London Literature Festival brings literary greats to the Southbank Centre.
Singing star Dua Lipa is stepping from the stage to the page, as she takes on the role of curator for the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre. Running from 21 October to 1 November 2026, the festival will bring together writers from across the globe.
Dua is best known for her dance-pop hits. Born in London, she rose to fame with her breakout single "New Rules," and went on to deliver chart-toppers including "Don’t Start Now," "Levitating," and "One Kiss." Over the course of her career, she has won three Grammy Awards, and in 2024, she headlined the Glastonbury Festival.
Beyond music, she founded the cultural platform Service95. The site offers curated content across art, fashion and literature. The book club features monthly reads, author interviews and reviews. And, her relationship with her fiancé, Callum Turner, began with a shared love of reading – the pair were both reading Trust by Hernan Diaz.
In Dua’s new role, she will curate a series of talks and events throughout the festival. During the opening weekend, from 24 to 25 October, she will take over the Royal Festival Hall. The event forms part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations and coincides with the National Year of Reading.
Dua said: “Reading has anchored me through every chapter of my life – from being the new girl at school in a new country to finding a quiet refuge whilst on tour. Curating the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival is a dream come true.
"I’m absolutely delighted to indulge one of my greatest passions: books and the brilliant minds behind them. I can’t wait to explore the imaginations of some of my favourite authors in one of London’s most iconic cultural spaces.”
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GO: Visit https://www.southbkcentre.co.uk for more information.