Welcome to Winchester Poetry Festival
Winchester Poetry Festival - 10-12 October 2025
Winchester Poetry Festival is a biennial festival, with our next full festival taking place in-person 10-12 October 2025, with online and pop-up events taking place 2-9th October. Click on the image above to explore the programme, and purchase tickets.
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Key events will be BSL interpreted and live-streamed. We ensure that as many activities as possible are free to attend, to ensure everyone feels able to participate. Donations are welcomed (link at bottom of page)​
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We also host and collaborate on poetry events throughout the year, the details and ticket links for which are below.
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To keep up to date with all events and activities please sign up to our enewsletter.
Community Poem about River Test with Hampshire Poet
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Whitchurch Children's Festival
Sat 26th and Sun 27th July 2025
10am - 3pm
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Hampshire Poet Damian Kelly-Basher and Community Artist Lizzie Jones are inviting local children and families to help create a beautiful Community Poem all about the River Test. All contributions will help make up the finished poem.
Lizzie Jones will be producing a river-themed artwork with words and images to be displayed at Whitchurch Library after the festival has concluded.
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Awarded ‘Best Family Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards 2023, Whitchurch Children's Festival is a weekend of fun for all the family. All activities are included in the ticket price, including the community poem.
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If you're a young writer (or caregiver to one) you can also e-mail your lines about the River Test to Damian by Friday 25th July to be included: dovitch101@gmail.com​
How We Shape The World: poetry workshop and sharing session with Hampshire Poet​
Winchester Heritage Open Days
Sat 13th September 2025
2 - 3:30pm
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Damian Kelly-Basher, invites you to build a poem in the inspirational setting of Winchester School of Art's spectacular Rotunda.
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Join Damian - Hampshire Poet 2024-26 - for a creative writing workshop followed by a sharing session, drawing on the Heritage Open Days theme of ‘architecture’.
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At this interactive event Damian asks us to imagine "how we shape the world". Using this phrase as a starting point he will guide you through writing exercises to design and construct a poem of your own. The session will conclude with a low-pressure sharing session where participants can read their poem to the group if they wish.
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Suitable for all ages and abilities.
All resources provided.
Please note, tickets for Winchester Poetry Festival events are bookable directly from this page. Please do not purchase tickets from resale websites/marketplaces. Tickets for collaborative events may be hosted by other platforms. You can find our refund policy here.
If you have queries regarding tickets, or are concerned your ticket is not valid please email hello@winchesterpoetryfestival.org