Tickets are now on sale for Play on Words, the New Forest’s festival for readers, writers and lovers of words, which returns from 22-27 October 2026. 

There is an abundance of events and activities for everyone, including the Play on Words Open Mic at Forest Arts Centre; Autumn Tales: Story Readings for Adults at Lymington Library; a Sci Fi and Fantasy Quiz Night at Vibrant Forest Brewery & Taproom; and the Local Writer Showcase at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery with guest Liz Amos. For writers, or anyone who is interested in becoming a writer, we will be hosting a Writers’ Day exploring facilitation, finding writing communities and funding opportunities for writers.

There is also plenty for children and young people, including Story Trails through the forest and an opportunity to attend The Nightjar Journey at Hythe Library, a warm and imaginative family performance exploring migration, belonging and the many ways we carry home with us.

Play on Words was founded by two New Milton residents in 2018. The festival is run by a steering group made up of local residents, writers and organisations including Culture in Common, Forest Arts, New Forest District Council, New Forest National Park Authority and St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery, coordinated by ArtfulScribe, with other partners and supporters including, Coda Music and Arts Trust, Hampshire Libraries, Fluid Motion Theatre Company, the Imaginarium bookshop, Mayflower Studios, and SPUD. The Festival is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Click here to explore what’s on or to book tickets.

Come along for an evening of poetry, writing and connection, and celebrate the community that has carried Write a Note for the past ten years. 

This extended Write a Note open mic will run from 5:00pm to 8:00pm to welcome as many poets and writers as possible. Come and go as you wish, and if you’d like to read, simply speak to Anita on arrival to sign up.

For tickets please click here

Our regular programme of creative writing workshops starts in September, offering welcoming spaces to explore ideas, develop your writing and get creative alongside others.

All workshops are suitable for beginners, with groups for all ages from 7+ through to adults taking place across Southampton, the New Forest, Hythe, Gosport, Poole and online. There are plenty of ways to get writing this autumn. For more information or to book any of our workshops, click here. 

Alongside our regular programme, ArtfulScribe, in collaboration with Lighthouse Poole, are offering Writing Stories for Stage and Screen, a ten week course designed to help create or refine creative ideas into scripts for stage or the screen.  This course is led by EMMY nominated writer Mike Garley. Click here to find out more or to book.

Rhymes and Beats with Issa Farrah-Kelly - Get creative with words, rhythm and storytelling while exploring rap, hip hop and poetry | 31 October - 10:30am - 12:00pm | Book here 

A guided story walk exploring how everyday objects, humour, and traditions connect us across cultures. Led by Singaporean author Erni Salleh and British Burmese poet Amy Hardingson, this gentle outdoor experience invites participants to slow down, notice their surroundings and explore the connections between landscape, memory and culture. Through a series of stops in the New Forest, participants will encounter everyday objects, sensory prompts, poetry and stories drawn from East and Southeast Asian experiences, while reflecting on their own memories, traditions and communities.
 

19 September 1:00pm - 3:00pm OR 26 September 4:00pm - 6:00pm | spudWORKS Station Road Sway SO41 6BA | Book here  

To learn more about East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month, discover events and ways to get involved, please click here 

October Books Poetry Open Mic Night  - Open Mic | 18 September  | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | October Books, Portswood Road, SO17 2NF

Everyday Histories poetry wordshop and sharing session with Damian Kelly-Basher - Writing Workshop | 19 September | 10:30am-12pm | The Pilgrims’ Hall, The Pilgrims’ School, Winchester, SO23 9LT 

New SaRhyme - Open Mic | 22 September | 7:30pm | Upstairs at the Pheasant Inn, 19 Salt Lane, Salisbury SP1 1DT 

Placeholder Poetry Rosy Carrick & Kat Sinclair - Event | 1 October | 7:00pm | Bookshop Alehouse 21 Portswood Road SO17 2ES

Romance Writing Festival - Festival |  03 Oct  | 08:30am - 9:30pm | Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth   BH1 3AB

World Poetry Day: A Celebration of Wonder - Event | 4 October | 1pm | Tickets £7.50 | God's House Tower, Town Quay Road, Southampton SO14 2NY 

Winchester Poetry Day 2026  - Event | 10 October |  10am - 5pm | The ARC, SO23 8SB 

The Script’s The Thing!  -  Festival | 10 & 11 October |  Various  | Various locations 

And There It Was...For the Curious - Free monthly creative writing group | 2nd Wednesday of the month | 7:30pm - 8:45pm | InFocus Network Eagle Lab, Portland Terrace, Southampton SO14 7SJ

BSK - Open Mic | First Thursday of the month | 7:00pm | The Bounty Inn, Basingstoke, RG21 2BZ | No booking required