Festival 2026

From steam trains and sea voyages to literary greats, vintage glamour and a little friendly criminal competition, the Agatha Christie Festival 2026 celebrated the Queen of Crime in style. Visitors explored the places that inspired her, discovered fascinating stories from her life and works, and enjoyed a packed programme of events across Torquay and the wider Agatha Christie Country.

Running from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 September, the Festival began with a four-day Fringe Festival before moving into the main Literary Festival in the Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey.

During the Fringe, visitors were once again able to explore the whole of Agatha Christie Country, with a packed programme of events in unusual and fascinating locations. Highlights included a trip to Dartmoor to visit the hotel where Agatha wrote her first book, afternoon tea on Burgh Island, which inspired And Then There Were None and Evil Under the Sun, the AB Sea Murders boat trip, and a steam train and paddle steamer adventure to Dartmouth. There were also talks and a tea dance in the Assembly Rooms at Torquay Town Hall, where Agatha served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse during the First World War.

The Literary Festival opened with Lucy Foley launching her new Miss Marple continuation novel, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, followed by Ben Miller chatting to Robert Thorogood about their time working together on Death in Paradise. Other highlights included Amber Butchart exploring the forensic fashion of Agatha Christie, and Agatha's nephew John Mallowan sharing her love of photography through fascinating talks, previously unseen film clips, slides and photographs. We also welcomed Ian Moore to the Festival.

Thursday 17 September was Roger Ackroyd Day, marking 100 years since the publication of one of Christie's most celebrated novels. Experts including Dr John Curran, David Morris and Martin Edwards shared their insights into this landmark work. The wider literary programme explored a host of other subjects, from the Golden Age of Detection with Dr Angela Buckley and Christie-themed coins, banknotes and stamps from around the world with Jeff Rock, to Agatha Christie's London with Tina Hodgkinson and the art of plotting, clues and misdirection with Sally and Tony Hope. Two special panel discussions marked the 50th anniversary of Sleeping Murder and explored the question of Agatha Christie's greatest narrator.

The entertainment continued into the evenings, with a rare performance of Agatha Christie's Verdict, a live recording of The Swinging Christies podcast and our first-ever gameshow night. Some very brave contestants took to the stage for Criminal Mastermind, followed by a panel game hosted by Kemper Donovan and featuring some of our guest experts.

The Festival came to a wonderful close on Sunday 20 September with a 1920s costumed promenade around Torre Abbey Meadows, accompanied by plenty of period style and good spirits. The celebrations continued with live music from vintage vocal harmony trio The Hummingbirds, followed by a garden party featuring a treasure hunt and talks from guests including Orlando Murrin, Figgy Mack and Margaret Mallowan. A traditional cream tea in the glorious Devon sunshine and more live music from Terrie-May McNulty rounded off nine memorable days of Christie-inspired fun.

The 2026 Festival will be a hard act to follow, but we're already looking forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027 for another celebration of the Queen of Crime!

The Agatha Christie Festival is a charity, and the money it raises helps us work with local young people to improve literacy and foster a lifelong love of reading