Arts & Culture

Visionary inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee tells the remarkable story of how he created the World Wide Web and, in doing so, transformed humanity into the first digital species. In this deeply thought-provoking session, Berners-Lee reveals This Is For Everyone as part memoir, part manifesto. He reminds us that he gave the internet freely to the world, and now issues a rallying cry to reclaim the web’s original promise, to be open, collaborative and for everyone. A crucial conversation for those curious about how technology shapes humanity, and how we can shape it back again.

Buckle up for a riotous evening of boyish banter, rugby reminiscence and surprisingly personal stories of life beyond the pitch with James Haskell, Alex Payne and Mike Tindall. Haskell is a former rugby international; Tindall is widely considered to be one of the finest rugby players ever to put on an England shirt; and Payne is an experienced rugby broadcaster. In this energising mix of storytelling, friendship and mischief, the trio discuss everything from how they each started out in their careers to what’s wrong with the current game, via how to make a decent cup of tea. A great way to start the evening for anyone who enjoys authentic conversation with heart and humour.

Emerald Fennell is an Oscar-winning writer and a director known for work that sparks conversation and looks controversy straight in the face. Here she discusses her latest film, a big screen adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw. Fennell first read the book at the age of 14, and says it quite simply “cracked me open”. As we’ve come to expect from the woman behind the controversial Saltburn, Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is provocative, sexy and primal. Is it what Brontë imagined?

Join acclaimed author Katherine Rundell, the internet's librarian and book advocate Jack Edwards, poet and author Joseph Coelho, and the Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust Jonathan Douglas, for a vital conversation on the urgency of the National Year of Reading. Chaired by children's books commentator Julia Eccleshare. Discover how we can Go All In to play a role in creating change, showing the power of books to transform lives, and how we can all play a part in boosting literacy levels at home, in schools and in our own communities.

Join trail-blazing publisher, writer and activist Margaret Busby in conversation with Booker Prize–winning author Bernardine Evaristo as they discuss Busby’s acclaimed memoir, Part of the Story. A true pioneer of British publishing, Busby reflects on a remarkable life devoted to championing diverse voices, shaping literary culture, and breaking barriers. Together these two influential figures explore creativity, activism, and the ongoing struggle for representation in literature. Expect an inspiring, candid, and humorous exchange about friendship, resilience, and the power of storytelling. A compelling conversation for anyone passionate about books, identity, and the stories that shape who we are.

Join Booker Prize–winning author Douglas Stuart for an unforgettable conversation about his deeply moving new novel, John of John. With the intensity and raw truth that made Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo modern classics, Stuart dissects masculinity, the search for love, and the profound peril of family secrets. He discusses how he chooses his deeply human themes and how he manages to illuminate the quiet resilience of ordinary lives. A must-attend event for readers who crave fiction that speaks straight to the heart.

Stuart talks to writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest Reverend Richard Coles.

For lovers of the craft of fiction, this is an unmissable discussion on how the modern Western novel became a global form, with four great writers. Hisham Matar, Kiran Desai and Kamila Shamsie talk to Pankaj Mishra about the challenges and opportunities of representing a complex world and global identities in fiction.

The session is hosted by Equator, a political and cultural magazine founded to tell stories traditionally neglected by Western narratives.

Enjoy an enchanting afternoon at Hay Festival as author and playwright Michael Morpurgo is joined by actress Jenny Agutter and the world-renowned Brodsky Quartet in a unique celebration of music, poetry and the natural world.

In this one-off performance, Morpurgo brings us poetry inspired by the seasons, and blends it with lyrical narration alongside Agutter and a stunning interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. This is perfect for those who appreciate the meeting of story, music, and landscape – a performance that celebrates the harmony between art and nature.

A huge treat for Ruth Ozeki fans as she visits the Hay Festival for the first time. Ahead of publication, Ozeki exclusively unveils her first ever collection of short stories. In conversation with the broadcaster, Samira Ahmed, Ozeki introduces the 11 stories which make up The Typing Lady – each with characters standing at thresholds in their lives: childhood ambition, youthful desire, mid‑life reinvention, and the clarity of old age. For readers of Ozeki’s prize-winning The Book of Form and Emptiness, this is a wonderful opportunity to hear from the author herself about her latest brilliant creation.

A real wait-and-see moment! The International Booker Prize is announced in May 2026, and here we present the winning author and translator in conversation with one of the judges, Sophie Hughes, and the chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, Gaby Wood. The world’s most influential prize for translated fiction, the International Booker Prize is awarded annually for a single book translated into English, and celebrates the vital work of translation with the £50,000 prize money divided equally between author and translator. The prize is a global celebration of a community of writers and readers whose experiences and shared love of literature transcend borders.

An absolutely unmissable event with the queen of crime fiction. Val McDermid joins author Fflur Dafydd to introduce her latest book Silent Bones – a tense, multi-layered thriller. It’s the latest in McDermid’s popular Karen Pirie series, and navigates themes of corruption, privilege and hidden networks of the rich and powerful. A truly thrilling opportunity to hear from the iconic author herself about how she comes up with storylines, crime scenes and compelling characters... as well as the books she likes to read in her spare time. An absolute must for crime fiction super-fans.

Come armed with pencils and paper as cartoonist Neill Cameron leads the spectacular Phoenix Comic Book Draw-Off. Expect hilarity and lots of fun in this interactive show that’s perfect for the whole family. Cameron, the creator of the bestselling Donut Squad series, will be joined on stage by illustrators and creators from the world of The Phoenix comic for a show-down worthy of any comic book battle.

