5 London book festivals to put in your diary this autumn

If you love books, authors and lively conversations, autumn is one of the best times to be in London. From intimate neighbourhood festivals to major literary gatherings, the capital and its surrounding areas have a brilliant programme of author talks, readings, book launches and family events. Here are the literary festivals in London worth putting in your diary for autumn 2026, including dates, locations, ticket prices and where to book.

London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre

Dua Lipa. Photo by Madison Phipps

#FLODown: Dua Lipa will curate this year’s London Literature Festival as part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations, bringing together a line-up of acclaimed writers, poets and artists. Her programme, created with the Service95 Book Club, will feature conversations with Zadie Smith, Mustafa and Patti Smith, alongside events with Nadia Murad, Hernan Diaz and Malorie Blackman. The wider festival will also showcase emerging and underrepresented writers, independent presses, poetry and live music, as well as discussions on issues including free expression, human rights and the future of fiction in the age of AI. The festival will also feature a family programme of free and ticketed activities for children and young readers.

Click here for the full programme of events.

Date: 21 October - 1 November 2026. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: Varies by event; free events are also available. southbankcentre.co.uk

Queen’s Park Book Festival

Clive Myrie with Clare Clark; photograph Roger Green. Chiswick Book Festival. Image courtesy of Chiswick Book Festival

#FLODown: Queen’s Park Book Festival returns to north-west London in September 2026 for its final edition, bringing nine years of community-focused literary programming to a close. The festival will go out with an impressive line-up, including Philip Pullman, discussing The Rose Field, the conclusion to his Book of Dust trilogy; Irish novelist Sebastian Barry, talking about The Newer World; and children’s favourite Jacqueline Wilson, appearing with Esme Pepper. The programme also includes a special event on the Bayeux Tapestry and a discussion of the Cambridge Five and Soviet espionage. The festival’s free Community Tent will showcase local writers, poets and performers, with discussions ranging from AI and writing to Black British history, alongside family-friendly activities.

Click here for the full programme of events.

Date: 5–6 September 2026. Location: Queen’s Park, Kingswood Avenue, London NW6 6SG. Price: From £6 for selected children’s events; adult events from around £9, with some free events. Individual tickets currently include Philip Pullman at £14. queensparkbookfestival.co.uk

Chiswick Book Festival

Clive Myrie with Clare Clark; photograph Roger Green. Chiswick Book Festival. Image courtesy of Chiswick Book Festival

#FLODown: Chiswick Book Festival returning in September will mark several notable anniversaries and feature a strong line-up of authors, broadcasters and public figures.  The festival will celebrate 60 years since The Beatles filmed Paperback Writer and Rain at Chiswick House, with a discussion chaired by BBC broadcaster Samira Ahmed exploring the band’s impact on film, fame and social change. The centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth will also be marked in a conversation between royal biographers Robert Hardman and Catherine Mayer. Other speakers include Nick Clegg, Jacqueline Wilson, Ben Macintyre, Charles Cumming and Jane Thynne, while the programme will also feature a screening of Quartermaine’s Terms at Chiswick Cinema.

Date: 9–14 September 2026. Location: Various venues across Chiswick, including Chiswick Cinema, Chiswick Library and Hogarth’s House. Price: From £4; individual events vary. chiswickbookfestival.net

Barnes BookFest

Image courtesy of Barnes BookFest

#FLODown: Barnes BookFest returns to south-west London in September 2026 for a weekend of books and lively debate. This year’s programme covers fiction, history, politics, economics, art and music, with William Boyd discussing his latest Cold War spy novel Cold Sunset, Sebastian Faulks talking about Farewell to Eden, and Sajid Javid discussing his memoir The Colour of Home. There will also be sessions with art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon on Vermeer, historian Antony Beevor on Rasputin, Vince Cable on the changing balance of global power, and Tim Rice on his life and career in music and theatre.

Date: 25–27 September 2026. Location: Barnes, south-west London, including St Mary’s Barnes and Barnes Green Centre. Price: Generally £15–£20 per event. barnesbookfest.org

Wimbledon BookFest

Afua Hirsch and Jacinda Ardern at Wimbledon BookFest. Image courtesy of Wimbledon BookFest.

#FLODown: Wimbledon BookFest will return this October with its biggest programme yet as the festival approaches its 20th anniversary. One of south London’s leading literary and cultural festivals, this year’s line-up brings together major names including Maggie O’Farrell, Elif Shafak, Matt Haig, Robert Harris, Sebastian Barry, Mary Beard, Caitlin Moran and Meera Syal, alongside writers, historians, musicians and broadcasters from around the world. The programme explores everything from fiction and history to politics, technology and current affairs, with live music and performance also featuring. There will also be an expanded schools and family programme, the festival’s first Children’s Laureate, Nathanael Lessore, and a new Merton Big Read for Schools initiative. With events taking place at venues including Wimbledon High School and Wimbledon Library.

Date: 15 - 25 October 2026. Location: Wimbledon, south-west London, including Wimbledon High School, New Wimbledon Theatre and Wimbledon Library. Price: Individual event tickets; from £10.50. wimbledonbookfest.org