The north’s longest-running literary festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, has announced its 2026 line-up. A host of household names including politicians, national treasures, journalists, novelists, poets, historians, comedians, and academics head to the spa town across 17 packed days from Friday 2 to Sunday 18 October.

Simon Armitage, Samira Ahmed, Kate Atkinson, Reeta Chakrabarti, Andrew Davies, Mark Foster, Dame Margaret Hodge, Zahra Joya, Si King, Judy Murray, Rachael Stirling, Jacqueline Wilson and more are set to appear.

Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 25 August, with priority bookings open for Friends of the Festival a week before, on Wednesday 19 August.

Andrew Davies, the undisputed maestro of literary adaptations (House of Cards, Pride & Prejudice, Bleak House and Bridget Jones), opens the festival, having finally turned his razor sharp pen on the most challenging subject of all: himself, with his memoir, An Unsuitable Boy.

The opening weekend continues with Labour Peer, Dame Margaret Hodge, talking about her five decades in politics in her memoir Battleaxe and Zahra Joya, the groundbreaking Afghan journalist, telling the story of her fight for women’s rights in The Vanishing Girl of Kabul.

Actress Rachael Stirling will be talking about her exceptional mother, Diana Rigg – icon of stage and screen and the subject of a new memoir, in which Rachael shares the woman she knew: gloriously naughty, deeply loving and taking no prisoners. And swimmer Mark Foster, five-time Olympian, six-time World Champion and eight-time World Record holder, will be in Ilkley to discuss his inspiring and moving memoir, My Double Life, a tale of one man’s pursuit of sporting prowess and personal freedom.

Poetry lovers can spend an evening with the Poet laureate, Simon Armitage, as he reads from his new translation of the epic poem Gilgamesh, enjoy comedy and laughter, as the hilarious and much-loved poet Brian Bilston will take you on a whirlwind tour through the history of verse, reading from his new collection How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside or join four poets, Emily Zobel Marshall, Kim Moore, Antony Dunn and Daljit Nagra, who first came together at the BBC Contains Strong Language festival and now reunite for Sustains Strong Language, combining readings and performances with candid discussion and audience questions. Poet, broadcaster, entertainer and national treasure Pam Ayres will also be at the festival, talking about her latest book, Doggedly Onward: A Life in Poems, which brings together some of her best-known poems from the last fifty years.

Other well known names include Kate Atkinson, returning to her native Yorkshire with her new book Our Noble Selves, set in post-war Britain; broadcaster, writer and presenter of Radio 4’s Front Row, Samira Ahmed, will explain how The Beatles’ first film, A Hard Day’s Night, become an enduring cinematic classic in a post-screening in conversation event; tennis player, national coach, mother to two champions and former Strictly contestant Judy Murray, will be talking about her crime novel, Game, Set & Murder; Hairy Biker Si King will be discussing his first solo cookbook, Proper Home Cooking, since the passing of his great friend Dave Myers; and Gyles Brandreth will be joined by physiotherapist Finola Burrell to discuss the secrets for a long and healthy life. Younger members of the family are also in for a treat, with Dame Jacqueline Wilson introducing her brand new book, Esme Pepper, and talking about her career, writing over 120 books for children.

Themes explored through this year’s programme include investigative journalism, writers on writing, the impact of technology on human behaviour and biology and nature and wildlife. To celebrate the National Year of Reading there are also a series of book club-style events.

To view the full programme and book tickets https://www.ilkleylitfest.org.uk
Follow @ilkleylitfest
Box Office: 01943 816714.

Tickets for Friends of the Festival available from 19 August; the general box office opens 25 August.