Dua Lipa-Curated London Literature Festival Opens on the South Bank

The London Literature Festival 2026, running until 1 November on the South Bank, opened its weekend programme on Saturday 24 October with a line-up personally curated by Grammy and Brit Award-winning artist and Service95 Book Club founder Dua Lipa. Saturday's highlights include a conversation with author Zadie Smith about her landmark 2000 novel White Teeth, and a sit-down with Sudanese-Canadian singer-songwriter Mustafa to discuss his poetry publication NOUR. On Sunday 25 October the festival continues with a conversation with Patti Smith about her memoir Bread of Angels. Beyond the headline names, the programme features panels on topics such as rhythm in writing and the rising threat of censorship, performances from emerging writers including a night celebrating British Somali poetry, and workshops from publishers including Authors of the Estate. The festival aims to bring together readers of all ages to celebrate the power of the written and spoken word.