London’s leading literary festival returns with a major international line-up and a renewed focus on young readers in this National Year of Reading. This includes the launch of the Merton Big Read for Schools and the festival’s first Children’s Laureate, Nathanael Lessore.
Wimbledon BookFest has today announced its 2026 programme, bringing together some of the biggest names in literature, politics, history, science, music and the arts, including Matt Haig, Maggie O’Farrell, Marcia Hutchinson, Marina Hyde, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Poorna Bell, Chineke! Orchestra, Caitlin Moran, Meera Syal and Mary Beard.
Among the festival’s literary highlights is one of the first post-publication events for Elif Shafak discussing her new novel, In One Brief Moment All Eternity. Shafak’s appearance follows the selection of The Island of Missing Trees as this year’s Merton Big Read title.
Now approaching its 20th year, Wimbledon BookFest continues to position itself as an international, community-rooted arts festival shaped by a borough whose audiences range from the affluent residents of Wimbledon Village to the vibrant diversity of Mitcham.
The festival is partnered with Lahore Literature Festival and Seoul WOW Book Festival, and the programme also reflects Wimbledon BookFest’s international outlook with writers from Turkey, South Asia, Korea, Ireland and beyond. There will be appearances from popular South Korean voices including Miye Lee and Ela Lee. This year’s visual identity draws inspiration from Korean Dancheong decorative traditions and Pakistani Truck Art, reinterpreted through the lens of Wimbledon-based Pakistani artist Mahin Hussain.
Fiction remains at the heart of the programme, with a series of special author pairings bringing together some of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary writing. Highlights include Gwendoline Riley in conversation with David Szalay, Patrick Gale alongside Louise Doughty, and Irish literary stars Louise Kennedy and Donal Ryan.
Festival Director and CEO Fiona Razvi said:
‘Wimbledon BookFest’s 2026 programme continues our commitment to showcasing diversity of voices and storytelling, connecting communities and offering places for open conversations. London is the crossroads of culture and we are so pleased to include so many writers from across the world in our autumn programme.
‘In the National Year of Reading it seems more important than ever to have spaces that showcase the value of shared storytelling, that can nourish the soul and offer much needed social connection.’
Building on a significant increase in younger audiences in 2025, Wimbledon BookFest is introducing a new Under 30s ticket £10 tickets for 16-29-year-olds, alongside an expanded schools and family programme featuring authors including Chris Riddell, Rob Biddulph and Ed Vere. The initiative forms part of the festival’s wider commitment to widening access to literature and the arts during the National Year of Reading. The festival will ensure that every child leaves school events with a book. This year, Wimbledon BookFest has appointed its first Children’s Laureate, Nate Lessore. The longstanding Merton Big Read programme will be supplemented by the new Merton Big Read for Schools: the graphic novel of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the subject of an acclaimed BBC adaptation by Jack Thorne, will be given out to all year 8 pupils in Merton.
This year’s programme includes a focus on Future Britain, with conversations exploring the impact of AI, technology and social media on young people and on literature, with speakers including Jamie Bartlett and Beeban Kidron. Politics remains an important part of the programming, with John Sweeney and Peter Chappell talking about Reform, and Anthony Seldon and Marina Wheeler looking at Brexit 10 years on.
Music, film, performance and visual arts remain central to the festival. Highlights include appearances from Guy Garvey and Rachael Stirling reflecting on Diana Rigg, a live event with The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, and storytelling platform Seanchoíche, and performances from the Chineke! Orchestra.
A range of masterclasses, in partnership with longstanding Principal Partner, the University of Roehampton, London, will give visitors the opportunity to get creative and learn new skills.
The 2026 programme also reinforces Wimbledon’s position as a major cultural destination beyond tennis season, bringing nationally significant arts programming to south-west London while championing libraries and literacy. The events will take place in multiple venues in Wimbledon – the festival hub at Wimbledon High School, and Wimbledon Library hosting many of the biggest name events.
Further programme announcements will follow in the coming months.
Selected highlights from the Wimbledon BookFest 2026 programme include:
Elif Shafak
Matt Haig
Maggie O’Farrell
Robert Harris
Zakia Sewell
Poorna Bell
Simon Sebag Montefiore
Marina Hyde
Caitlin Moran
Meera Syal
Max Hastings
Mary Beard
Tim Spector
Sathnam Sanghera
Victoria Hislop
Alan Davies
Lord Alf Dubs
Maggie Aderin
Patrick Gale & Louise Doughty
Gwendoline Riley & David Szalay
Louise Kennedy & Donal Ryan
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Craig Revel Horwood
Chris Riddell
Rob Biddulph
Ed Vere
Seanchoíche
Chineke! Orchestra
Wimbledon BookFest runs from 15th – 25th October 2026, with additional schools and community events taking place throughout the autumn. Priority booking for Wimbledon BookFest Friends opens at 10am on Friday 12 June and tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 19 June. Find out more about becoming a Wimbledon BookFest Friend at https://www.wimbledonbookfest.org/support/.
Anyone aged 16-29 is eligible for £10 tickets by signing up as an Under 30 here: https://www.wimbledonbookfest.org/under-30s/
