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London Literature Festival 2026: dates, highlights and visitor guide
London Literature Festival returns to Southbank Centre from 20 October to 1 November 2026, with Dua Lipa curating a programme of writers, conversations and storytelling.
Choose a conversation, not a festival pass
Dua Lipa curates this edition through Service95 Book Club.
Book the individual conversation or performance you want; the festival date range is not one continuous show or one admission ticket. Readers interested in fiction can start with Hernan Diaz: Ply on 21 October at 19:45 in the Purcell Room.
Poetry and music meet at Out-Spoken on 23 October at 19:30 in Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Date, venue & tickets
- Date
- 20 Oct 2026 – 1 Nov 2026
- Venue
- Southbank Centre venues South Bank
- Visit times
- See the organiser’s opening or booking times Select your date on the official page before planning the journey.
- Tickets
- Ticketed programme with selected free activity Availability and prices can change.
Access and travel planning
- Access
- Check the access details for each event and venue Venue access information
- Finish and running time
- A finish time has not been confirmed here. Check the venue programme before arranging your journey home.
- Return journey
- Use your actual departure date and time in the journey planner, especially if you expect to leave after midnight.
- Dates
- 20 October–1 November 2026
- Location
- Southbank Centre, South Bank
- Tickets
- Individual events; selected free activity
- Checked
- 5 October 2026
On this page
A free afternoon on 24 October
Authors of the Estate is listed free at 15:00 on Saturday 24 October in the Clore Ballroom, with creative activities.
Check its direct listing for participation and entry arrangements. Free pricing does not establish unrestricted capacity or an age recommendation.
Later dates to compare
Malorie Blackman discusses Noughts & Crosses at 25 on 28 October at 20:00 in Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Tice Cin: Safe Spaces takes place in the Purcell Room on 29 October at 19:45. Fierce Sounds is at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 30 October at 20:00; Censorship Live!
is in the Purcell Room on 31 October at noon. Hanif and Carlo Kureishi close the highlighted selection on 1 November at 20:00 in Queen Elizabeth Hall.
All times are London local time.
Before paying
Follow the official festival listing to each event for current prices, ticket status, duration, age guidance and access provision.
Those conditions differ across the programme. A writer appearing on the festival page does not mean seats remain available.
A simple South Bank visit
Choose one timed event and leave room for a meal or a riverside walk.
Waterloo is a useful starting station, with Embankment across the river; check TfL for the route and service status you need. Use the venue named on your ticket, rather than heading automatically to Royal Festival Hall.
Access and nearby choices
Review Southbank Centre access information and the individual performance before booking assistance or a companion ticket.
A daytime riverside visit works around an afternoon event; keep food stops near the venue rather than scheduling another cross-city attraction. LONNOW checked this programme on 5 October 2026; the organiser controls later changes.
