The Felixstowe Book Festival has become one of the most cherished events in the town's calendar — a three-day celebration of literature that punches well above its weight for a seaside town of Felixstowe's size. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 26 to 28 June, and while the full programme has yet to be announced, the festival's reputation for attracting high-calibre authors and creating a genuinely warm, community atmosphere means anticipation is already building.
The festival, which takes place across multiple venues in the town, has in previous years welcomed bestselling novelists, poets, historians and journalists. It combines ticketed author events with free activities, including an outdoor reading garden that has become a favourite spot for visitors wanting to browse books and enjoy the sea air.
What makes Felixstowe Book Festival distinctive is its scale and its spirit. It's big enough to attract serious literary names, but small enough that you might find yourself chatting to an author over coffee between events. The town itself becomes part of the experience — many visitors combine the festival with a walk along the seafront, a visit to Landguard Fort, or a meal at one of the town's restaurants.
The 2026 programme is expected to be announced in the spring, with tickets going on sale shortly afterwards. In previous years, popular events have sold out quickly, so early booking is advisable for anyone with specific authors in mind.
For a town that is bidding to become the UK's Town of Culture in 2028, the book festival is an important piece of evidence that Felixstowe has a genuine cultural life. It's not just a seaside resort — it's a place where ideas matter, where people come to think and talk and read. The festival, now well into its second decade, has done more than almost anything else to establish that identity.
