Literary Events in Bristol
101 upcoming literary events
Bristol’s literary heart beats with a captivating rhythm, a blend of rich history and contemporary creativity. From the hallowed halls of Ambition House to the familiar comfort of Waterstones, and even the unexpected stages of Thekla, words find their voice across diverse settings. You might stumble upon an intimate poetry reading in a cosy bookshop, a lively author talk at a well-loved venue, or a community gathering at Yate Library. This city fosters a space where established voices and emerging talents share the spotlight, drawing in an audience eager to engage with stories, ideas, and the craft of writing. Explore what’s happening and discover your next literary adventure.
As of August 2026, EventsList.co.uk lists 101 upcoming literary events in Bristol, Avon, including 3 free to attend. Each listing is updated three times daily from verified UK ticketing sources and includes the date, venue, price and a direct booking link.
Showing 24 of 101 events
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
FREEBetween The Lines - Poetry Night
📍 The Bristol Folk House
FREEThe Page Turners
📍 Keynsham Library & Information Service
FREELawrence Weston book Club presents.......Lizzie Lane
📍 Ambition House
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
An Evening with Charlotte Leonard
📍 Lost in the Reads
£4.00 - £9.99
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
PsySoc Social BRISTOL: Speed-Friending & Psychedelic Storytelling
📍 Gasworks Studio
£11.55 - £22.38
PROSE – Bristol | The World(ish) Tour
📍 Zed Alley
£8.83 - £16.96
Poetry Peace Feast
📍 Bristol Folk House
From £7.50
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
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The Downs
📍 The Downs
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
In conversation with Sarah Dunant - Bristol New Writers Festival
📍 Bristol Folk House
From £8
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
Ethan Hodges
📍 The Croft
£13.75
Coffee and cake with Jo Leevers
📍 Yate Library
£5.00
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Telling (Other) Energy Stories
📍 Arts Complex
£50.00
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Tyntesfield Book Club
📍 Tyntesfield
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
THIS IS NOT A BOOKCLUB "Braiding Sweetgrass"
📍 Bristol Folk House
From £12.50
An afternoon with Sally Page
📍 Yate Library
£5.00
Southmead Creative Writers
📍 Southmead Development Trust
An Evening with Jonn Elledge in Bristol
📍 Waterstones
£5.00 - £29.00
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Literary Events in Bristol — Complete Guide
Discover the vibrant literary scene in Bristol with EventsList.co.uk's comprehensive event listings. Our platform aggregates literary events from across Bristol, providing you with detailed information including venue details, ticket prices, and direct booking links.
Whether you're looking for tonight's literary events or planning ahead for the weekend, our real-time listings are updated daily to ensure you never miss out on the best literaryexperiences Bristol has to offer.
Why Choose EventsList for Literary?
- ✓Daily updates with the latest literary events in Bristol
- ✓Detailed venue information and accessibility details
- ✓Direct booking links and transparent pricing
- ✓Curated editorial summaries for each event
- ✓Free and paid event filtering options
Frequently Asked Questions
How many literary events are on in Bristol?
There are currently 100+ upcoming literary events in Bristol. New events are added daily — check back regularly or browse by date to find the best upcoming literary in the city.
Are there free literary events in Bristol?
Yes — 3 of the current literary listings in Bristol are free to attend. Use the free events filter to see them all.
Where can I find literary events in Bristol this weekend?
Browse this weekend's literary events in Bristol at /bristol/events/this-weekend, or use the date filters to see what's on today, tonight or later this week.
How do I book tickets for literary events in Bristol?
Every literary listing on EventsList.co.uk includes a direct booking link to the official ticket seller. Open any event to see full details, pricing and the "Book Tickets" button.
How often are literary listings updated on EventsList?
We pull in new literary events for Bristol three times a day from official UK ticketing platforms including Ticketmaster, Skiddle and Eventbrite, so you always see the most up-to-date listings.
Literary Events in Bristol — Your Complete Guide
Bristol's literary scene is a rich, year-round tapestry of book clubs, author events, poetry nights, writing workshops, literary festivals, and storytelling sessions that reflect the depth of the city's creative writing culture.
Author events in Bristol range from intimate bookshop readings to ticketed talks at major venues, and the city benefits from a strong relationship with some of the UK's most celebrated writers who call it home. Publisher launch events, long-form literary conversations, and book club tie-in discussions with authors all feature regularly in the city's literary calendar.
Poetry thrives in Bristol: open mic poetry nights, slam competitions, dedicated poetry festivals and community writing groups give both emerging and established poets a platform and an audience. Spoken word — which blends poetry, performance, storytelling and social commentary — has deep roots in the city and continues to attract new voices.
For aspiring writers, Bristol's workshop programme is outstanding. Courses and sessions in short fiction, novel-writing, screenwriting, personal essay, playwriting and poetry are offered by independent tutors, writing organisations and literary centres throughout the year. Many are open to absolute beginners, and several Bristol-based literary prizes and competitions provide tangible goals to write towards.