2026 Festival Themes
Truth Tellers
Without determined investigative reporters how much would we know about the devastating impacts of armed conflicts, political oppression, criminal corruption and environmental destruction? We’re joined by some of the most fearless journalists working today: Stephen Sackur, lead presenter of the BBC’s HARDtalk for almost 20 years; the Guardian’s senior international correspondent, Luke Harding; Afghan journalist and founder of the Rukhshana Media news agency, Zahra Joya; and environmental reporter Beth Gardiner. We’ll also be unmasking scammers thanks to Kaf Okpattah; chasing UFOs with Daniel Lavelle; and crisscrossing the globe alongside John Kampfner to discover radical solutions to big problems.
Page Turners
In the National Year of Reading, we’re shining a spotlight on story craft (and even dedicating a day, Sunday 18 October) to celebrate the art of fiction. With so many events to choose from – including interviews with award winning novelists such as Kate Atkinson, Joanne Harris and Fiona Mozley, panel discussions with contemporary bestsellers like Oyinkan Braithwaite and Tom Hindle, chances to meet your new favourite debut novelist, and reading group discussions of classic books – you might just lose the plot!
Explore Moor
We’ll explore oceans with wildlife documentary director Colin Butfield, travel the UK coastline with nature writer Natasha Carthew, cycle through every National Park with journalist Simon Parker, learn to live in harmony with the nature in our cities with poet and historian JC Niala, and head into the wild with explorer Lucy Shepherd. Then, if we’re not already exhausted by all that outdoor activity and fresh air, we’ll run an ultra-marathon in the Sahara Desert with comedian Paul Tonkinson. Phew!
Stage and Screen
Grab a backstage pass and join us behind the scenes of the lives and work of some of Britain’s greatest creative talents of stage and screen. Rachael Stirling shares memories of her indomitable mother – the truly iconic actor Diana Rigg; screenwriter extraordinaire Andrew Davies will be raising the curtain on his own life in scripts; broadcaster and journalist Samira Ahmed celebrates a classic of British cinema – The Beatles 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night; and the incredible career of Oscar-winning costume designer Phyllis Dalton is given fitting tribute by film historian Alexander Ballinger.
Processing Progress
As technology evolves our reliance on its capabilities do too. Are we losing agency, creativity, and even our individuality because of the digital revolution? What do our societies stand to lose or gain through the constant bombardment of information to our brains – brains which have only ever evolved slowly over hundreds of thousands of years? Dr Hannah Critchlow, Dr Agnieszka Piotrowska and Dr Luke Brunning explore the neurological, societal and behavioural changes technology is affecting on humanity.
Writers on Writing
The secret to being a good writer? Being a voracious reader. The secret to being a well-read writer appearing at the 2026 Ilkley Literature Festival? Writing about your reading! Novelist Jasper Fforde reveals the final instalment in the bookish adventures of his literary detective, Thursday Next. Characters from classic childhood tales are the focus of Michelle Anya Anjirbag (Cinderella) and Melanie Ramdarshan Bold’s (Paddington Bear) cultural histories. Broadcaster Matthew Sweet delves into the surprising life and extensive back catalogue of romance novelist Barbara Cartland. Finally, narrative expert John Yorke asks what stories truly are, how they work, and why some have the power to change the world.
Body Matters
Brains, sprains and automated DNA sequencing: our bodies are sources of wonderment as well as worry. Dr Saira Hameed busts misconceptions about hormones. Dr Kersten Hall and Dr Ralf Dahm chronicle the history of DNA discovery and Adrian Woolfson forecasts its future. Meanwhile, legendary broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth teams up with physiotherapist Finola Burrell to reveal the secrets for a long and healthy life.
Eternal Dame
50 years since her death, the enduring influence of Dame Agatha Christie permeates our popular culture. ‘Locked Room’ mysteries are all the rage again. Following in Miss Marple’s sensibly shoed footsteps, Richard Osman’s elderly sleuths are breaking bestseller records. Fans of Sunday night television are on tenterhooks awaiting the first appearance of the BBC’s new young Hercule Poirot. Why are we still captivated by crime novels published many decades previously– in some cases over 100 years? The latest books from Cathy Rentzenbrink, Christina Hardyment, Alys Cummings and Olly Smith all take inspiration from the Queen of Crime in one way or another.
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