Yorkshire’s premier and most enduring literary celebration has revealed its programme for 2026.
An impressive array of celebrated figures spanning politics, entertainment, journalism, fiction, verse, history, comedy and academia will descend upon the spa town for seventeen consecutive days beginning Friday, October 2 and concluding Sunday, October 18.
Standard admission tickets become available on Tuesday, August 25, while those holding Festival Friend status may secure their places a week earlier, from Wednesday, August 19.
Andrew Davies, widely regarded as the master of transforming novels for screen (responsible for adaptations of House of Cards, Pride & Prejudice, Bleak House and Bridget Jones), launches the festival. He has finally directed his acclaimed writing talent inward for a deeply personal project: his autobiography, An Unsuitable Boy.
The opening weekend features Labour Peer Dame Margaret Hodge discussing five decades of political experience captured in her memoir Battleaxe. Also appearing is Zahra Joya, the pioneering Afghan reporter, who chronicles her campaign for female emancipation in The Vanishing Girl of Kabul.
Actress Rachael Stirling will share memories of her remarkable mother Diana Rigg – the celebrated stage and screen star whose life is explored in a new biography where Rachael reveals a woman who was wickedly funny, fiercely affectionate and utterly uncompromising. Meanwhile, accomplished swimmer Mark Foster, who has competed in five Olympic Games, claimed six world titles and set eight world records, visits Ilkley to discuss his inspiring autobiography My Double Life, chronicling one athlete’s relentless chase for sporting excellence and self-determination.
Verse enthusiasts can enjoy an evening with the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage as he presents his fresh rendering of the ancient epic Gilgamesh. Those seeking amusement can experience the beloved comic poet Brian Bilston guiding audiences through verse history while sharing work from his latest collection How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside. Alternatively, four poets – Emily Zobel Marshall, Kim Moore, Antony Dunn and Daljit Nagra – who originally connected at the BBC Contains Strong Language event, reunite for Sustains Strong Language, blending readings and performances with open discussion and audience participation. Esteemed poet, broadcaster, entertainer and national figure Pam Ayres also appears, discussing her recent publication Doggedly Onward: A Life in Poems, showcasing beloved verses from across her fifty-year career.
Other prominent figures joining the programme feature Kate Atkinson, returning to her home county of Yorkshire with her latest work Our Noble Selves, set in Britain following the Second World War. Broadcaster, author and Radio 4 Front Row presenter Samira Ahmed explores how The Beatles’ inaugural film A Hard Day’s Night achieved lasting cinematic significance during a post-screening conversation. Tennis professional, national mentor, mother of two champions and former Strictly Come Dancing participant Judy Murray promotes her crime novel Game, Set & Murder. The Hairy Biker Si King presents his inaugural solo cookbook Proper Home Cooking, created following the death of his close companion Dave Myers. Gyles Brandreth and physiotherapist Finola Burrell together examine strategies for longevity and wellbeing. Young readers are treated to an appearance by Dame Jacqueline Wilson introducing her fresh title Esme Pepper and reflecting on a career encompassing over 120 children’s publications.
Programming themes encompass investigative reporting, authors discussing their craft, technology’s influence on human conduct and biology, plus wildlife and the natural world. The National Year of Reading is commemorated through a selection of book club-style gatherings.
Erica Morris, Chief Executive of Word Up North, the organisation behind Ilkley Literature Festival, commented that the event eagerly anticipates hosting some of the most distinguished contemporary authors, intellectuals and performers in Yorkshire this autumn. The festival has fostered inquisitiveness, open exchange and passion for language for over fifty years. This year, aligning with the National Year of Reading, audiences take centre stage through book club-style initiatives – Page Turners Classic Fiction Club – honouring outstanding novels from Wuthering Heights to The Wasp Factory. Whether devoted enthusiasts or newcomers, visitors can expect Yorkshire’s characteristic hospitality at Ilkley Literature Festival.