Hay Festival 2026

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.