Dua Lipa will curate the 2026 London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, organisers have announced.
The chart-topping pop star, 30, follows the likes of musician Self-Esteem in arranging the festival’s line-up, which has seen headliners in previous years including Tom Hanks, Margaret Atwood and Malala Yousafzai.
Lipa is an advocate for literacy and reading who founded the Service95 Book Club, and will curate a series of events during the festival’s opening weekend and across the 11-day festival.
The Grammy-winning singer, known for hits including Levitating and One Kiss, 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 obsessions: 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.”
Organisers said this year’s event will form part of a “momentous” celebration, presented as part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year.
This year’s event at Southbank Centre will also see former One Direction singer Harry Styles curate the line-up for the Meltdown festival, as well as an exhibition by British sculptor Anish Kapoor.
Mark Ball, artistic director of the Southbank Centre, called Lipa a “global cultural force with millions of fans around the world, and her passion for the written and spoken word has inspired a new generation of readers”.
He added: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Dua will take the reins of our flagship London Literature Festival, applying her incredible creative talent, her advocacy and her reach to connect audiences to our finest writers.”
Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature and 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, to draw fresh audiences into our iconic spaces.
“It promises to be a momentous year for the festival and a highlight of our 75th anniversary.”
A full line-up and ticket release dates will be announced in the summer.