And if you’re inspired to create your own comic book, visit the on-site Phoenix Comic Books take-over with appearances from Bunny Vs Monkey and Donut Squad, as well as Phoenix Comic Club drop-in sessions so you can learn how to draw your own characters across the Phoenix Comic Books.

Chef, writer, Great British Bake Off presenter and fashion icon, Dame Prue Leith opens up about her extraordinary life via the pages of her favourite books. In this revealing conversation, Leith talks about the books which have held a particular resonance for her at different times in her life – from childhood treasures and unforgettable novels, to life-changing stories and the authors she returns to time and time again. Expect straight-talking and strong opinions, wit and warmth, and of course, a fabulous pair of glasses.

The year ahead is a gift that has been given to you. What might you do with it?

In a world of unwanted distraction, where AI is attempting to replace the human imagination, how can we ensure we continue to look, read, and think for ourselves? Who can remind us of the joys of creativity? What can we do to bring the necessity of artful living to our day?

Dive into the year with the wisdom of artists and writers. Gathered from interviews and personal conversations, How to Live an Artful Life collects thoughts, reflections and creative insights for every day of the year. Featuring Marina Abramović, Nan Goldin, Lubaina Himid, Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and more, each entry offers wisdom from some of the greatest artists of all time.

Katy Hessel is an art historian and the author of The Story of Art without Men, the international bestseller and Waterstones Book of the Year 2022. She talks to historian and broadcaster David Olusoga.

Broadcaster and writer Zakia Sewell is on a quest for a different Britain. Criss-crossing the island from Somerset to Scotland, she joins acclaimed historian, David Olusoga, in search of stories beyond divisive national myths and symbols. Together they consider ancient legends, Celtic rites and the mystic stone circles that punctuate our landscape, and ask whether this alternative history could help unite an increasingly divided country. A thought-provoking session offering a fresh, hopeful perspective on British identity.

Bear Grylls is one of the most recognised faces of survival and outdoor adventure in the world. His adrenalin-filled life reads like an action thriller – three years with 21 SAS, a life-changing parachute accident, climbing Mount Everest – all by the age of 23. His next chapter saw him become a world-renowned TV presenter, leading the likes of Julia Roberts and President Obama on epic survival adventures. He’s somehow found time to write over 100 books, including two bestsellers, and spends part of the year on a secluded, off-grid island in Wales. In this thoughtful session, Grylls reveals the books that hold a special place in his heart and have helped him through the ups and downs of his incredible life.

An exclusive opportunity to see two creative icons in conversation. Dexy’s Midnight Runners frontman, Kevin Rowland, speaks to bestselling novelist, Irvine Welsh, about his astonishing memoir. Rowland takes readers from the juvenile courts of his troubled teenage years to the success of Dexy’s Midnight Runners in the 1980s. With searing honesty, he also recounts the lows – including a serious cocaine addiction that left him bankrupt. Rowland and Welsh discuss resilience after adversity, iconic moments in British music, and how it feels to have had a major impact on our culture. For music lovers and pop culture buffs, as well as those who want a ring-side seat to lively and candid conversation.

Poet, performer and recording artist Kae Tempest is one of the most electrifying voices in British culture. With his albums, poetry and plays, he’s captured the pulse of a generation. Here, Kae introduces his long-awaited new novel, Having Spent Life Seeking, a moving story about family, forgiveness and belonging. This event offers an unmissable opportunity to hear one of our most vital creative voices as he reflects on a life spent seeking meaning through art.

As a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Amol Rajan makes a living out of the way he speaks. In an exclusive session for Hay Festival, Rajan kicks off a campaign to get young people talking too. Improving a child’s speaking skills is proven to directly improve their life chances, and the biggest transformations can be seen in children from the poorest backgrounds. Rajan reveals his own oracy experiment and is joined by some surprise guests in his mission to help those from the toughest beginnings find a better life through the power of speaking.

One of literature’s most exciting names, Ocean Vuong, comes to Hay Festival for the first time to discuss his achingly beautiful novel The Emperor of Gladness. Exploring chosen family and unexpected friendship, the novel tells the story of 19-year-old Hai, who’s stopped from jumping off a bridge by the voice of Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia. The pair form a life-altering bond, and each find ways to heal through their extraordinary friendship. Join an unmissable conversation with the author who set the literary world alight with his bestselling novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.

Join award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera as he discusses his deeply personal and insightful exploration of the life, music and legacy of George Michael. For fellow fans, this is an unmissable chance to share your love of an icon. But this is much more than a musical celebration. Blending biography and cultural history, Sanghera reflects on fame, identity, sexuality, immigration and belonging in modern Britain. And he examines why George Michael’s story continues to resonate across generations, 10 years after his death. Expect humour, heart, and a fresh perspective on an unforgettable icon.

Maggie O’Farrell, the award-winning author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, talks about and reads from her highly-anticipated new novel, Land, ahead of its publication. Inspired by O’Farrell’s own family history and by the landscape of the West Coast of Ireland, Land is a multi-generational epic exploring love, loss and the ties that bind us to place and time. In this special event, O’Farrell discusses her craft as one of today’s most captivating storytellers, and reflects on the huge success of the film adaptation of Hamnet, which she co-wrote and stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. This session is unmissable for lovers of literary fiction, fans of historical, character-driven novels and anyone intrigued by the art of beautiful, immersive writing. O’Farrell Talks to BBC presenter and avid reader, Sophie Raworth.