Durham Book Festival 2026

This year's programme explores literature, politics, history, music and poetry, and features several members of our Durham community, including alumni, academics, and our Chancellor, Dr Fiona Hill.

Forged in the North: Fiona Hill meets Neil Tennant 

As part of her podcast series Forged in the North, Dr Hill will be joined by our Honorary Graduate Neil Tennant, from the Pet Shop Boys, to discuss how growing up in North East England shaped his journey to becoming one of Britain's most influential songwriters.

A novelist, a poet, and a TikTok historian 

Three of our alumni will return to Durham to share their stories and creative work with festival audiences. 

Lucy Foley author of seven novels, Michael Pedersen, Edinburgh's Poet Laureate (Makar) and Katie Kennedy, known to her 630,000-plus TikTok followers as The History Gossip, will share their work and experiences with the Festival audience.

Durham researchers will also contribute their expertise

Professor Clare McGlynn from Durham Law School, classicist Professor Edith Hall, author and academic Professor Naomi Booth and poet Kayo Chingonyi will also be appearing.

Programme

Durham Book Festival 2026 starts at 5pm on Friday 9 October, with events running throughout Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.

The final event concludes at 6.30pm on Sunday 11 October.

View the full event programme here.