From Tuesday 21 October to Sunday 2 November, the Southbank Centre proudly presents the eighteenth edition of the London Literature Festival—London’s flagship celebration of the written and spoken word. For over 70 years, the Southbank Centre has been a creative powerhouse at the heart of the city, and this year’s festival is set to continue that legacy with a vibrant, boundary-pushing programme designed for everyone.
A major highlight this year: acclaimed musician and Mercury Prize-nominee Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known to many as Self Esteem, steps into the role of guest curator. Taylor’s distinctive voice and fearless creativity will shape a day of unique events, marking the publication of her debut book, A Complicated Woman. Audiences can look forward to an intimate conversation between Taylor and celebrated writer Dolly Alderton, delving into the art of lyrics, storytelling, and personal discovery. The day will culminate in an electrifying evening of music and spoken word, featuring an array of multidisciplinary talents including Tom Rasmussen, Seraphina Simone, electronic artist Marged, performance artist Travis Alabanza, and poet-comedian Pam Ayres.
The festival’s wider line-up is equally stellar, with appearances from Adam Buxton, Alexis Wright, Bora Chung, Charlie Mackesy, Chris Kraus, Claire-Louise Bennett, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Funmi Fetto, Jackie Kay, Jimi Famurewa, Kelly Frost, Lisa Smith, Malala Yousafzai, Michael Rosen, Nikita Gill, Neoprene Genie, Nesrine Malik, Olga Ravn, Pankaj Mishra, Rachael Boast, Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben, Róisín Lanigan, Sayaka Murata, Sebastian Faulks, Simon Armitage, Zadie Smith, and many more to be announced.
Reflecting on her curatorial debut, Self Esteem shares:
“I’m honoured to be curating at this year’s London Literature Festival. I’ve never really believed there to be rigid lines between songwriting, art, poetry and prose. I’ve always longed to be free from genre and labels, not just in my own work, but also in the art I’m drawn to. I want it all because I am greedy, and I’m no longer going to apologise for that. I am so excited to explore this through my involvement with the London Literature Festival, alongside a host of multidisciplinary artists I admire and am inspired by.”
Visit the Southbank Centre for an unforgettable celebration of creativity, conversation, and community at the London Literature Festival 2025—where stories come alive and boundaries are made to be broken.
For further information on the festival, please visit the SouthBank Centre website.
Image Self Esteem by Scarlett Carlos Clark, courtesy of South Bank Centre
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