Submissions Guide

Thank you for your interest in taking part in Eastbourne LitFest. This page explains how to submit a proposal for an event at Eastbourne LitFest 2027, which will take place on 24 -26 September. 

The Eastbourne LitFest programme is curated by the Festival Directors. Proposals are considered in relation to literary quality, originality, audience interest, diversity and inclusion, community benefit, accessibility, financial viability and the overall balance of the programme.

We’re particularly interested in proposals that offer audiences something distinctive, enjoyable, thought-provoking or inspiring. 

Be part of Eastbourne LitFest

Eastbourne LitFest celebrates the power of books, words, stories and ideas to bring people together. Following our inaugural festival in 2026, we’re looking forward to building an exciting and varied programme for 2027 and beyond.

We love discovering new voices, welcoming established writers and creating opportunities for audiences to connect with literature in all its forms. Our work is also guided by our charitable mission - we aim to facilitate connections between people and books, stories and words, and find ways to break down potential barriers to book-related, creative and cultural experiences. 

Whether you’re an author, poet, spoken-word performer, storyteller, workshop facilitator or someone with a creative literary event idea, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Before submitting, please note:

  • Our open submissions window runs from 1 November to the last day, 30 April 2027. Proposals received outside this window may not be considered. 

  • We warmly welcome traditionally, independently, and self-published creators. 

  • We invite proposals from authors, poets, spoken-word artists, storytellers, performers, workshop facilitators, publishers and literary agents.

  • We’re interested in talks, readings, panel discussions, workshops and children’s/young people's activities – or any other creative format!

  • There is no fee to submit a proposal for consideration. 

  • Do not send unsolicited physical books, full manuscripts, or additional attachments with your submission. 

Fees and expenses 

Eastbourne LitFest recognises the professional contribution of authors, speakers and performers and is committed to fair, transparent arrangements in line with industry standards for small to medium festivals. 

Reasonable expenses (travel, parking and subsistence) will be paid (evidence of expenditure required).

How to apply

You may submit a written pitch OR a video / audio pitch. 

  • Written pitch: 1 side A4 max.

  • Video/audio pitch: 2 to 3-minute video or audio recording.

Your pitch should include: 

  • Proposer details - your name, role (author / publisher / agent or organisation), email contact and social media handle(s) if applicable.

  • Book information (if applicable) - including title, publisher, publication date. You may also wish to provide genre/category, topic and an abstract or synopsis. 

  • Proposal outline - a brief event description, including format (e.g. solo talk, in-conversation, panel participant, workshop), any technical considerations and target audience.

  • Experience - please tell us about any other relevant work or publications, if applicable.

Send your pitch to info@eastbournelitfest.org using the subject line Eastbourne LitFest Submission (your name). Written pitches should be attached as a word or PDF document. Video / audio pitches can be sent via a live link or as an attachment. 

What happens after you submit?

Confirmation of receipt: You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your Stage 1 Submission within 5 working days. If you do not receive this, you are encouraged to send a follow up email. 

Shortlisting: Our programming team reviews proposals on a rolling basis. If we'd like to explore your proposal further, we'll be in touch. 

Please accept our apologies: as a small team receiving a large volume of entries, we cannot guarantee individual feedback or tailored responses for unaccepted proposals. 

What happens to my information?

We normally consider submissions for the relevant festival year only. However, we reserve the right to keep your proposal on record and may contact you about future events. Please let us know if you would prefer us to not to do this, and we will delete your information. Personal information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection requirements.

Questions?

For questions about the submissions process, please contact info@eastbournelitfest.org

Finally… 

Thank you. We appreciate the time and thought that goes into sharing your work with us.