Very sorry about this – but yes it is the thing to do.  PG

To our lovely book festival supporters,

With heavy hearts we have decided to cancel the 2020 Marlborough Book Festival.

Given the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, and how long it might affect us in New Zealand, we decided as a committee that the best thing to do is to sit tight for a year.

We thank you for your understanding.

Not to downplay the seriousness of what is happening, but we like to think that we can all do our bit to prevent this condition spreading by staying at home and reading a book. Something we think all our festival supporters will be quite comfortable doing!

Over the winter we will continue to send you newsletters highlighting the work of the 12 fantastic authors who were set to visit Marlborough in July. We do hope they will be able to join us at a festival in the future, so this winter is your chance to read their books before they come.

Thanks must go to the authors and interviewers who were all lined up to come, and to our sponsors and supporters who were all geared up to support another great festival. We will be back!

All our very best to you and yours,

The team behind the Festival,

Sophie Preece, Sonia O’Regan, Sharon Hill, Kat Pickford, Lorraine Carryer, Charlotte Patterson and Claudia Small