Highclere Castle hosts literary festival on 3 October

Highclere Castle hosts its first literary festival from 3 to 4 October 2026, bringing talks, workshops and performances to the estate near Newbury. The weekend programme also opens parts of the house and grounds to visitors through separately defined event and castle-access options.

Highclere Castle literary festival runs from 3 to 4 October

The event is presented as the castle’s first literary festival and is linked by the organiser to the National Year of Reading 2026. The published programme includes readings and talks, family-friendly theatre, creative workshops, a speaker’s corner, a book club and activities designed to encourage younger readers and writers.

Named participants include Santa Montefiore, Professor Joann Fletcher, Shrabani Basu, Lizzie Dunford, Gerald Dickens and Lady Carnarvon. The children’s programme lists Hugh Bonneville, Katie and Kevin Tsang, Robert Tregoning and John Dougherty, while This Is My Theatre is scheduled to present Alice in Wonderland. The festival programme for 3 and 4 October also mentions garden trails and performances.

Stories connect the programme with the castle’s Egyptian history

The literary programme is set alongside the State Rooms, Gallery Bedrooms, gardens and the Egyptian Exhibition. That combination gives the weekend a site-specific structure: visitors can move from talks and story activities in the grounds to rooms associated with the house, then descend to the cellars for the exhibition.

The exhibition records the Egyptian work associated with the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter. Highclere’s own description places the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb at the centre of that history, making the castle’s literary programme an addition to an established cultural route rather than a standalone town event. The operator’s autumn programme listing identifies the same weekend as a special castle visit period.

Newbury visitors have different access options on 4 October

On 4 October 2026, the event is listed from 9am to 5.30pm by Visit Newbury. The organiser’s ticket page distinguishes event-only access from options that include the castle and Egyptian Exhibition, so a festival booking does not automatically provide the same interior visit as every other ticket type.

The grounds, gardens and event areas form the common setting, while castle and exhibition access is tied to the selected option. The programme also describes self-guided visits through the castle and Egyptian Exhibition, with guides available to provide information and assistance during the visit.

Visiting Highclere Castle: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The literary festival takes place at Highclere Castle from 3 to 4 October 2026, with the 4 October programme listed from 9am to 5.30pm.
• Event-only access covers activities in the grounds, while selected options also include the castle and Egyptian Exhibition; the organiser advises visitors to pre-book.
• The site is at Highclere Park, near Newbury in England. The published local event listing gives the postcode RG20 9RN.
• The visit can involve gardens, grounds, State Rooms, Gallery Bedrooms and the cellars containing the Egyptian Exhibition, so sensible outdoor clothing is relevant for the garden areas.

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Frequently asked questions about Highclere Castle

When does the literary festival take place at Highclere Castle?

The festival runs from 3 to 4 October 2026. The 4 October programme is listed from 9am to 5.30pm.

What can visitors see at Highclere Castle during the festival?

Depending on the selected access option, visitors can attend talks, workshops and performances in the grounds and visit the castle and Egyptian Exhibition.

Where is Highclere Castle and how do you get there?

It is at Highclere Park near Newbury, England, with the postcode RG20 9RN given by the local event listing.