Explore a selection of books from a diverse range of genres at the Rugby Literary Festival Book Fair. Meet a range of brilliant authors both from the local area and from further afield! With over
20 author stands, there is something for everyone.
A Poetic Interruption
Back, after its popular debut at the 2025 festival, and again hosted by local performer and writer Ian Fisermanis as his alter ego “BusyMrFizzy”, enjoy a free night out featuring a selection of incredible spoken word art.
Expect laughter, tension, emotional journeys and storytelling through thought-provoking pieces performed by an array of poets, spoken word performers, actors, comics and writers. Open to anyone 18 years and over, you can just take a seat and let your night get randomly interrupted by performances, or sign up before, or on the night, and take part yourself.
You can read out your favourite song lyrics, something in a language other than English, perform your favourite poem or one you wrote yourself. Something close to your heart, or something that hits your funny bone.
This is a community based event open to all walks of life. If you would like to read or perform something you have written, or if there is someone else’s work you’d love to introduce to the world, please email [email protected] to get involved. No experience needed, no rules or limits applied to what you want to do, just speak.
Children’s Storytelling at Rugby Library
Join Rugby Library for a storytelling session. Perfect for young children and their families, this interactive half-hour event will bring stories to life through engaging narration, imagination and fun. Whether you’re a regular library visitor or joining us for the festival, this is a fantastic opportunity to spark a love of stories and creativity in young readers.
Please note: Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
No booking is required.
Town Centre Literary Walking Tour
Join our award-winning volunteer Town Guide on a journey of discovery through Rugby Town Centre. Find out about Rugby’s many links to famous writers and visit the locations connected to them. Meet by Rugby Visitor Centre. The walking tour is fully accessible.
Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
Please book via the link.
The Map is the Story
What happens when a map stops being a guide and becomes part of the adventure itself? Join Charlie’s Lines for this talk exploring the creation of a comic trail map that reimagined the traditional event map as an illustrated story. Rather than following roads and symbols on a page, participants navigated by recognising landmarks woven into the narrative, encouraging them to explore familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. The result was a trail where discovery became part of the journey, transforming navigation into an act of curiosity.
The session follows the project’s development from the initial concept to the finished publication, examining the creative decisions behind blending storytelling, illustration and practical wayfinding into a single experience. It also reveals how custom software enabled a marriage of technology and art, opening new creative possibilities while ensuring the final work remained driven by human imagination and editorial judgement. Ultimately, this is a story about questioning what an event trail map can be. By turning a functional guide into the heart of the experience, the project invited people not simply to find their way, but to rediscover the place around them through narrative, exploration and play.