We’re coming to Shrewsbury this May!

We are thrilled to announce the lineup and programme for our 2026 live event. Spotlight Indie Live takes place on Saturday 23rd May at Flaxmill Maltings in Shrewsbury.

Spotlight Indie Live is a free to attend one-day celebration of indie fantasy, science fiction, horror and speculative fiction, art and storytelling, created for aspiring writers, fiction fans and independent creatives.

Doors open at 9.30am, with panels starting from 9.45am.

CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS! Spotlight Indie Live offers the chance to discover and meet indie creators directly. The traders’ market will feature signed books, merchandise and original artwork, while facilitated Q&A sessions give audiences the opportunity to ask our speakers about their work. Plus, Spellbound Immersive Productions will bring works of fiction to life with live performances throughout the day.

Writers will have the opportunity to gain practical advice on writing and publishing from our speakers, which include award-winning authors, publishers, editors, audio producers and bloggers.

Read the 2026 Event Programme

Meet the 2026 Event Speakers

What Can You Expect From Spotlight Indie Live?

Free Entry: that’s right, we’re not charging a thing for entry to our 2026 event. We know times are hard for writers, artists and creators – so we don’t expect anyone to pay anything they can’t afford. However if you would like to make a contribution towards the cost of our events, you can do so by becoming a member of our Patreon community or by contacting Tim Hardie.

Our Venue: The Dye House at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is a gorgeous, industrial-era indoor space housed at the site of the first multifloored iron-framed building in the world. It is on ground floor level and fully accessible. The museum will be open as usual on the day – meaning you can combine a visit to this stunning heritage site and Spotlight Indie!

Not Sure Which Panels Are For You?

New for 2026: Stories Brought to Life

What’s better than discovering a new world of stories? Seeing them come to life! This year, Spotlight Indie are proud to be collaborating with Spellbound Immersive Productions. Spellbound is more than an events company – they create immersive events, totally original feature-length productions, and electrifying cabaret acts.

Find out more here: https://www.spellbound.productions/

Interested in trading at Spotlight Indie Live? We are currently open for bookings in our traders market. Please contact Alex S. Bradshaw for more details or to reserve a table.

Meet our host for the day! Back by popular demand, our live event host and MC, Joel (aka The Shropshire Dungeon Master)will be our guide to the event, hosting panels, facilitating Q&As and making sure everyone has a great time!