Agatha Christie Festival returns to Torquay this September

The International Agatha Christie Festival returns to Torbay from 12 to 20 September 2026, offering a week-long immersion into the life and legacy of the world’s best-selling author. As a cornerstone of the region’s cultural calendar, the event invites residents and visitors to explore the Bay’s unique connection to Christie through a blend of historical research, film, and community-led activities.

Event Schedule and Key Highlights

The festival is organized into two distinct phases. The opening four days comprise a Fringe Festival, featuring social events and unique experiences held at various venues across the Bay. This transitions into a four-day Literary Festival, which serves as the primary academic and cultural hub, hosted within the historic Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey.

A significant moment in this year’s programme is the event titled ‘What Agatha Did in the Great War,’ scheduled for Sunday, 13 September, at the Assembly Rooms on Lymington Road in Torquay. This session provides a deep dive into Christie’s service as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse during the First World War, exploring how her experiences with the British Red Cross between 1914 and 1918 directly influenced her later detective fiction. Earlier that same day, at 12:30 pm, the festival will host a ceremony to unveil a new Torbay Civic Society Blue Plaque outside the Assembly Rooms, with Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, in attendance.

Activities for Families and Visitors

The festival aims to be accessible to a wide audience, including younger readers. Families can participate in the ‘Little Miss Marple and Mr Poirot Harbourside Trail,’ a free, interactive activity. Participants can collect trail sheets from the Visitor Information Centre on Vaughan Parade to locate eight Christie-inspired characters hidden in shop windows around the harbour.

For those looking to explore the area independently, the Agatha Christie Mile remains a primary resource. This interactive map, supported by Great Western Railway, highlights key landmarks associated with the author’s life and work throughout Torquay. The festival’s international profile will be further showcased on 17 September, when Torbay hosts a town twinning ceremony with Spa, Belgium, celebrating the shared literary heritage between the two locations.

Practical Planning and Booking

The festival features a mix of ticketed and free events, concluding with an Agatha-themed garden party. Because the programme includes a diverse range of activities—from film premieres to educational projects involving local students—visitors are advised to check the official schedule regularly for specific event pricing and availability. For full details regarding ticket booking and the most up-to-date festival itinerary, consult the official event website at www.iacf-uk.org.

Source: Torbay Council