Since summer 2023, University of Exeter professor Hugh Roberts has been the University’s lead of a project to facilitate translation and promotion of Ukrainian Wartime Poetry. In October 2025, Hugh visited Lviv, Ukraine for the annual BookForum.

We got to experience so many incredible things as a UNESCO City of Literature this year - so here’s a fabulous recap! From an ever growing audience at our bookish events, to an incredible array of continent-crossing collaborations with our fellow Cities of Literature, 2025 has been a great year for Exeter—and 2026 will be no different!

“I had no idea what Exeter was like when I was offered a visit as part of the UNESCO City of Literature collaboration between Jakarta and, of course, Exeter—well, I had a picture, actually, of a quiet small town in a remote part of England, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Looking for some bookish gift inspiration this festive season? ⛄️ Here are 10 recommendations from independent bookshops and literary organisations from across Devon!