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FESTIVAL OF WESSEX 2026 • 54 Words Summer 2026 An Evening with David Sedaris One of America’s pre-eminent humour writers, Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. His essays, diaries and hugely popular BBC Radio series have made us consider the absurdities of human nature and modern life: family, travel, relationships, ageing, the pandemic, political upheavals and of course roadside trash! 10 July: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, POOLE, BH15 1UG. 7.30pm. 01202 280000 / lighthousepoole.co.uk. Marborough LitFest The 17th Marlborough LitFest offers a packed weekend of literary treats for all, including debut and established fiction, non-fiction - with topics including gardening, history, Tudor theatre and performance psychology - as well as poetry, writing workshops, literary walks and children’s authors, free events for families, the annual Big Town Read and a schools outreach programme. This year’s line-up includes Sir Anthony Seldon, Kit de Waal, Sebastian Faulks, Sathnam Sanghera, Jeremy Hunt, and Chloe Dalton. 24 - 27 September: Various locations in MARLBOROUGH, Wiltshire. marlboroughlitfest.org John Hegley: New and Selected Potatoes Poet, comic, singer, songwriter and glasses- wearer, John Hegley demonstrates the breadth of his appeal, with seriously funny, cleverly comic poems on everything from love, family, France, art and the sea, to dogs, dads, gods, taxidermy, carrots, spectacles and - of course - potatoes. 4 July: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, POOLE, BH15 1UG. 8pm. 01202 280000 / lighthousepoole.co.uk. Running Commentary After a decade of no exercise, 40 year old poet P Burton-Morgan found themselves newly single and hungry to return to a pre- childbirth level of fitness. Cue Rocky montage, but with a middle- aged red-faced mum reciting sonnets along the South West Coastal path. 27 June: Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, SALISBURY, SP1 3UT. 7.45pm. £16 - £20. 01722 320333 / wiltshirecreative.co.uk . East Quay Poetry Slam Twelve poets will compete in East Quay’s first-ever poetry slam on Saturday 18th July, performing in front of an audience and a panel of three nationally acclaimed judges. Performances will be marked on writing quality, strength of theme, vocal fluency, emotion and stage presence. The winning poet will receive a £150 cash prize and a stay in one of East Quay’s unique accommodation pods. Poets must register by Friday 19th June, with successful entrants selected at random. 18 July: East Quay, WATCHET, TA23 0AQ. 6pm. eastquaywatchet.co.uk .