2022 Festival Review
Now our feet have finally hit the ground and we would like to extend an extra thank you to everyone who played such a huge part in the success of Cheltenham Poetry Festival 2022! From high energy hip-hop in the magnificent chapel through to thought-provoking poetry in...
2022 Festival Photos
Here are a selection of photos from the 2022 Festival. Hover over an image on a laptop or desktop to see the name on the image, or click on an image on any device to see the full size image with the name beneath.[dsm_masonry_gallery...
Tim Relf Interview with Anna Saunders
Published on Book Brunch Magazine. (bookbrunch.co.uk) 18 May 2022Running a festival brings creative and commercial challenges, but the future is positive if you can find your niche, according to the founder of Cheltenham Poetry FestivalA dancing band from Nigeria once...
Gloucestershire School of Poetry
The following interview with Fiona Sampson by Tim Relf first appeared in the Gloucestershire Echo on August 4th. A previously unrecognised poetic movement will be revealed at this year’s Cheltenham Poetry Festival in September. Leading poet and writer Professor Fiona...
COVID Safety
Covid Safety at Cheltenham Poetry Festival. We want to keep our audiences and poets as safe as possible. We will be recommending our audiences wear masks where possible. We will make free masks and hand sanitiser available at the door. In our main venue - Francis...
Wellbeing Workshops
Students at the National Star College are enjoying inspiring workshops with internationally acclaimed writers thanks to a grant from Gloucestershire County Council’s Build Back Better Scheme, which aims to help communities recover from the impacts of COVID. Cheltenham...
Festival Online Bookshop launched
Get some great poetry books and help fund the Festival’s work at the same time by buying through the Festival Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/cheltenhampoetryfestival In our online shop you will find poetry books by many of the poets appearing at this year’s ,...
How to get an open-mic slot
Many of the Festival’s events allow members of the audience to read at an open mic. Usually slots are limited to 12 per event and are for one poem lasting no more than two minutes. Slots cost £3, just select an open-mic ticket at the checkout. The Festival is in many...
2022 Festival Launch
International, on-line, in person and for EVERYONE This year’s theme is – Identity On 21 February at 7pm, we launch the twelfth Cheltenham Poetry Festival with a reading by two exciting contemporary poets – Rachel Long and Kitty Donnelly. The event also includes...
2021 Review and Update
We thank Arts Council of England, Cheltenham Borough Council, Oldham Foundation, The University of Gloucestershire and our Headline Sponsors – Jordans’ Solicitors for supporting us in this valuable work and you, our generous patrons and supporters.Cheltenham Poetry...