Wolvercote Literary Festival 2026
OxIA’s first literary festival for 2026 will be held on Sunday, 28th June, at Wolvercote Village Hall, as part of the Wolvercote & Wytham Mid-Summer Festival. The Book Fair itself will be in the main hall, with talks and workshops in the back room.
Wolvercote Literary Festival will also see the launch of the OxIA Short Story Collection, a new compilation of stories from Oxfordshire authors – and aspiring authors – of all ages. The Collection will be available to view on the stage in the main hall.
Main hall
10.00 Book fair opens: around 18 stands for readers and writers, with authors, poets, author groups, illustrators, publishers and the OxIA Bookstore.
16.00 Event closes
Talks & Workshops
Sessions for adult readers and aspiring authors
10.15-11.25 Getting Published
Exploring what’s involved, the main issues, and the pros and cons of the options available.
Chaired by Colin Wade, with Steve Sheppard, Mary McClarey and Andy Severn
11.30-11.55 Book Launches
Chaired by Charles Boundy, with Steve Sheppard, Peter Tickler and Cathy Wield all introducing their books.
12.00-12.55 Shedding Light on a Contemporary World through Fiction
Why do literature and fiction matter in today’s world? Can we benefit from others’ perspectives on the problems and conflicts that beset us, and from sharing understanding and awareness across cultures? Stories do this without readers even noticing, because they are swept along in the narrative...
Chaired by Steve Lunn, with Sylvia Vetta, Professor Iftikhar Malik and Linda Proud.
Sessions for children
As with all Wolvercote & Wytham Mid-Summer Festival events, children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Workshops are aimed at the primary and early secondary years.
13.00-13.55 Step into the World of Story Writing with ARCh: An Interactive Story Writing Workshop!
Join a lively, heartwarming workshop celebrating the magic of reading and shared story writing. With games, audience participation and lots of laughter, we’ll create a simple story and build up to more imaginative worlds and scenarios. Participation is encouraged! Listen, play, create and discover the joy of story writing – together. Aimed at Primary aged children.
[ARCh is Oxfordshire’s Assisted Reading for Children scheme]
14.00-14.55 Children’s Drawing with fabulous illustrator Mario Coelho
Come along and draw with award-winning Oxford-based illustrator Mario Coelho – a drawing and painting workshop, creating drawings for your own story – or recreate some from your favourite picture book.
Free for all, materials provided – all you need to bring is creativity and imagination, and be ready to have fun.
15.00-15.30 A Special Story-Time with children’s author Molly Arbuthnott
It is important to dream a little sometimes. Come and explore imaginary worlds and let your creative, youthful spirit run free!
(Talks/workshop programme subject to revision)
All sessions are free to attend, but due to the size of the room, numbers are limited. Please book your place here.