Over the years Bloomsbury Festival has been very good for writers – as you’d expect from its literary associations. The Festival has been particularly good for 26 as we’ve run several projects linked to the changing Festival themes over the years. This year’s theme is ‘Create and Celebrate’, coinciding with the Festival’s 20th-anniversary celebrations.
26 Wordstock 2026
Our regular sell-out afternoon of conversation, creativity and writing at Conway Hall Library, Wordstock returns on Saturday 17th October. This year we’re exploring the creative process: how memorable writing takes shape, and what we can learn from the ways others create. 26ers Rebecca Dowman and Jill Hopper will delve into the making of Rebecca’s poetry pamphlet Preloved; Lydia Thornley will explore how drawing can help us look, listen and unlock our writing; and we will have spotlight sessions on the First Impressions and 26 UCL 200 projects. Will also be joined by two very special guests: writer, director and former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe Dominic Dromgoole, and his daughter, award-winning playwright Siofra Dromgoole. Together, they will discuss their shared influences and very different creative processes. There will be plenty of opportunity to join in – so bring a notepad and a favourite pen. Tickets on sale now.
26 UCL 200
The big 26 project that has its own event at the Festival is the 26 UCL Firsts that marks the bicentenary of UCL as an institution, London’s first university established 200 years ago. There will be a special event on 6th October in UCL to celebrate the anniversary, the project, the website, bringing together the participants from 26 and their student writing partners. Though mainly for participants, please do email John Simmons if you would be interested in attending this.
There’s one more 26-related event at this year’s Festival and it’s one not to miss.
‘A feeling for poetry’ features Dark Angels poets, all with 26 connections, at a reading in the wonderful Goodenough College (Churchill Room) on the evening of 8th October. The main focus of the readings will be poems in the recent Dark Angels anthology Family Matters which featured poems by Galen O’Hanlon (twice winner of the 26 Project Award), and 26 co-founders Tim Rich and John Simmons. The book will be available at the event.
Good friend of 26, the outstanding poet Jacob Sam-La Rose will be reading. Those who attended previous Wordstocks where Jacob performed will remember his compelling style of reading his own poetry. And we also have the rising star of the poetry world Rishi Dastidar, formerly a 26 director, now the author of this year’s much-praised volume Cherry Blossom at Nightbreak and a reviewer of poetry for The Guardian.
So come along – it promises to be one of the year’s really special poetry events. You can get your tickets here – don’t hang around.
– John Simmons
26 @ The Bloomsbury Festival – Festival Diary
A Feeling for Poetry
Thu 8 Oct 2026 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Goodenough College (London House), WC1N 2AB
26’s sister organisation, Dark Angels, celebrate their third anthology, Family Matters, exploring the complex relationships between parents, children and families. Poets including Rishi Dastidar and Galen O’Hanlon will read from the collection and reflect on the emotional power and purpose of poetry and human creativity in an increasingly technological world. Book now.
26 Wordstock 2026
Sat 17 Oct 2026 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Conway Hall, WC1R 4RL
Award-winning writers’ organisation 26 celebrates the power of words with an afternoon of conversation, creativity and shared writing. Through interviews, workshops and collaborative sessions, this year’s Wordstock explores how memorable writing is created – and how understanding the writing process can deepen our own work. Come ready to listen, write, share ideas and meet fellow lovers of language.
Featuring 26ers Rebecca Dowman, Jill Hopper, and Lydia Thornley, as well as the First Impressions and 26 UCL 200 projects, and an exciting father-daughter guest duo. Book now.
From Our Friends / Other Recommendations:
PATIENT: SOLDIER
Sun 11 Oct 2026 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
City Lit, WC2B 4BA
Following critically acclaimed, sell-out runs in London’s West End and Ireland, darkly comic one-person play PATIENT:SOLDIER returns to Bloomsbury Festival. Set in an overwhelmed hospital during the pandemic, this raw, funny and heartfelt production explores the chaos, courage and compassion of those fighting to hold the line – and the laughter and love that endure in the darkest moments.
PATIENT: SOLDIER is written by Barra Fitzgibbon, a close friend of 26 and initiator of 26’s podcast, Why Words Matter. Barra spoke to Alastair Creamer about the play and the process behind it on the podcast back in September. Book now or listen to the podcast.
Poetry: a Matter of Life and Death
Fri 16 Oct 2026 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Conway Hall, WC1R 4RL
Join Evie Prichard, co-author of the forthcoming The Poetry Pharmacy Book of Grief and Recovery, in conversation with poet Kit Griffiths, exploring poetry’s power to heal, transform and give voice to our experiences. From the poetry of the everyday to love, loss and the human condition, discover how the right poem can meet us wherever we are. The conversation will be followed by a short reading.
A perfect teaser prior to Wordstock on Saturday afternoon for anyone looking for an excuse to travel to London for the weekend… Book now.