In Our Words

Portsmouth BookFest: Film Programme Date: 17th February - 1st March Time: Multiple Location: Multiple Cost: Mixed Join Portsmouth BookFest as they return for another exciting year of programming, celebrating the literary greats of the city.

Portsmouth BookFest: Children's Week Date: 16th February - 21st February Time: Multiple Location: Multiple Cost: Mixed Join Portsmouth BookFest as they return for another exciting year of programming with their Children's Week programme.

Portsmouth BookFest: Adult's Programme Date: 15th February - 8th March Time: Multiple Location: Multiple Cost: Mixed Join Portsmouth BookFest as they return for another exciting year of programming with their Adult's Progreamme.

I Am Born Date: 29th January - 8th February Time: Open Daily 10.00-16.30 Location: Portsmouth Historic Quarter Cost: Free I Am Born is a visual arts project with seniors at Braemar Care Home and young people from Motiv8 and the Brook Club. Artists Ally Ashworth and Rachel Johnston have used archival imagery from the Portsmouth History Centre, The News Portsmouth and The D-Day Story to inspire conversation and create visual stories.

National Story Telling Week 2026 Date: 2nd February - 9th February Time: Multiple  Location: Online Cost: Free National Storytelling Week 2026 is a celebration of oral storytelling, reading and writing for pleasure. At a time when young people’s writing and reading enjoyment levels are at their lowest, National Storytelling Week has never been more important.

Be Part of a Guinness World Record Attempt: In Our Words – World Book Day 2026. Please register your interest by 16 January 2026....

Writing for Wellbeing with SanPau Date: 4th December Time: 13.00-15.00 Location: Buckland United Reformed Church Cost: £5 donation

Kettle Tales Writing Group Date: 1st December Time: 10.30-16.00 Location: Cosham Community Kettle Cost: Free

Festival of Light Lantern Parade Date: 14th November Time: 19.00-20.30 Location: Rear of Victory Business Centre, Somers Road to St Mary's Church, Fratton.  Cost: Free.  Come to watch the parade or take part in it yourself!

Seawords Scribbling Social Date: 17th November Time: 18.15-20.30 Location: Coffee @ The Pier Cost: Free Scribbling Social: Penultimate Pensmiths

Writing from Folklore and Nature with Victoria Leslie Date: 14th November Time: 14.00-16.00 Location: New Theatre Royal Cost: £20 (free places available, contact williamgeorgesutton@gmail.com) Tease out the mystical threads of old tales to explore the magic of writing your own folk tale.

Editing Club Online Date: 5th November Time: 19.00-20.30 Location: Online Cost: Pay what you can. Tackle this crucial part of the writing process.

Writing for Wellbeing with SanPau Date: 6th November Time: 13.00-15.00 Location: Buckland United Reformed Church Cost: £5 donation

Write to Be Heard Date: 18th November Time: 16.00 - 18.00 Location: Motiv8 - Unit 2 & 3 Cumberland Gate, Cumberland Road PO5 1AG Cost: Free No experience needed—bring your voice, your ideas, and your curiosity. Write it. Share it. Be heard.

Poet laureate Simon Armitage inspires Portsmouth pupils in free live literature event! Poet Laureate – and Portsmouth University alumnus – Simon Armitage has brought his trademark blend of honesty, humour and insight to the New Theatre Royal stage, as part of Portsmouth Creates’ Year of Literacy, “In Our Words”.

PORTSMOUTH “YEAR OF STORYTELLING” SPARKS RECORD-BREAKING SUMMER READING CHALLENGE School children across Portsmouth are being encouraged to take part in one of the city’s biggest-ever summer reading challenges, thanks to a new initiative from Portsmouth Creates...

Hundreds of Year 5 pupils from across Portsmouth came together at the Kings Theatre on Wednesday 25 June to celebrate a shared love of reading at the annual Year 5 Book Awards...

As we approach Refugee Week 2025, we invite you to be part of a city-wide celebration of resilience, community, and the transformative power of storytelling...

MEET PORTSMOUTH’S WRITERS, POETS & WORDSMITHS  As part of In Our Words our city-wide celebration of literature, language and storytelling and through the Portsmouth Creative Directory, we’re proud to shine a light on the brilliant writers, poets and wordsmiths shaping Portsmouth’s creative voice. 

The invaluable support of South Western Railway and Stagecoach South, whose generous contributions ensured that children from across Portsmouth could attend the launch event...

IN OUR WORD is a year-long festival of literature, literacy, and storytelling – launches with over 350 children at Fratton Park with famous author...

We invite artists, writers, performers, and community groups to take part in a year-long celebration of Portsmouth’s rich literary heritage and future – IN OUR WORDS...