentin.
What about the music?
It’s not all about the reading at Cheltenham – music fans can see Rick Astley, Neneh Cherry and Gary Kemp if they’re so inclined. Sports fans can see 1966 World Cup winner Geoff Hurst and food lovers can talk to food critic Tom Parker-Bowles.
If you do like a spot of reading, however
There are plenty of bestselling authors in attendance. There’s Nick Hornby, Richard Osman, Bryony Gordon and Rebecca F Kuang, as well as Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and national treasure Pam Ayres.
Cheltenham Literature Festival runs from Friday October 4 to Sunday October 13, with the Lit Crawl happening on the evening of Saturday October 5. Tickets are already on sale to the public, so head to the festival website to find out more and to book tickets.
