A statement on the proposed cuts at the University of Exeter.

The Annual UNESCO Cities of Literature Conference is intended to strengthen understanding and connections between Cities to build greater future collaboration and to explore the literary life of the host city. In 2026 this was held in Tartu, Estonia.

@manonsreading, a University of Exeter Alumni and online bookstagram creator, has officially launched a monumental cultural project: a nationwide journey to visit, document and celebrate every single independent bookshop in the United Kingdom.

In April 2026, Kev Payne (Bard of Exeter for April 2025 - 2026) had the chance to spend a week in China for a series of workshops on children’s literacy and illustration skills. Kev spent time in Beijing, Qingdao, and Nanjing UNESCO City of Literature during this trip, so we checkedin with him following his return to Exeter to find out what went down in China!

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature has unveiled the trio of talented writers selected for the inaugural writer residency at National Trust’s Greenway, the much loved holiday home of acclaimed Devon writer Agatha Christie.

Local writer Mike Ludgrove shares his experience of a three week writing retreat in AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

A new campaign and digital platform, Explore UNESCO South West Trails, has launched, offering visitors an inspiring and sustainable way to discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of South West England.

World Poetry Day is on Saturday 21 March and UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature across the world will be celebrating together.

Since summer 2023, University of Exeter professor Hugh Roberts has been the University’s lead of a project to facilitate translation and promotion of Ukrainian Wartime Poetry. In October 2025, Hugh visited Lviv, Ukraine for the annual BookForum.

We got to experience so many incredible things as a UNESCO City of Literature this year - so here’s a fabulous recap! From an ever growing audience at our bookish events, to an incredible array of continent-crossing collaborations with our fellow Cities of Literature, 2025 has been a great year for Exeter—and 2026 will be no different!

“I had no idea what Exeter was like when I was offered a visit as part of the UNESCO City of Literature collaboration between Jakarta and, of course, Exeter—well, I had a picture, actually, of a quiet small town in a remote part of England, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Looking for some bookish gift inspiration this festive season? ⛄️ Here are 10 recommendations from independent bookshops and literary organisations from across Devon!

As the 12-week public consultation on the future of the library service in Devon begins, ExCoL calls on residents and decision-makers to recognise the long-term value of Devon’s 50-library network.

All eyes are on Dublin City of Literature as SLAMOVISION, the international slam poetry competition for UNESCO cities of literature across the world, takes place this week on Thursday 6 November from 7pm to 9pm GMT at Windmill Town Hall, Windmill Lane, in the heart of the city. 

Ten new cities have joined the Cities of Literature network: Aberystwyth (Wales); Abuja (Nigeria); Celje (Slovenia); Conakry (Guinea); Dumaguete City (Philippines); Gdańsk (Poland); Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye); Lund (Sweden); San Luis Potosi (Mexico); and Tangier (Morocco).