Guernsey Literary Festival

The Guernsey Literary Festival has revealed the full programme for its 2026 Festival, taking place from 23 April to 7 May, featuring a richly varied line-up of authors, thinkers and performers spanning literature, history, science, politics, health, nature, business, poetry, music, food writing and comedy.

Among the speakers newly confirmed for 2026 are barrister and author Rob Rinder (pictured); filmmaker and environmental storyteller Colin Butfield; behavioural scientist Paul Dolan; journalist and historian Helen Lewis; disaster recovery expert Lucy Easthope; award-winning scientist Daisy Fancourt; former BBC journalist and now Bloomberg Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain; and veteran broadcaster Edward Stourton.

These join the early headliners announced at the end of last year, including Joanne Harris, Tim Spector, Sophie Raworth, Professor Tracy Borman, Lauren Child, Cally Beaton, David Hepworth, Tristan Gooley, Kate Bradbury and Shaun Usher.

Reflecting the Festival’s commitment to variety and different ways of engaging with books, the programme also includes a specially curated lunch at the Old Government House Hotel with chef and food writer Georgina Hayden, inspired by recipes from her latest book MEDesque.

Sport, health and wellbeing also feature, with events including Paul Sinton Hewitt, founder of parkrun, sharing the story of how a simple idea grew into a global movement, and broadcaster and endurance athlete Vassos Alexander, speaking about his passion for cold-water swimming and reflecting on the physical and mental benefits of pushing personal limits.

Memoir takes centre stage with Rory Cellan-Jones, discussing Sophie from Romania, a moving and deeply personal account of family life, resilience and living with Parkinson’s disease, and Jono Lancaster, who shares his powerful personal story in Not All Heroes Wear Capes, reflecting on identity, difference and turning adversity into strength.

Professor Katriona O’Sullivan explores the pressures on women to shrink – physically, emotionally and psychologically – and how that ‘hunger’ has shaped her life. Writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare presents a powerful account of the English Channel migrant crisis, blending reportage and memoir to shine a light on the vital work of volunteers and coastal communities.

Fiction highlights will include Booker Prize–shortlisted author Ben Markovits, discussing The Rest of Our Lives; Loretta Rothschild, presenting her debut Finding Grace, Patrick Gale, sharing his latest novel Love Lane; and Anna Brook-Mitchell launching her eagerly awaited debut Motherfaker, set in Guernsey.

The Festival programme also includes a Business Breakfast event with Ben Chu, Policy and Analysis correspondent at BBC Verify, drawing on his book Exile Economics, as well as an appearance by economist Carl Benedikt Frey, examining why some societies flourish while others fall behind during periods of rapid technological and economic change.

Leading business anthropologist Oliver Sweet explores how culture shapes our decision-making, while barrister Monica Feria-Tinta asks whether the planet can have legal rights, and charity founder Mike Dickson reminds us that being a better human doesn’t require money, status or genius – just a willingness to care.

Local history is vividly brought to life through a series of talks celebrating the Channel Islands’ wartime stories and literary heritage. Authors Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi discuss their book Blitz Kids, which features Guernsey native John Le Page, who spent the war years on the mainland with his family. Mavis Pope’s memoir, Looking Back to Alderney, offers a moving account of her childhood in Alderney during the German Occupation.

Ken Tough and Jose Day explore the occupation diaries of Winifred Harvey MBE, later bequeathed to The Ladies’ College, providing a rare and personal insight into life under occupation. Jersey writer Dreena Collins shares the true story of the Guernsey martyrs as told in her book Perotine. Younger audiences are also invited to take part, with Margaret Jones hosting an interactive family event, Victor Hugo’s Animal Friends, introducing children to history through playful rhymes and creativity.

Local writers are celebrated throughout the programme, with events featuring a “Local Voices” panel event with Jill Bray, Kelly Priaulx and RJ Verity, alongside talks with Anna Stothard discussing her latest novel Follow Her and Jane Mosse revealing her absurdities of living as a royal double.

The Festival’s much-loved Family Tea Party event returns, hosted this year by Lauren Child, the award-winning author and illustrator of the Charlie and Lola books. Marking 25 years since the first story was published, the interactive event invites families to step into the world of Charlie and Lola through storytelling and playful activities. Additional family events include sessions with Phil Earle, Rachel Bright, as well as author-illustrator Jarvis.

Poetry plays a central role in the 2026 programme, with internationally acclaimed poet and performer John Agard appearing for a special reading, courtesy of Renaissance One, and chairing the judging panel of Poems on the Move, the annual Guernsey International Poetry Competition. He is joined by one of the UK’s most beloved and hilarious poets, Brian Bilston.

An engaging workshop programme runs alongside headline events, including a “Craftivism” workshop led by Sarah Corbett, founder of the Craftivist Collective; a short story workshop with acclaimed novelist Ross Raisin; and a creative writing workshop led by Joanne Harris, alongside sessions focused on poetry and memoir writing. Children can also enjoy a “How to Draw Cartoons” workshop with award-winning illustrator Ramzee.

The 2026 education programme includes events in pre-schools, primary and secondary schools across the Bailiwick, with authors and illustrators including MC Grammar, A.F. Harrold, Athena Kugblenu, Jarvis, Margaret Jones, Margaret McDonald, Huw Lewis-Jones, Phil Earle, Ramzee, Rachel Bright and Lauren Child, alongside secondary school events with Jono Lancaster, Nathanael Lessore, Ross Raisin and Sarah Corbett.

The Festival’s commitment to nurturing young readers and writers continues with the WriteStuff Awards, celebrating original writing by children and young people from schools across the Bailiwick and with the launch of Time & Tide, the inaugural Guernsey Short Story Anthology, featuring 20 winning stories inspired by island life.

To mark the National Year of Reading, the Festival will host a dedicated panel discussion, bringing together Lauren Child, Horatio Clare and Sir Terry Waite, chaired by Toby Lichtig of The Times Literary Supplement, exploring how books can transform lives, strengthen communities and drive change.

Outreach and community highlights include Tea & Tales events in local care homes, a talk at Les Nicolles Prison.