“Revisit The Classics” with Winchester Poetry Festival until 12th October throughout the city and online.
Winchester Poetry Festival 2025 burst into action on National Poetry Day (Thurs 2nd Oct) with fringe events popping up around the city, and online workshops that everyone can enjoy.
The well-versed and poetry-curious are invited to “Revisit The Classics” through readings, dance, workshops, playful activities and performances, at this celebration of past and present poetry. The festival reaches a crescendo with a glorious weekend of poetry for all at The ARC (Jewry St, Winchester) from 10-12 Oct, where key events are live-streamed, and BSL interpreted.
The festival programme is packed with the finest contemporary poets, who will explore the theme “Revisiting The Classics” and share the work of Marvell, Shakespeare, Al-Busiri, Dante, Jane Austen, Keats, Edward Thomas, Adrienne Rich, Bing Xin and more!
Clare Pollard (Winchester Poetry Festival, Artistic Director) says: “I am honoured to have been able to curate this year’s programme, and our theme – revisiting the classics – is a wonderful excuse to indulge in books about books and poems about poems! Join us as we celebrate some of the all-time literary greats: Jane Austen, of course, on this 250th anniversary year, who is buried in Winchester Cathedral; John Keats, who was inspired to write the glorious ‘To Autumn’ in the city, and many others.”
Poets reading at Winchester Poetry Festival 2025 include Pulitzer Prize-winner Diane Seuss; Forward Prize-winners Mona Arshi and Luke Kennard; and triple T S Eliot Prize shortlisted poet Fiona Benson.
Attendees can enjoy a unique musical poetry performance from acclaimed writer and performer Roy McFarlane. The ‘Take Flight’ show incorporates jazz, blues, gospel and poetry to create an atmospheric journey through the tapestry of human experience.
T S Eliot Prize winning poet Joelle Taylor and Costa Book Award winner Mary Jean Chan invite you to join them for a spooky poetry séance, where they resurrect the spirits of their favourite writers – Adrienne Rich and Bing Xin.
People of all ages and abilities can participate too – glean knowledge from the experienced artists who make up the festival programme, at exclusive poetry workshops. Join in and develop (or begin) your own craft, with guidance from Ella Frears, Julia Copus, Suzanne Conway, Will Harris and Clare Pollard. For those who want to perform their own poems, there’s a special WPF edition of The Railway Inn’s monthly spoken word open mic night – don’t miss Poetry Platform on Tuesday 7th.
Fringe events are on the National Poetry Day theme of ‘play’ where attendees can participate in playful activities with vintage typewriters at University of Winchester. Can videogames be poems? Find out at Winchester School of Art on Sunday 5th! On Monday 6th why not join acclaimed comedian and ‘Infinite Monkey Cage’ broadcaster Robin Ince as he shares his debut collection ‘Ice Cream For A Broken Tooth’ at P&G Wells Bookshop.
From poetry virgins to poetry book worms, all are welcome at Winchester Poetry Festival 2025. Explore the programme, to take a fresh look at the literary canon this year.
Key events are BSL interpreted and live streamed. Many are free to attend.
Tickets: winchesterpoetryfestival.org/what-s-on