FOWEY FESTIVAL 2025 IS IN THE SERENE SOUTH CORNWALL TOWN BETWEEN FRIDAY 9 AND SATURDAY 17 MAY 2025. THIS IS ONE OF THE THE BEST ARTS FESTIVALS IN CORNWALL 2025. READ ON AND DISCOVER THIS INCREDIBLE ANNUAL EVENT…
Some call it the Fowey Festival 2025. It’s officially called the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature 2025. And many folk know it simply as the Daphne du Maurier Festival 2025. Whatever you call it, it’s recognised by all as Cornwall’s premier literary festival.
And it takes place between Friday 9 and Saturday 17 May 2025 in the beautiful south Cornish coastal town of Fowey. Prepare for a glittering array of literary, music and arts stars, as well as a raft of talks, guided walks, musical performances, art trails, garden peeks and a whole lot more besides.
Expect a packed programme over the nine days at the event’s 27th edition in 2025. Visiting authors giving talks, novel workshops, comedy shows, an annual art trail, secret garden viewings, musical performances and a whole lot more.
2024’s event was bigger than ever, graced by and eclectic mix literary giants such as Louis de Bernières who authored Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, broadcaster and writer Caroline Quentin, former Labour minister Alan Johnson and comedian Jenny Eclair to name but a few. BBC Radio Cornwall’s Daphne Skinnard was on hand throughout will be interviewing a range of other authors whilst Dr Helen Doe marked the RLNI’s 200th celebratory anniversary.
The 2023 event was hailed as a success. It was a grand 25th anniversary that saw visiting authors like historian Kate Williams giving talks. She spoke about the ‘secrets of our royal palaces’ and political history expert Iain Dale and much-loved celebrity Fern Britton also engaged with the crowds. Other events over the 2023 festival included a comedy show by local funnyman Johnny Cowling, The Bookshop Band in concert, Jonathan Delbridge on the piano and keyboard, the annual art trail and a raft of secret garden viewings.
The festival programme is packed and varied every year. The 2022 event, for instance, featured literary heavyweight Michael Morpurgo, poet Roger McGough, former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child and prolific novelist Patrick Gale. There are always plenty of musical performances to look forward to in the days and evenings too.
A highlight of the week over the past seven editions is always the Fowey Art Trail, which was the ‘largest art event that Fowey has ever hosted’ in 2022 and was another smash hit in 2023 and 2024. Participants are encouraged to ‘follow the trail to see art and craft exhibitions at locations around the town’. Expect a vibrant art trail in 2025.
The whole fest takes place across a whole host of locations in Fowey, which was home to the great British novelist, biographer and playwright Daphne du Maurier, hence the unofficial monicker. Incidentally, famous poet, novelist and anthologist Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch also lived in Fowey and the town is often associated with “Wind in the Willows” author Kenneth Grahame too, so it is an apt place for such a grand literary event.
Bookworms rejoice and head on down to Fowey in May for the Fowey Festival 2025, one of the best arts festivals in Cornwall 2025. Oh, and music lovers, kids, garden enthusiasts and culture vultures: you better follow along too. There really is something for everyone at the Daphne du Maurier Festival 2025! Watch this space for details as they unfold.