The Southbank Centre has confirmed that Grammy and BRIT Award winning international artist Dua Lipa will take on the role of curator for the 2026 London Literature Festival. The collaboration stands as a major highlight of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations and also aligns with the UK’s National Year of Reading.
Recognized as London’s longest running festival dedicated to literature, the event is scheduled to run from 21 October to 1 November 2026. Dua Lipa, who also created the well known Service95 Book Club, will oversee the programming for the opening weekend on 24 and 25 October, while also contributing to several international culture focused partnerships across the two week program.
A Passion for the Written Word
Since starting her book club in 2023, Dua Lipa has built a strong reputation as a supporter of reading, especially encouraging access among underrepresented communities. Speaking about the opportunity, she said: “Reading has anchored me through every chapter of my life... Curating the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival is a dream come true. I’m thrilled to indulge one of my greatest obsessions: books and the brilliant minds behind them.”
Mark Ball, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, praised the pop star as a "global cultural force" whose enthusiasm for books has helped inspire younger audiences. "We’re absolutely thrilled that Dua will take the reins," he said, "applying her incredible creative talent... to connect audiences to our finest writers."
Celebrating 75 Years of Culture
The 2026 edition of the festival arrives during an important moment, as research from the National Literacy Trust in 2025 found that just one out of three children regularly reads for enjoyment. To help address this, the upcoming program, backed by Bukhman Philanthropies, will include free activities, partnerships connected to gaming, and educational sessions aimed at bringing young people back to reading.
Dua Lipa’s involvement adds to an impressive list of 75th anniversary projects, including a full venue takeover led by Danny Boyle, Harry Styles’ Meltdown, and Anish Kapoor’s exhibition at the Hayward Gallery.
Complete details about the festival schedule and ticket availability are expected to be announced in Summer 2026. As Ted Hodgkinson, Head of Literature & Spoken Word, said: "Dua’s passion and insight have sparked a global conversation around books... It promises to be a momentous year."
