The Cheltenham Literature Festival has revealed its lineup for the 2026 event, scheduled to take place from October 9 to 18. More than 500 authors, journalists, and celebrities are set to appear across various stages and venues in the market town.
Among the notable names confirmed are Dame Prue Leith and Dame Mary Berry, judges from The Great British Bake Off, and Craig Revel Horwood, a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. Leith is scheduled to discuss "growing old gracefully" with Gyles Brandreth and Kathy Lette.
Literary Highlights
The festival will also host acclaimed authors such as Maggie O'Farrell, who will discuss her novel Hamnet, and Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi. David Szalay, winner of the 2025 Booker Prize, and Helen Fielding, creator of the Bridget Jones series, are also on the program.
A special tribute is planned for Dame Jilly Cooper, the celebrated author of "bonkbuster" novels, who passed away last year at the age of 88.
Other personalities appearing at the festival include Russell T Davies, Katherine Parkinson, Anneka Rice, Richard Osman, Marina Hyde, Sara Pascoe, and Sandi Toksvig.
The festival's main hub will be in Cheltenham's Montpellier Gardens. This year's programming promises a diverse range of discussions and appearances from figures across literature, broadcasting, and entertainment.
