Richmond Reads festival starts tomorrow — author talks, workshops and more
3 September 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
The Richmond Reads 2026 festival launches on Friday 4 September, bringing a packed month of literary events to the borough. Barnes residents are well within reach of the programme and the events are open to all.
This year's schedule includes author talks, reading discussions, creative writing workshops and family-friendly activities designed to celebrate books and introduce readers to new genres and voices. Aspiring writers are catered for alongside those who simply want to broaden their reading horizons.
One of the distinctive strands this year is participation in the worldwide Silent Book Club movement, offering residents dedicated, relaxed reading time in local library spaces — no pressure, no discussion required, just the pleasure of reading in good company.
The festival is organised through Richmond's library network, which means there are likely to be events at the Barnes branch as well as venues across the wider borough. The full programme and dates are published on the council's website, where residents can find out how to sign up for individual events.
For those who enjoy a literary outing close to home, this is a good opportunity to find something before the autumn fully sets in. Richmond Council: Richmond Reads 2026