Hay Festival 2025 Full Programme

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, and the Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust Jonathan Douglas, for a vital conversation on the urgency of the National Year of Reading. 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.

An unforgettable celebration of the era-defining music of Amy Winehouse, performed by her original band. Led by Winehouse’s long-term musical director and close friend, Dale Davis, and fronted by his own choice of singer, The Amy Winehouse Band keeps alive her spirit, legacy and distinctive sound. With stunning on-screen visuals and unique footage, this immersive experience features Winehouse’s biggest hits. A truly special night out for fans.

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.

Join world-renowned public health expert, Devi Sridhar, for a fascinating, myth-busting conversation about what really determines how long – and how well – we live. Forget the simple eat better, move more, sleep well mantra; Sridhar argues that good health depends as much on public policy as personal choice. In conversation with bestselling science writer Professor Dan Davis, she explores how things like clean water, safe transport, and strong community health systems can transform lives. Drawing on powerful real-world examples, this lively and insightful discussion reveals how smarter policies can help us all live longer, healthier lives. Thought-provoking, hopeful and urgently relevant.

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.

A night of fast, funny and fabulous improvisation with Paul Merton and Suki Webster. Expect games, scenes, stories, songs and laugh-out-loud surrealism, all deftly conjured up on the spot and based on suggestions from you: the audience! These masters of comedy improvisation are joined by special guests, and guarantee a night of raucous entertainment.

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.

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.

Acclaimed historian Antony Beevor weaves a tale as seductive as Rasputin himself as he presents his unmissable new book. Beevor combines forensic research with gripping storytelling to unpick how Rasputin – a barely literate Siberian peasant – wove an intricate web of seduction and superstition through the Imperial household, resulting in the downfall of a dynasty. Beevor challenges us to question whether Rasputin was an impressive visionary, an accomplished fraudster or in fact a victim of history. His previous masterful best-sellers Stalingrad and D-Day: The Battle for Normandy position Beevor as one of the great military historians of our times. This is a must for anyone fascinated by Russian history, the forces that shape great empires, and lovers of compelling true stories.

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.

Join gut health guru and bestselling author, Professor Tim Spector, for a lively dive into the bubbling world of fermentation. Spector reveals how everyday microbes – tiny invisible chefs – can transform our food, boost our health, and even put us in a better mood. From sauerkraut to kimchi, sourdough and even coffee, discover how fermented foods can profoundly influence our gut health, boost our immunity and kickstart our overall well-being. Expect humour, fascinating science, and practical tips to make your kitchen a thriving microbial playground. Perfect for food lovers, science fans, and anyone curious about the quirky, powerful world of microbes that live inside – and alongside – us.

Prepare for a raucous, high-energy Hay Festival event as multi-award winning comedian, Russell Kane, brings his love of pets – and his brand-new picture book – to life on stage. Brace yourself for the chaotic introduction of Brian, an adorable chihuahua, to Terry, the family’s loyal Burmese cat. Packed with jokes, games, fun facts and outrageous stories of pet rivalry, this show promises laughter for all ages. No pets were harmed in the making of this unforgettable comedy adventure.

Back by popular demand, bestselling author Ben Macintyre brings a fascinating exploration of international espionage to Hay Festival. McIntyre has spent his career chronicling secret intelligence and the hidden lives of some of history’s most intriguing figures. He profiles the small and select list of world-changing spies: Oleg Gordievsky, Kim Philby, the Bletchley Park Code Breakers. And he reveals the important and far-reaching impact when espionage works (and when it doesn’t). A real treat for McIntyre’s existing fans, as well as anyone intrigued by the hidden forces and extraordinary people who’ve secretly shaped world events.

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.

Hold on to your stomachs, as comedian Alan Davies presents a night of reflections and revelations about middle age.

Think Ahead is Davies’ first stand up show in more than a decade, and combines laugh-out-loud comedy on topics including London’s efforts to reduce air pollution with moving, frank and sensitively handled observations about the childhood sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of father, detailed in his 2020 memoir Just Ignore Him.

Davies is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and TV personality. He is best known for his performance as Jonathan Creek and as a permanent panellist on QI, and has performed stand up shows across the country.

