The Ilminster Literary Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026. Started by a group of local book lovers it has grown and developed into a recognised annual event both in the calendar of Ilminster and its community and in the wider surrounding area. The Festival now attracts visitors from far and wide. 

The Festival is non-profit making and is a registered charity. Each year we try to support the town and the South Somerset community by holding a children’s writing competition to encourage use of imagination, and creativity, and so introduce children to the excitement that can be gained in, and through, books.

We owe particular gratitude to our Patron, former Home Secretary the Right Honourable Alan Johnson, himself a successful author. His steady support and belief in the power of literature has helped the Festival flourish. We are delighted that he will be present in this anniversary year.

We are grateful too for the support and for the continued enthusiasm and commitment of all our local sponsors, of the Festival’s many Friends, of Waterstones our Festival partner bookseller and of Squiggle Graphics our design partner. Through their individual and collective professionalism, financial donations and practical support, they help us bring together our authors and events and so celebrate our love of books and reading. We acknowledge too, the work of our organising committee – all volunteers themselves – and of everyone who directly or indirectly, helps make the Festival the success it is.