Dua Lipa Announced As Curator Of London Literature Festival

The Southbank Centre has revealed that Dua Lipa will take on the role of curator for the 2026 edition of the London Literature Festival.

As part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations, and during what has also been named the National Year of Reading, this year’s event will mark the 19th edition of the London Literature Festival. This also makes it the longest running festival in the capital dedicated to literature and spoken word.

Scheduled to run from Wednesday October 21 through Sunday November 1, the ‘Radical Optimism’ singer will oversee a programme of events during the opening weekend from October 24 to 25. She will also be involved in additional activities throughout the festival through her Service95 Book Club.

Lipa first introduced the Service95 Book Club in 2023, where she chooses a different book each month and speaks with the author in a companion podcast episode. Known for her strong support of reading, a recent press statement also highlighted her advocacy for readers from marginalised communities, particularly those who face limited access to books due to censorship or imprisonment.

Speaking about her new role, 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,” she added.

Mark Ball, Artistic Director at the Southbank Centre, also commented that Lipa’s “passion for the written and spoken word has inspired a new generation of readers.” He added that the team were excited for her to bring “her incredible creative talent, her advocacy and her reach to connect audiences to our finest writers.”

Her involvement with the London Literature Festival will be delivered in collaboration with the Service95 Book Club and will feature appearances from some of her favourite authors alongside a selection of free events.

Further information about the full lineup and ticket sale dates is expected to be revealed later this summer.

In a recent episode of her book club podcast, Lipa also criticised how the media has handled reporting on the Epstein files, saying the coverage was largely “doing such a disservice to all the victims”.