Fiction

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.

Prepare to suspend reality as the Reverend Richard Coles entertains the whole family with fantastical true stories of scrapes, escapes and close shaves from his first book for children. Hear about the theft of Albert Einstein’s brain, pick apart the sticky maple syrup mystery, and find out how McDonald’s was involved in a million-dollar heist! Uproarious tales brilliantly told will leave all with a curiosity for cracking crime… before bedtime.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this exclusive and magical event, two titans of fantasy fiction dive into the rise of the genre, its huge popularity on TikTok, and the power of otherworldly narratives. Bestselling author of The Bone Season, Samantha Shannon, discusses her latest book – from a series inspired by the legend of George and the Dragon. She’s joined by fantasy novelist Saara El-Arifi (Faebound), whose newest book is a groundbreaking exploration of Cleopatra in her own words. Together they celebrate fantasy fiction and interrogate what fantasy reveals about us all. No dragons here, but this event will be fire.

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.