Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival

We have decided, with regret, to cancel this year’s Dorchester Literary Festival. We have come to the sad but inevitable conclusion that this is the right thing to do in the light of continued concern and uncertainty about Covid 19 and government restrictions on indoor events and social distancing. Our foremost concern is that our festival does not put at risk the health of our authors, audience, sponsors, festival staff and volunteers. In addition, the present restrictions mean that we would only be able to seat very limited numbers and the festival would not be financially viable.  We are naturally hugely disappointed to reach this decision, because the line-up for this year’s festival, our sixth, was very exciting.

We know that this news will not come as a complete surprise but we would like to assure you that we are committed to the future success of the Dorchester Literary Festival. 

We are grateful for all the support and encouragement we have received from you and hope that this will continue into next year and beyond. Please keep touch via the website and our Facebook and Twitter platforms.

The announcement of the 2020 Hall & Woodhouse DLF Writing Prize will go ahead as planned on 5th October. The next writing competition will be in 2022. Children's events will be held online and can be accessed through the library webpages.

We send you our warm wishes for your good health,

Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson

Festival Directors

Latest News

Coronovirus update - DLF Hall & Woodhouse Writing Competition Award Ceremony postponed

Coronovirus update - Writing Competition ceremony postponed...