Hay Festival 2026 Announces Spectacular Lineup with Global Icons and Literary Stars
Organizers of the renowned Hay Festival have revealed an exceptional roster for the 2026 edition, set to transform the picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye in Powys into a hub of intellectual and cultural exchange. The festival, scheduled from May 21 to 31, will feature more than 500 events, headlined by an impressive array of speakers including acclaimed actor Emma Thompson, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, former detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and author Gisèle Pelicot.
A Literary Powerhouse Gathering
The festival's literary schedule is a veritable who's who of contemporary writing, with appearances from literary giants such as Ian McEwan, Maggie O'Farrell, Colm Tóibín, Ali Smith, and Elizabeth Strout. They will be joined by bestselling authors Matt Haig, Douglas Stuart, Samantha Harvey, Val McDermid, and Ocean Vuong, ensuring a rich tapestry of storytelling and discussion.
Additional literary luminaries include Margaret Busby, Cressida Cowell, Tayari Jones, Elizabeth Day, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Helen Oyeyemi, and Ruth Ozeki, alongside a diverse cohort of writers, thinkers, and speakers from around the globe.
Political and Historical Insights
Beyond literature, the festival will host prominent political figures offering unique perspectives. Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband, ex-Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, and crossbench peer Louise Casey will share their insights. Historians Alice Roberts, David Olusoga, and Simon Schama will delve into the past, providing context to contemporary issues.
Themed Discussions and Special Events
A highlight of the festival will be a panel on gender equality, moderated by former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, featuring former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Labour peer Harriet Harman, and Sky News political editor Beth Rigby. Genre-focused events, including a romantasy panel, will cater to diverse literary tastes.
Technology's impact will be scrutinized in a conversation with Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams, author of Careless People, and investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr, renowned for exposing the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Music, Comedy, and Adaptation
The festival's stages will resonate with music from artists like Gwenno and Aled Jones, while comedy enthusiasts can look forward to performances by Dawn French, Michael McIntyre, Sara Pascoe, Sandi Toksvig, and Greg Davies. Discussions on adaptation will feature director Emerald Fennell on Wuthering Heights and Maggie O'Farrell with producer Liza Marshall on Hamnet.
Engaging Young Readers and Celebrating Reading
Young audiences will be enthralled by events with children's authors Michael Morpurgo and Frank Cottrell-Boyce. The My Life in Books series will see public figures like Prue Leith, Hugh Bonneville, and adventurer Bear Grylls discuss their favorite reads with writers and broadcasters.
In alignment with the UK's National Year of Reading, YouTuber Jack Edwards will join National Literacy Trust director Jonathan Douglas and authors Joseph Coelho and Katherine Rundell to promote literacy. Festival CEO Julie Finch emphasized, "As the UK Government's National Year of Reading invites the country to Go All In for books, our tents are open to all, spaces where everyone is welcome to exchange ideas and inspiration."
Special Commemorations and International Focus
Marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, the America 250 series will explore the nation's evolving identity with authors Sarah Churchwell, David Olusoga, Sarah Pearsall, and Simon Schama. General Tim Radford, Katrin Bennhold, and geopolitics writer Tim Marshall will analyze the Trump era in conversation with Helen Lewis.
The festival's Pleasure List campaign will crowdsource book recommendations from the public, with participating authors sharing their favorite titles. Maggie O'Farrell expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "I'm so pleased that I'll be at Hay festival this year." She will discuss her upcoming novel Land, noting, "I spent some of my childhood in Wales, so I'm always happy to go back. Land is a novel very much concerned with landscape, so it seems fitting to discuss it in the beautiful surroundings of Powys."
Additional Notable Participants and Festival Legacy
The festival will also welcome writers Hisham Matar, Kiran Desai, Kamila Shamsie, Elif Shafak, Sarah Moss, Sarah Hall, John Lanchester, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Jenni Fagan, Irvine Welsh, Natalie Haynes, and Ben Okri, ensuring a global perspective.
Founded in 1988, Hay Festival has grown into one of the world's premier literary events, with international editions in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Spain, and the US. Tickets are currently available to members, patrons, and benefactors via hayfestival.org, with priority booking starting at noon on Wednesday, March 11, and general sales opening on Saturday, March 14.
