Skip to main content
The Royal Festival Hall is closed to the public on Tuesday 11 August from 8pm.
Dua Lipa with long straight brown hair, wearing a satin yellow shirt.

London Literature Festival

Tue 20 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 2026

Dua Lipa brings her passion for the written and spoken word as curator of the 2026 festival

The Grammy and Brit Award-winning global superstar and founder of the Service95 Book Club curates a line-up of her favourite established and emerging writers.

Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival is generously supported by Bukhman Philanthropies.

Filter events in this group

Choose dates
View Overview All Events Calendar

Highlights

View all events
More info for Ta-Nehisi Coates & Tareq Baconi: On Freedom
A side-by-side portrait showing a man with short grey-flecked hair wearing a light blue button-down shirt on the left, and a man with wavy dark hair wearing a dark grey t-shirt on the right.
Literature & poetry

Ta-Nehisi Coates & Tareq Baconi: On Freedom

The authors tackle the struggle for justice in Palestine. In association with Service95 Book Club
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Dua Lipa & Zadie Smith: White Teeth
Author Zadie Smith wearing hoop earrings and a red shirt
Literature & poetry

Dua Lipa & Zadie Smith: White Teeth

Dig in to this modern classic with the author herself, in conversation with Dua Lipa
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Dua Lipa & Mustafa: Nour
A black and white close-up portrait of a man looking over his shoulder while seated inside a vehicle, gripping a backpack strap.
Literature & poetry

Dua Lipa & Mustafa: Nour

Poetry that moves us is central to Mustafa’s collection Nour, and to this discussion with Dua Lipa
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Dua Lipa & Patti Smith: Bread of Angels
A black and white portrait of Patti Smith raising her hand with palm facing out, leaning against a wooden fence.
Literature & poetry

Dua Lipa & Patti Smith: Bread of Angels

Chart the life of the legendary musician and writer as she discusses her memoir with Dua Lipa
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Malorie Blackman: Noughts & Crosses at 25
Portrait of author Malorie Blackman. She sits in a garden wearing a patterned blue top and a lace cover up.
Literature & poetry

Malorie Blackman: Noughts & Crosses at 25

Celebrate the legacy of this bestselling YA novel. In association with Service95 Book Club
Queen Elizabeth Hall

Service95 Book Club

View all events
More info for Service95 Book Club: Nadia Murad in Conversation
A three-quarter portrait of a woman with long, wavy brown hair looking forward, wearing an asymmetrical terracotta dress.
Literature & poetry

Service95 Book Club: Nadia Murad in Conversation

Listen to a powerful story of survival and reclamation at this talk by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Purcell Room
More info for Service95 Book Club: Translated Fiction Showcase
A woman with long wavy dark hair sits thoughtfully with her fist under her chin against a warm brown background.
Literature & poetry

Service95 Book Club: Translated Fiction Showcase

Cross borders with some of today’s most vital fiction in translation, read by the authors themselves
Purcell Room
More info for Service95 Book Club: Fierce Sounds
Kae Tempest against a dark orange background
Literature & poetry

Service95 Book Club: Fierce Sounds

A stellar line-up of writers makes fiction feel alive, discussing rhythm, form and sound in writing
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Service95 and English PEN: Censorship Live!
A man with blue eyes, a dark blazer, and a red patterned shirt sits with hands clasped, looking at the camera.
Literature & poetry

Service95 and English PEN: Censorship Live!

Readings, real-life stories and expert discussion confronting rising threats to written expression
Purcell Room
More info for Service95 Book Club: Rewriting Male Tenderness
Author Caleb Azumah Nelson wearing an orange jumper standing in front of a tree
Literature & poetry

Service95 Book Club: Rewriting Male Tenderness

A life-affirming conversation with writers about masculinity, vulnerability and tenderness
Purcell Room

While you’re with us

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
People enjoying the Jeppe Hein Fountain at the Southbank Centre

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms

A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.

Shopping
Wooden displays in the Southbank centre shop, featuring books, plushies, and colourful merchandise

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Two statues; a green human body with water spouting from its neck and another of human legs with water pouring down from above displayed outdoors

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

Modified Social Benches
Two children eating ice cream on a red cirrcular bench

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest
Bright sunlight bursts through green leaves with a lens flare, set against a blue sky and a textured concrete building.

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.