UNESCO recognition for International Agatha Christie Festival
The Queen of Crime continues to make waves in her home town
Last updated 12th Mar 2024
UNESCO has recognised the international Agatha Christie Festival - which takes place in Torbay each September.
The famous crime writer's former home in the bay is now a National Trust property and annual the festival takes place around her birthday.
More than 2,000 tickets have already been sold for the 2024 event - with details of some aspects still to be announced. The festival annually attracts more than 3,000, many from around the= world who often stay in local hotels boosting the area's economy.
The official patronage from the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO is 'in recognition of its alignment with UNESCO educational and cultural goals'.
James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary General, United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC), said: "Agatha Christie is a cultural icon and to this day remains the world’s best-selling author of all time.
"Her works are read, admired and studied by hundreds of millions across the globe, who enjoy her masterful storytelling and literary craft.
"The Agatha Christie Festival brings these elements together, fostering cultural exchange and understanding for those who come to participate from far and wide.
"And of course, the setting of the festival, the English Riviera, is both synonymous with the author and is itself now a UNESCO Global Geopark - something that with her appreciation for the area's heritage, including its geological significance, that Agatha would have no doubt celebrated."
For more details visit www.agathachristiefestival.com