Programme
Our 2026 Programme
See our vibrant schedule below for the three-day festival, showcasing local emerging and established poets.
We have a range of events including poetry walks, workshops, headline poets, local poets, sound installation, poetry film and more. Events will be held at venues in and around Stroud town, all within walking distance.
Head over to the events page to book your tickets.
View the full programme as a flipbook below and download the PDF.
Scroll down for event addresses and map locations ↓↓↓
↓↓↓ And here’s a summary of our programme ↓↓↓
↓↓↓ And a scrollable text summary below ↓↓↓
Thursday 15th October
17.00-18.15
POETRY WALK AT DUSK
A guided poetry walk through the Heavens Valley, facilitated by Philip Rush.
Meet under the arches at the Chapels of Rest. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
19.00–21.00
WE ARE HERE
Open mic for local poets featuring Chloë Jacquet, Kate Dent and Jacqui Stearn.
Loganberry
Friday 16th October
9.30-10.00
MUSEUM IN THE PARK TOUR
A special guided tour with Museum Curator Zoe Wilcox.
Museum in the Park
10.00-11.30
NO IDEAS BUT IN THINGS
Writing workshop with Emily Wills exploring our local and personal histories. This workshop welcomes both newcomers to writing and more experienced poets.
Museum in the Park
10.00-16.00
DOBUNNI EXHIBITION
Dobunni-inspired gallery with visual art and hung poetry, instant poems + zine making with Jonny Fluffypunk, the Dobunni Bard.
The Yard Gallery
12.30-14.00
LIGHTING THE FIRE
Featuring Alison Brackenbury, Bard of Dobunni, Kate Potts, Zoe Brooks and Jason Conway.
Lansdown Hall
14.00-17.00
LIVING MATTER SOUND INSTALLATION
Chapels of Rest - North Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
14.00-17.00
POETRY FILMS
A selection of poetry films to enjoy.
Chapels of Rest - North Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
14.00-15.00
THE PRACTICE OF PLACE
Dobunni panel responding to heritage through poetic practice with Amanda Hart (Roman Baths at Bath), Kevin Ward (Museum in the Park), Adam Horovitz, JLM Morton
Lansdown Hall
15.30–16.30
TRANSLATIONS - LANGUAGES & POETRY
Karen Downs-Barton, Alun Hughes, Martha Sprackland reading and Q&A
Lansdown Hall
16.00–17.00
RHYTHM & POETRY
Middle & Thumb Collective: Chaka, Mercedes White, Solle, Lenzo, TSantana, Joshua O’Cathasaigh
Chapels of Rest - South Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
17.30-18.30
DOBUNNI POETS
Featuring Adam Horovitz & Ronnie McGrath
Chapels of Rest - South Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
17.30-18.30
NEW SHOOTS
Debut Poets at Borderless Books with Kym Deyn, Suyin du Bois & Ellora Sutton
Borderless Books
19.30-22.00
WORD LAB
Hosted by Jonny Fluffypunk & Uta Baldauf with Erin Robinsong, Nick Degg + open mic
Trinity Rooms
Saturday 17th October
10.00-16.00
DOBUNNI EXHIBITION
Dobunni-inspired gallery with visual art and hung poetry, instant poems + zine making with Jonny Fluffypunk, the Dobunni Bard.
The Yard Gallery
10.00–11.00
BREAKFAST WITH BROKEN SLEEP
With Lucy Holme, Hannah Copley, Rhian Elizabeth & Jake Wild Hall
Chapels of Rest - South Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
11.00-17.00
LIVING MATTER SOUND INSTALLATION
Chapels of Rest - North Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
13.00-17.00
POETRY FILMS
A selection of poetry films to enjoy.
Chapels of Rest - North Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
11.45- 12.45
AMBIENT RECEIVER SHOWCASE
With Rebecca Goss, Lydia Unsworth, Ginny Darke & Eleanor Rees
Chapels of Rest - South Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
13.30-15.00
DIRT / DIALECT PRESS SHOWCASE
With Lucy Holme, Alycia Pirmohammed & Hannah Copley, Andrew Hykel Mears & Claire Carroll, Rachel Goodman & Elvire Roberts, JLM Morton & Alice Willitts
Holy Trinity Church
15.15-15.45
MAKING LIVING MATTER
An informal talk with Q&A about the Living Matter sound installation with composer Mara Simpson and engineer Tobin Jones.
Chapels of Rest - North Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
15.30-16.30
RISE OF THE BADGER
Celebrating the best-selling anthology, Rise of the Badger and the Great Shrubbery. Introduction by Peter Lay, a featured reading by Emma Smith (née Davidson) and a talk with Q+A on the science of extinction with Dr Alex Perry + limited open mic. Hosted by Josephine Lay.
Chapels of Rest - South Chapel. What3words: ///reflector.roofer.slippers
16.30-17.30
TOWARDS SILENCE
An immersive work for poetry, piano, silence and spoken word, opening a shared space of deep listening where sound, stillness and presence meet. Created by Festival Patron Cassie Yukawa-McBurney and Simon McBurney
Holy Trinity Church
18.30 –19.30
GATHERING IN
With Pascale Petit, Angela France, Pey Oh
Holy Trinity Church
20.00-22.00
SLIGHT NIGHT AFTERPARTY
With Lost Mythos + God of Sports
Rough Hands
The Venues
Loganberry Cafe
27-26 High St, Stroud GL5 1AJ.
Borderless Books
4 London Rd, Stroud GL5 2AG.
Trinity Rooms
Field Rd, Stroud GL5 2HZ.
Museum in the Park
Stratford Park, Stratford Rd, Stroud GL5 4AF.
Rough Hands Coffee
Unit 17, Five Valleys Shopping Centre, Stroud GL5 1RR.
Holy Trinity Church
1 Trinity Rd, Stroud GL5 2HY.
The Yard Gallery
Witheys Yard, 55 High Street, Stroud. GL5 1AS.
Lansdown Hall
Lansdown, Stroud GL5 1BB.
Chapels of Rest
Stroud Cemetery, Bisley Rd, Stroud GL5 1HJ.