Dua Lipa has been tapped to curate the London Literature Festival 2026

The Southbank Centre have revealed that Dua Lipa will take charge of programming for their 2026 London Literature Festival. 

Running from 21st October through to 1st November, the nineteenth edition of the capital's longest-running literature and spoken word festival will see Lipa shape the opening weekend on 24th and 25th October alongside additional events delivered through her Service95 Book Club throughout the fortnight.

Speaking about the appointment, Lipa said: "Reading has anchored me through every chapter of my life - from being the new kid at school in a new country to finding quiet refuge on tour. 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. I can't wait to dive into the imaginations of some of my favourite authors in one of London's most iconic cultural spaces."

Self-Esteem curated the festival in 2025, with previous headliners spanning Greta Thunberg, Margaret Atwood, Philip Pullman, Malala Yousafzai, Ai Weiwei, Tom Hanks and Yulia Navalnaya.

The appointment sits within a broader programme marking the Southbank Centre's 75th anniversary. Other highlights across the year include a site-wide takeover directed by Danny Boyle on 3rd May, Harry Styles' Meltdown from 11th to 21st June, and an Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Hayward Gallery running from 16th June to 18th October.