The Cheltenham Literature Festival has achieved record-breaking box office sales.
The 2026 edition drew in more than 1,000 authors and speakers for over 500 events held from October 9-18.
The festival sold 103,394 tickets, 10,000 more than the previous year, marking the highest sales in its history.
In the National Year of Reading, the surge in sales demonstrated a lasting interest in stories and shared experiences, organisers said.
The world's longest-running literature festival brought together a diverse range of personalities and authors, including Michael Morpurgo, Katherine Ryan, Fearne Cotton, Craig Revel Horwood, Sajid Javid, Celia Imrie, Russell T Davies, Mary Berry, Prue Leith, and Reece Shearsmith.
Audiences heard from voices in literature, film and TV including rugby legend and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler on men’s mental health in sport, award-winning author Maggie O’Farrell on adapting her novel Hamnet, Radio 1 DJ Greg James on how audiobooks are an important gateway into reading for young people, and Meera Syal on the generational stories, experiences and wisdom that shape our lives.
It also involved schools, families, and community groups. A central part of this year’s festival was its commitment to shaping the next generation of storytellers.
Around 12,000 school children from across Gloucestershire participated in festival events.
Families enjoyed an extensive programme of interactive shows, workshops, and creative activities in the dedicated children's area, featuring How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell, Lottie Brooks creator Katie Kirby, Grimwood author Nadia Shireen and BBC The Sky at Night presenter Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
Guest curator MJ Arlidge said it had been a “privilege” to be part of a Festival bringing “different stories and voices together”.
Artistic director Nicola Tuxworth said organisers were “thrilled” to achieve record-breaking results.
She said: "In the National Year of Reading, we are proud to be inspiring readers, opening doors to new voices and making more of the Festival accessible to everyone.”
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