Henley Literary Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a star-studded programme, organisers announced today. Great British Bake Off judge Nigella Lawson will make her Henley debut on the opening night, Friday 2 October, while Julia Donaldson the UK’s bestselling author of all time returns for the first time since the inaugural 2007 festival on the closing day, Sunday 11 October. With some 140 conversations, performances, workshops and talks for adults and children over the 10 days, many more speakers will be announced in the coming months.
Lawson, the multi-award-winning author of 12 international bestsellers including How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food and Cook, Eat, Repeat: Ingredients, Recipes and Stories will reflect on her career to date at the Fane Marquee at Phyllis Court. The Festival’s flagship venue will also host Stick Man and Room on the Broom creator Donaldson with the long-awaited third Gruffalo book Granny Gruffalo.
Events will also be hosted at the historic Henley Town Hall and luxury boutique hotel The Relais Henley, with Shiplake College returning as the children’s sponsor. The 2025 Festival was the most successful to date with over 27,000 ticket-holders in-person and many thousands more watching online around the country and internationally, with speakers including Joanna Lumley, Jung Chang, Michael Morpurgo, Graham Norton and Elif Shafak.
Henley Literary Festival director Harriet Reed said: “We are so excited to build on last year’s record breaking Festival for our 20th edition and are beyond thrilled to welcome back Julia Donaldson and have Nigella Lawson join us for the very first time!”
Sponsor, Alex Fane from CEO Fane Group added: We’re proud to be back as headline sponsor of Henley Literary Festival for the second year running. It’s been a joy to see festivals like Henley, which are so integral to the wider ecosystem, continue to attract such devoted audiences. We’re very much looking forward to what this year has in store!”
Tickets will go on sale to Gold and Platinum Friends on 3 July, Friends on 7 July and general sale on 13 July. You can find out more about becoming a Friend at henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/memberships/ or call 01491 575 948.
