Hay Festival has today announced the full programme for its 21st edition in Segovia, Spain, taking place 10-13 September 2026, with a diverse programme of over 60 events to champion human connection.
Discover more and book events now at hayfestival.org/segovia
This year’s programme offers world-leading voices from the world of art, design, faith, history, politics, philosophy and literature with time set aside for inspiring conversations tackling contemporary European geopolitics and global environmental and social issues.
Across more than 50 talks, exhibitions and performances, the programme features former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and Spain's former Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya; writers Hwang Bo-Reum, Mathias Énard, Jessica Andrews, Lucia Solla Sobral, Marta Robles, Nelio Biedermann and Javier Cercas; philosopher Peter Sloterdijk; theologian Pablo d'Ors; poet Leonor Pataki; photojournalist Gary Knight; naturalist David Lindo; architects Ben van Berkel and Niklas Maak; heritage designer Adam Lowe; and artists Olana Light, Hubertus von Hohenlohe and Patricia Azcárate.
Major Hay Festival Global projects are threaded throughout, including the South to North series funded by Open Society Foundation, with ‘Regions in Their Own Words, with leading Pan-Africanist Sani Ladan and journalist Jacobo García alongside a talk by Palestinian writer Adania Shibli, plus the editors of 28 Magazine, Mahmoud al-Shaer and Muhammad al-Zaqzouq, on the devastating reality of Gaza, alongside Ukrainian writer, Margaryta Yakovenko, who is based in Spain. In addition, Archivo de Indias, an anthology of texts by ten Ibero-American authors, will be presented by writers Juan Bonilla and Martín Caparrós.
Outreach and education programmes across the region, including free events in universities for students, the Book Club of Seville’s Polígono Sur alongside book clubs in Segovia and workshops in local prisons, continue to open access to Festival inspiration more widely, while some sessions will be broadcast free online, maintaining Hay Festival Global’s commitment to digital accessibility.
Segovia itself presents a majestic backdrop for events as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city offers plenty to enjoy beyond the Festival stages, from the soaring Roman aqueduct to the fairytale-inspiring castle, Alcázar.
Hay Festival Global CEO Julie Finch said:
“The world is changing faster than ever and demands that we seek shared solutions. This year’s Hay Festival Segovia aims to explore these challenges with determination and hope, celebrating new ideas and the power of storytelling to improve our lives. Events in Segovia are for everyone, with extensive outreach and engagement in libraries, universities and prisons. Join us.”
Hay Festival Segovia director Sheila Cremaschi said:
“This year, we celebrate beauty not as an aesthetic but reviving the Greek meaning — Kalós — to champion peace and harmony, a way of relating to the world that demands time, sensitivity and an open mind. This programme reflects that spirit in every event. Extraordinary voices from around the world will share their own ideas of beauty and invite us to explore what it means to think deeply and engage with the world and people around us. Join us for a very special weekend.”
Festival supporters this year include Ayuntamiento de Segovia (Segovia City Council), Diputación de Segovia (Provincial Council of Segovia), Junta de Castilla y León regional authority, Acción Cultural Española AC/E, AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), Fundación Banco Sabadell, Fundación IE, Fundación Telefónica, Fundación José Manuel Lara, CAF, British Council, British Embassy, Embassy of the Netherlands, French Embassy, Institut Français, Greek Embassy, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, Grupo Planeta, Editorial Siruela, Galaxia Gutenberg, Around Art, Entreamigos Association, Fundacion Art, Fundacion Loewe, casa de Mexico and Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21).