Are the Gala Dinner and evening drinks on site?
Yes, you don't need to leave the festival venue to attend the Saturday evening gala dinner or drinks. There will, however, be a 90-minute break in which you are welcome to leave the venue to get changed or freshen up.
Where will I be sitting at the Gala Dinner?
If you have a Saturday or Weekend ticket, you’ll be able to find your
Gala Dinner selection form from your
to-do list on the booking platform. In this form, you can let us know of any attendees you would like to sit beside. Please be as clear as possible and, where possible, use the name listed on the
Networking page so we can easily update our records. You will need to complete this form by
1pm (BST) on May 18th 2026.
Please note that seating requests must be mutually agreed; if you request to sit next to an attendee but they have not made the same request of you in their Gala Dinner selection form, you will be seated separately. For this reason, we encourage you to coordinate your plans with other attendees using the direct messaging feature of the booking platform.
If you do not make any seating requests, we will usually aim to seat you beside other attendees writing in a genre you have listed as an interest if at all possible. For more information on customising your interests, please see the related FAQ:
‘How can I change my profile settings?’
How can I let you know my dietary requirements/preferences?
What should I wear to the Gala Dinner?
While we encourage you to dress up, we have no formal dress code and you’re welcome to wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
Can I bring a guest to the Gala Dinner?
Yes, but your guest will need to pay separately to cover their catering costs, and they will not be able to enter Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday) or any other events on the Festival programme. Please contact us at
info@jerichowriters.com if you would like to discuss bringing a guest and we’ll be happy to assist.