The Festival of Stories returns to Bristol for its third edition at SPARKS

The Festival of Stories returns on Saturday 7 March 2026, inviting audiences of all ages to take part and celebrate the power of storytelling in all its forms. Taking place at SPARKS Bristol in Broadmead, the one-day festival will bring together writers, performers, illustrators, oral storytellers and creative thinkers for an inspiring programme of events that place stories at the heart of community, culture and imagination. 

The 2026 programme will feature a diverse line-up of local voices, including author and screenwriter Nikesh Shukla and folklore storyteller Marcus Fagon, alongside a wide range of storytellers and makers to be announced. Award winning Author C. L. Taylor will also be facilitating a free flash fiction writing workshop for all abilities. With a focus on inclusivity and creativity, the festival will champion both established names and emerging talent, reflecting Bristol’s vibrant independent arts scene and the city’s long-standing reputation for community-led cultural events.

Following two successful previous festivals at Bristol’s ‘department store with a difference’, The Festival of Stories has quickly established itself as a standout date in the city’s cultural calendar. The 2026 edition marks the third in Bristol so far, building on a growing appetite for creative experiences that bring people together through shared ideas, lived experiences and collective imagination. 

This year has been declared a National Year of Reading- a campaign run by The National Literacy Trust and this event is part of a pledge to ‘Go All In 2026’ by encouraging reading for pleasure and highlighting all the benefits associated with this. Accessibility and inclusivity is at the heart of the festival- aiming to remove barriers and open up opportunities for people who feel they may be on the margins of the literary community. 

“Stories connect us,” says Charlie Keenan, festival organiser. “They help us share experiences, build empathy and imagine a better world. The Festival of Stories Bristol is about creating space for those connections to happen across generations, cultures and communities.”

Full programme details, including performers, workshops and attending authors and makers, will be announced in the coming months.

For updates and more information, visit the Facebook event page or follow @papertalesshop and @sparksbristol.