Dua Lipa is set to curate the 2026 London Literature Festival as a highlight of the Southbank Centre’s 75th-anniversary celebrations, per music-news.com.
The Grammy and Brit Award winner, who founded the influential Service95 Book Club, will oversee the opening weekend on October 24 and 25. Her appointment aligns with the UK’s National Year of Reading, aiming to revitalise interest in literature across the capital.
The festival, running from October 21 to November 1, comes at a pivotal moment for literacy. Following a National Literacy Trust survey showing a decline in recreational reading among youth, the 2026 programme will focus on accessibility. Supported by Bukhman Philanthropies, the fortnight will feature free workshops and gaming collaborations designed to engage a new generation of readers.
Dua Lipa described the opportunity as a “dream come true,” noting that reading has anchored her throughout her life. Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director, Mark Ball, praised the singer as a “global cultural force” capable of connecting diverse audiences with the world’s finest writers.
The 75th-anniversary season promises a star-studded calendar, with Dua Lipa joining a lineup that includes Danny Boyle and Harry Styles. While the full programme remains under wraps until summer 2026, the collaboration signals a bold, contemporary shift for the UK’s longest-running literature festival.
