PRESS RELEASE 6 July 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WARWICK WORDS HISTORY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS FIRST 10 YEARS
The 10th Warwick Words History Festival runs from 5th October to 11 October in the town. Its main venue will be Castle Hill Baptist Church.
The 10th year celebrations kicked off in April with an exclusive Special Event when it welcomed its first ever Honorary Patron, historian, broadcaster, and author Tracy Borman. A firm Festival favourite, Tracy launched her latest novel, The House of Boleyn.
Festival highlights are returning favourites Max Hastings, Dan Jones, Michael Scott and Alison Weir. Guests new to the Festival include Dan Cruickshank, Jonathan Healey, Katja Hoyer and Andrew Roberts.
As in previous years, Warwick Words Festival’s wide-ranging programme includes events in association with Warwick Castle, the University of Warwick, and the British Motor Museum. Other events in the Festival’s In and Around Warwick strand, feature local historians and local histories.
Festival Executive Director Helen Meeke said:
‘Since 2016, Warwick Words History Festival has enjoyed fantastic support from our audience, and from our Festival guest speakers. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that we bring them a very special programme of events to celebrate those 10 years. As part of the celebrations, we are also showcasing the work of local artist, Mark Kaiser on our front cover.‘
Tickets for all events are on sale either online, www.warwickwords.co.uk, or by telephoning the Box Office 01926 33 44 18, or in person at Leamington Spa Visitor Information Centre.
Tickets can be purchased at the event subject to availability.
For the full Festival programme and to join Warwick Words History Festival mailing list go to www.warwickwords.co.uk
ENDS
Contacts for further information –
Helen Meeke 07944 768607
www.warwickwords.co.uk
PRESS RELEASE 2 February 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dr Tracy Borman Appointed Honorary Festival Patron
Warwick Words History Festival has announced Dr Tracy Borman OBE as its Honorary Festival Patron, as the Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary.
Since the first Warwick Words History Festival in 2016, the Festival has welcomed hundreds of historians, authors, and speakers to Warwick, with Tracy Borman proving a regular sell-out favourite. Her generous support has been a distinguished part of the Festival’s success, and in her new role she will help Warwick Words continue its mission to celebrate, explore, and share history with the local community.
Tracy will open the Festival’s tenth-anniversary celebrations with an exclusive event introducing her new novel, The House of Boleyn, on Wednesday 29 April at 7.30pm at Warwick Hall. Tickets are available at www.warwickwords.co.uk.
Dr Tracy Borman said:
I’m absolutely thrilled to be the Honorary Festival Patron in this, the tenth anniversary year of the Warwick Words History Festival. It has been a joy to be part of the Festival since its inception. Warwick is steeped in history, and I’m always given such a warm welcome by the Festival and everyone who comes along to my talks. I think the tenth year will be the best yet.
Helen Meeke, Executive Director, said:
We are delighted that Tracy that has accepted our invitation to be our Patron The Festival exists to celebrate, explore, and share our history with a wide audience, and the involvement of a Patron like Tracy plays a vital role in helping us achieve that mission. Tracy’s involvement will strengthen the Festival’s profile both nationally and within our community.
Notes to Editors
Dr Tracy Borman OBE is Chief Historian at Historic Royal Palaces. A historian, writer, broadcaster, and public speaker, Tracy regularly appears on Channel 5’s Inside the Tower of London and has fronted several Channel 5 documentaries, including Princes in the Tower and Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn: The Prisoner Queens.
She is the author of several highly acclaimed non-fiction books, including Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him (2019), Crown and Sceptre (2021), Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I (2023), and The Stolen Crown (2025).
Tickets for Tracy’s event are available online at www.warwickwords.co.uk
Box Office 01926 33 44 18
The full History Festival 2026 programme will be available in July.
To join the Warwick Words History Festival mailing list please go to: www.warwickwords.co.uk
Contact: Festival Executive Director Helen Meeke
07944 768607
Pics attached – Tracy Borman © Sophia Spring, The House of Boleyn
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