Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival
12th–19th October 2024

Our ninth Dorchester Literary Festival was our most successful ever with more than 5,000 people attending our main programme of events and many more enjoying the children’s and young adult line-up. Some brilliant writers joined us for this year’s festival and many events sold out: Headliners included Ray Mears, Robert Peston, Joanna Quinn, Damien Lewis, Tim Marshall, Justine Picardie, Alan Titchmarsh, Daniel Finkelstein, Tim Spector, Julia Bradbury, Louise Minchin, Cat Jarman and Lemn Sissay. Photos of some of them are shown below: thanks to Peter Yendell and Peter Downton for their brilliant images.

The aim, as ever, was to invite leading writers and thinkers for you to enjoy in the relaxed and beautiful setting of Dorset’s county town, in a diverse programme designed to entertain, inspire and enlighten you. If you came to some of our events we hope you enjoyed them and will come again in 2024, when we will celebrate our 10th anniversary. We will be starting work on the new programme in the New Year and keep you posted. Meanwhile please save the 2024 festival dates – 12th–19th October.

We look forward to seeing you in October 2024.

Janet Gleeson
Festival Director

Become a Friend Of The Festival


Weldmar Badge

This year the DLF  raised over £2000 for Weldmar Hospicecare, a charity that looks after adults in Dorset with a life limiting illness, such as heart disease, cancer, or neurological conditions.