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.

Former A&E doctor and leading mental health advocate, Dr Alex George, joins comedian Sara Pascoe to explore the perennial question: Am I normal? Together, they tackle the uncertainties and anxieties so many of us share about our bodies, minds, and emotions – from self-image and relationships to mental wellbeing in a digital age. Blending humour, honesty and empathy, this very personal conversation offers practical wisdom and reassurance in a world obsessed with comparison. This event is for anyone feeling the pressures of modern life, seeking inspiration and laughter in equal measure.

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.

In her fantastic new show, Sara Pascoe explores the joys and absurdities of being human – from the chaos of motherhood to the contradictions of fame and the unanswerable question: why won't my kitchen clean itself?

With her trademark mix of sharp observation and surreal humour, Pascoe turns everyday anxieties into pure comic gold. You've seen her on Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo and The Great British Sewing Bee. Now enjoy her company in person at a special show for Hay Festival. Clever, curious and joyfully offbeat – this is Sara Pascoe at her brilliant best.

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.

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.

An intimate performance from the critically-acclaimed singer, Gwenno, featuring music from her latest trilingual album, Utopia. Gwenno sings in Welsh, Cornish, and English, creating a sound that’s both ethereal and powerful, and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Her soundscapes fuse different musical genres into an immersive world of sound, captivating longtime fans and newcomers alike. An unforgettable event from one of the UK’s most original and compelling performers, in a night of music that will linger long after the final note.

Everyone expected Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah and Israeli Maoz Inon to be enemies. Instead, the peace activists and social entrepreneurs forged a bond of brotherhood, connected by their belief in equality, dignity and the idea that Palestinians and Israelis can work together peacefully for a better future. In this moving and empathic event, the pair talk to the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet about their book The Future Is Peace, a transformative journey across the holy land and a bold call for hope, humanity, and empathy.

In this rare and personal conversation, BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth interviews her sister, the economist Kate Raworth, about her groundbreaking book Doughnut Economics. Kate is at the forefront of rethinking how the economy works, so that everyone can live well without compromising the planet. During this intelligent and thought-provoking session, Kate and Sophie explore the challenges of how we meet people’s needs within the Earth’s environmental limits; and ponder the parallel lines of their own careers and how they’ve inspired each other along the way. Warm, insightful and full of humanity, this is a must for those who enjoy smart, accessible discussion about the world’s biggest challenges – and how we might fix them.

Acclaimed historian and writer Andrea Wulf brings to life the extraordinary story of George Forster, the 18th-century writer and explorer known for documenting Captain Cook’s second voyage around the world. His writings on the people and cultures he encountered transformed how Europeans understood the wider world. Drawing on Forster’s vivid letters and personal accounts – much of them never-before published in English – Wulf reveals a man of dazzling intellect and visionary thinking, and will be talking to the award-winning writer and journalist Misha Glenny. For history-lovers and those interested in forgotten figures who shaped the modern world.

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.

Fresh from his tour, Magnificent, where he sold over 800,000 tickets worldwide, Michael McIntyre plays Hay Festival, performing some greatest hits and new bits. An exceptional opportunity to see McIntyre in an intimate venue in one of only a few shows he’ll perform in 2026.

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.

Get ready to rhyme, rap and ROAR with laughter!

Join former Children’s Laureate and poetry icon Michael Rosen and award-winning rap teacher and viral sensation, MC Grammar, for a riotous celebration of words. These two masters of language pit Raps against Rhymes in a high-energy carnival of poetry, performance and pure fun. Perfect for families and anyone who loves wordplay. It will leave you smiling, inspired and maybe even freestyling your own ridiculous rhymes all the way home!

Jeremy Bowen is one of the foremost journalists of our time, and has built a career from making sense of the complexities of conflict. Now, as the BBC’s International Editor we turn to him to analyse the prospects for peace in the Middle East – a region he’s lived and breathed for the past 30 years. Bowen also talks candidly about the difficulties of being a journalist at a time when ideas of truth and free reporting are under attack. And he poses the most difficult question of all: how do you get to the truth in a post-truth world?