Emma Thompson, Gisèle Pelicot and Dawn French will be among the headliners at Hay Festival when the annual celebration of literature and arts returns to Wales in May.
Organisers have today announced the eclectic and star-studded line-up for this year’s festival, which will see more than 500 events – including talks, film screenings, readings and live podcast recordings – take place across 10 days, from 21 to 31 May.
Sense and Sensibility actor Thompson will be in conversation with writer and podcaster Elizabeth Day at My Life in Books, a series of events that will see famous faces open up their personal libraries.
Former Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith will be quizzed on her reading by journalist Steve Jones, while the BBC’s Michael Buerk will sit down with fellow broadcaster Julie Etchingham and adventurer Bear Grylls will be joined by podcaster Jamie Laing.
Activist Gisèle Pelicot will be among the campaigners sharing how the power of storytelling can help build movements of change, following the release of her memoir A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides, as will British-Iranian author Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Historian and Celebrity Traitors star David Olusoga will deliver the George Alagiah Lecture on the history and legacy of the British Empire, and how colonial nostalgia is shaping geopolitics today. The event will be part of a trio of headline lectures, with Serhii Plokhy, a professor of Ukrainian history at Harvard, and broadcaster Jeremy Bowen set to deliver the others.
A number of famous faces who are stepping over into the world of fiction will discuss their debut novels, including comedian Tom Allen, poet Kae Tempest and broadcaster Clare Balding, while Dawn French will present her latest effort, Enough.
Adolescence actor Ashley Walters will share stories from his new memoir Always Winning and the festival will turn its focus to the small and big screens too, with Adolescence writer Jack Thorne discussing TV writing and Wuthering Heights director Emerald Fennell exploring the art of adaptation.
Established authors set to headline the festival include Lady of Hay writer Barbara Erskine, Maggie O’Farrell (Hamnet) and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo, who will join actor Hugh Bonneville and fellow writer Karen Jankel to celebrate 100 years of Paddington creator Michael Bond.
O’Farrell, who will be discussing her new novel Land, said: “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.”
The 39th spring edition of Hay Festival will also spotlight reactive conversations around current affairs, with live recordings of topical news podcasts, Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction and Page 94 from Private Eye.
Politicians Nicola Sturgeon, Penny Mordaunt and David Miliband are among those who will take stock of the changing landscape of British politics.
Some much-needed laughter will be provided by the likes of Michael McIntyre, Sara Pascoe and Alan Davies – who will all perform new comedy shows – while lifelong pals Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins are inviting fans to join them for a live recording of their podcast.
Spotlight days throughout the 10-day festival will celebrate some of the most popular fiction genres, from crime and graphic novels to arts and fantasy – with a special Romantasy spotlight featuring writers Imani Erriu (Fallen Stars) and Hazel McBride (A Queen Crowned in Flames).
Hay Festival Global CEO Julie Finch said: “Hay Festival 2026 will open minds to exploring the world through great writers, performers, experts, and the next generation of artists and activists offering us creative inspiration and hope for a better future.
“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.”
Tickets are on sale now to Hay Festival Membership+, patrons and benefactors. Priority booking starts at midday on Wednesday 11 March and general booking opens on Saturday 14 March.
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