Agatha Christie Festival 2026 Announces Riveting Celebration of the Queen of Crime | News
The 2026 Agatha Christie Festival line-up has been revealed, featuring unique events in hidden locations linked to the Queen of Crime, before culminating in a four-day Literary Festival packed with panel discussions, immersive experiences and performances from leading crime writers and Agatha Christie experts.
Established in 1990 to mark the centenary of Christie’s birth, the Agatha Christie Festival is an annual celebration of her life and work and is held around her birthday on September 15 on the English Riviera.
2026 will be a landmark year for the festival, celebrating major anniversaries in its home town of Torquay. From the 100th anniversary of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and the 50th anniversary of Miss Marple’s last novel, Sleeping Murder, to the 50th anniversary of Christie’s death in 1976, these important milestones will be commemorated as thousands of local and international visitors come together to remember their favorite author.
The nine-day celebration kicks off with a four-day Fringe Festival highlighted by a day aboard the Dartmouth Steam Railway, a route Poirot took in the ABC Murders and Dead Man’s Folly, followed by a riverboat cruise on the River Dart.
Local attraction Kents Cavern, a prehistoric cave system that inspired Hampsley Cavern in Christie’s The Man in the Brown Suit, will host underground Cave Cinema screenings and guided Agatha Underground tours.
Fans can also enjoy a VIP experience with an exclusive after-hours event hosted at Christie’s former holiday home, Greenway House, or visitors can dance the night away at Ugbrooke House, where young Agatha Miller famously met her future husband, Archie Christie.
In addition, festival organizers are working with the British Red Cross to host a special meeting in the Assembly Rooms of Torquay Town Hall. The event, entitled ‘What Agatha Did in the Great War’, will include talks and specially commissioned films celebrating Christie’s volunteer work as a nurse at the Voluntary Aid Detachment and pharmacy, followed by a tea dance to the sounds of the South Devon Big Band.
After the Fringe Festival ends, the Literary Festival begins on September 16 at Torre Abbey and includes a specialist Roger Ackroyd Day on September 17, marking the novel’s fictional murder. Leading experts and writers, including Dr. John Curran, Ian Bishop, Martin Edwards and Death in Paradise’s Robert Thorogood and Ben Miller will be on hand to applaud one of Christie’s greatest works.
The literary program will also include appearances from Lucy Foley, the author behind the new Miss Marple sequel Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel. Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Agatha Cure, and Tina Hodgkinson, author of Agatha Christie’s London: A Historical Guide to the Queen of Crime’s Capital, will also be on hand to discuss the late writer.
Visitors can also explore design elements of Christie’s work with fashion historian Amber Butchart and listen to other Christie fans as The Swinging Christie’s records a live podcast episode.
Matt Newbury, Creative Director of the Agatha Christie Festival, said: “We have worked hard to create one of the biggest and most fun festivals to date, celebrating the world’s most successful author in her birthplace of Torquay. We are delighted to welcome fans old and new to the English Riviera and are proud to host one of the friendliest festivals in the world.
“Although a record number of tickets have already been sold, there are still tickets available for many events, so get involved if you can. It would be a crime to miss out.”
Carolyn Custerson, CEO of the English Riviera BID Company, commented: “This year’s Agatha Christie Festival will be one of our biggest celebrations yet for the much-loved author.
“With the anniversary of Christie’s death being a key part of this year’s programme, the festival will continue to attract visitors to her birthplace, which plays an integral role in attracting visitors to the English Riviera and we look forward to welcoming them.”
In 2025, the Agatha Christie Festival welcomed 8,000 ticket holders from more than 30 countries, with visitors traveling from as far away as South America, Australia and New Zealand. With a packed program, 2026 will once again be an unmissable year for Christie enthusiasts and literary lovers alike.
For more information about the range of events and activities you can enjoy at this year’s festival, visit https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on/the-agatha-christie-festival-p1257113
