A new festival in the Lake District is aiming to make the local community a key part of the event.

The Lake District Book Festival will be making its debut in June 2026 at Cartmel Racecourse.

The ambitious plans hope to make the festival an annual celebration of the written word and has been founded by Charlotte Fairbairn, novelist and creative director at Lowther Castle, alongside journalist and historian Christopher de Bellaigue.

The launch event in OctoberThe launch event in October (Image: Charlotte Fairbairn)

Charlotte said: "It's been a hard time in recent memory for literary festivals across the country so there's an element of flying in the face of common sense.

"But we've already received a lot of good will since the announcement - everyone in Cartmel and publishers we've spoken to have only had positive things to say."

Hosted by the Holker Group and the Cavendish family, the festival will feature big and lesser known names from the literary world, historians, journalists, thinkers and 'writers of all voices'.

Acclaimed journalist Christopher de Bellaigue is one of the key minds behind the new eventAcclaimed journalist Christopher de Bellaigue is one of the key minds behind the new event (Image: Submitted)

The festival will be opening at Cartmel Priory, just one aspect of the event making use of its 'beautiful' setting.

Nick Devenish, the vicar of the Priory, commented: “Everyone in the village I have spoken to is overwhelmingly positive about the possibilities of this festival.

"That more people may come and appreciate this corner of our blessed land is to be celebrated - we can’t wait to welcome friends old and new.”

A key part of the festival will be a schools programme running concurrently with the wider event, which will see visitors hold talks with pupils and help them unleash their creativity.

Food and drink at the event will be sourced from local suppliers, whilst businesses in the area - such as Verey Books in Pooley Bridge - will help bring the festivities to life.

Christopher added: "We will engineer an atmosphere where all authors feel cherished and can enjoy meaningful encounters between each other and with the public.”

To find out more about the event ahead of its 2026 debut, you can visit the website here.