Bukhman Philanthropies has announced its support for the 2026 London Literature Festival, which will take place across the Southbank Centre’s iconic 11-acre site from Wednesday 21 October to Sunday 1 November.
The festival will be curated by Grammy and BRIT Award-winning global superstar and founder of the Service95 Book Club, Dua Lipa. This year’s programme will feature a dynamic line-up of events designed to engage young people with books and storytelling, including creative collaborations with the world of gaming, interactive workshops, and a wide range of free events.
Presented as part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations and taking place during the National Year of Reading, the 2026 edition marks the nineteenth year of the London Literature Festival making it the capital’s longest-running literature and spoken word festival.
Commenting on her curatorship, Dua Lipa said:
“Reading has anchored me through every chapter of my life - from being the new kid at school in a new country to finding quiet refuge on tour. Curating the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival is a dream come true. I’m thrilled to indulge one of my greatest passions: books and the brilliant minds behind them. I can’t wait to dive into the imaginations of some of my favourite authors in one of London’s most iconic cultural spaces.”
Ted Hodgkinson, Head of Literature & Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, said:
“Books and reading belong to us all, and Dua is the ultimate champion of the role they can play in our lives. From her thoughtful interviews with writers to her appetite for arresting new voices, Dua’s passion and insight have sparked a global conversation around books and shone a light on reading as a creative and collaborative act. In the National Year of Reading, we’re delighted to be collaborating with Dua for the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival, drawing fresh audiences into our iconic spaces. It promises to be a momentous year for the festival and a highlight of our 75th anniversary.”
Daria Bukhman, co-founder of Bukhman Philanthropies, added:
“We are proud to support the London Literature Festival at such an important moment for reading and literacy. Books have the power to expand horizons, build empathy, and shape futures. Through this partnership, we hope to inspire more young people to discover the joy of reading and to ensure that access to literature and storytelling remains open, inclusive and engaging for all.”
The London Literature Festival is renowned for bringing together leading authors, rising literary voices, and cultural icons. Previous curators include Self Esteem (2025), while past participants have featured figures such as Ai Weiwei, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Margaret Atwood, Philip Pullman, Tom Hanks and Yulia Navalnaya.
The festival’s focus on young audiences comes at a critical time. A 2025 survey by the National Literacy Trust found that only one in three children aged 8 to 18 (33%) read in their spare time - a 36% decline since 2005. The research highlighted a particularly sharp drop among primary school children, with reading continuing to be less popular among boys than girls.