Fiction, Distilled

If you are looking for something to mark on your calendar this May, the Brighton Festival 2026 has a session coming up that might catch your interest. On May 23, the festival is hosting an event titled Fiction, Distilled, which focuses on the craft of short stories. It is a conversation featuring authors Colm Tóibín and Ruth Ozeki, who will be discussing what makes short fiction work and why it remains such a compelling form of storytelling.

It is interesting to see these two writers sharing a stage, given their respective approaches to narrative. The event is part of the wider Brighton Festival programme, which means it follows the standard ticketing process for the festival. If you are planning to attend, you will need to book through the official Brighton Festival channels, specifically via the Brighton Dome ticket office. They have a few different pricing structures in place, including options like 'Festival Standby' for those under 26, people over 60, or those who qualify for specific social support or disability concessions. It is worth checking their website directly to see which category applies to you before you book.

While the specific venue for this conversation is still to be confirmed within the festival's official listings, the event is firmly set for that date in May. Since the festival manages its own venues and ticketing, keeping an eye on the Brighton Festival website is the best way to get the final details on the location as they are released. It is a straightforward setup: a conversation between two established authors about the mechanics of writing, hosted within the city's annual festival framework. If you enjoy literary discussions or are curious about the process behind short stories, this is simply an opportunity to hear two perspectives on the subject.