Henley Literary Festival

Henley Literary Festival SAVE THE DATE: 2-11 October 2026

SAVE THE DATE: 4 October - 12 October 2025

Over 120 events for adults & children in-person & online each Autumn from Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Bonnie Greer. She joined us at the Festival several times; after coming with h...
16/09/2026

We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Bonnie Greer. She joined us at the Festival several times; after coming with her memoir A Parallel Life she returned for a talk on Rosa Parks and a debate on Europe, which is testament to her breadth. Bonnie and her husband David were always such a lovely presence in the green room - including a memorable meeting with rugby star Gareth Thomas! - and we are grateful to have got to know them.

Bring Henley Literary Festival into your classroom, for free! đź“šThis October, schools everywhere can join our 2026 School...
16/09/2026

Bring Henley Literary Festival into your classroom, for free! đź“š

This October, schools everywhere can join our 2026 Schools’ Programme via livestream, with seven brilliant authors and events for children aged 3 to 12.

Each event lasts 45 minutes, making it easy to join us as part of the school day. And it’s completely free to watch.

Swipe to see who’s appearing ➡️

Register your school at the link in bio. We’ll send you everything you need to watch two days before each event.

Whether you’re joining us from Henley or hundreds of miles away, we’d love to have your class with us.

Tonight was a real treat. A sold-out Henley Literary Festival evening with Eric Idle in conversation with Simon Williams...
15/09/2026

Tonight was a real treat. A sold-out Henley Literary Festival evening with Eric Idle in conversation with Simon Williams.

Eric joined us to talk about his new memoir, Idle in Provence: A Brief History of Thyme, 50 years of life in France, Monty Python memories and plenty more besides.

Including how the Pythons decided what made the cut:

“People say, how did you decide what you did in Monty Python: we would read it out and if others laughed it went in the show, if they didn’t we’d sell it to the Two Ronnies!”

A brilliant way to get us warmed up for the Festival next month. Thank you to Eric, Simon and everyone who joined us tonight.

For Henley Literary Festival’s first-ever comedy night we join forces with Tipi Events - host of monthly stand-up shows ...
11/09/2026

For Henley Literary Festival’s first-ever comedy night we join forces with Tipi Events - host of monthly stand-up shows at The Relais Henley | Henley-on-Thames and Marlow’s Rebellion Brewery - for a special evening in support of this year’s charities, the Ovarian Care Fund and Bookmark Reading Charity Charity.

Taking place on the Fane stage at Phyllis Court Club we present a line-up that has graced the stages of the Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Gardens and Giffords Circus as well as appearing on Radio 4, Absolutely Fabulous, Mock the Week, The Last Leg and much more; they have also all previously appeared at the Festival: Leah Davis , Rosie Holt , , Athena Kugblenu , Memoir out now! & Tweedy®️ !

Book your tickets for Saturday 3rd October at the link in bio 🎟️


09/09/2026

We’re very excited to welcome Henley Literary Festival favourite back to the stage at this year.

Dame Mary joins us with My Gardening Life, turning from the kitchen to her other great passion. When she joined us at last year’s Festival, she credited her love of being outside as one of the secrets to her astonishing vitality at 90.

As President of the National Garden Scheme and an RHS Ambassador, she’ll be joined by horticultural journalist Chris Young to talk about a lifetime of growing, her love of plants and nature, and the simple pleasure of watching the seasons change.

🎟️ Get your tickets at the link in bio.

A nourishing night with two Festival favourites on feminisim, food fulfilment and being fresh out of Fs to give! Expect ...
09/09/2026

A nourishing night with two Festival favourites on feminisim, food fulfilment and being fresh out of Fs to give! Expect honesty and hilarity in equal measure with Dawn O'Porter and bryonygordon

Broadcaster and Honeybee author Dawn’s memoir is the warm and witty Hungry Eyes, while columnist and No.1 bestseller Bryony’s first novel is the fiercely funny People Pleaser. A special event in support of charity partner the Ovarian Care Fund, who enable groundbreaking research into ovarian cancer.

Bryony and Dawn will be in conversation with Leah Boleto on the Fane stage at Phyllis Court Club

From 2 to 11 October, Henley Literary Festival returns with more than 140 events featuring some of the biggest names in books, politics, food, history, sport and entertainment.

Join us for conversations with Nigella Lawson, Maggie O’Farrell, Meera Syal, Matt Haig, Michael Morpurgo, Tony Adams, Rob Biddulph, Eric Idle, Theresa May, Sebastian Faulks, Prue Leith, Sarah Wynn-Williams, Joe Wicks and many more.

🎟 Explore the full programme and book tickets now via the link in our bio 🔗

In the 18th century, a vehicle for gambling; for the Victorians a way of keeping order in public schools, and defining i...
03/09/2026

In the 18th century, a vehicle for gambling; for the Victorians a way of keeping order in public schools, and defining ideas of manliness. In Full Circle Peter Oborne and Richard Heller chart the course cricket has taken over the last 350 years and ask, amid the dominance of franchise cricket, what comes next? The Fleet Street veterans join us to discuss their erudite, entertaining account of the game’s global evolution, taking topics as varied as religion, railways, lawnmowers, media and empire.

Peter and Richard will be in conversation with Jon Ryan

From 2 to 11 October, Henley Literary Festival returns with more than 140 events featuring some of the biggest names in books, politics, food, history, sport and entertainment.

Join us for conversations with Nigella Lawson, Maggie O’Farrell, Meera Syal, Matt Haig, Michael Morpurgo, Tony Adams, Charlie Mackesy, Rob Biddulph, Eric Idle, Theresa May, Sebastian Faulks, Prue Leith, Sarah Wynn-Williams, Joe Wicks and many more.

🎟 Explore the full programme and book tickets now via the link in our bio 🔗

What can we learn from other nations when it comes to the world’s most pressing problems? In Braver New World: The Count...
03/09/2026

What can we learn from other nations when it comes to the world’s most pressing problems? In Braver New World: The Countries Daring to Do Things Others Won’t, former New Statesman editor and Newsnight political correspondent John Kampfner takes us from Saharan solar panels to Japan’s inter-generational care homes, via Austria, Finland and Taiwan. The bestselling author of Blair’s Wars and Why the Germans Do It Better returns with proof that imaginative responses to challenges can produce real results.

John will be in conversation with Stephen Robinson on the Gower Cottage Brownies Ltd stage at the Town Hall.

From 2 to 11 October, Henley Literary Festival returns with more than 140 events featuring some of the biggest names in books, politics, food, history, sport and entertainment.

Join us for conversations with Nigella Lawson, Maggie O’Farrell, Meera Syal, Matt Haig, Michael Morpurgo, Tony Adams, Charlie Mackesy, Rob Biddulph, Eric Idle, Theresa May, Sebastian Faulks, Prue Leith, Sarah Wynn-Williams, Joe Wicks and many more.

🎟 Explore the full programme and book tickets now via the link in our bio 🔗

What next for mental health support? Two leading authorities join us. BBC broadcaster and psychologist Dr Sian Williams ...
03/09/2026

What next for mental health support? Two leading authorities join us. BBC broadcaster and psychologist Dr Sian Williams takes a new look at an issue that affects millions in The Power of Anxiety: How to Ride the Worry Wave, showing we should see sensitivity as a strength. In Be More Human: Why Mental Health Care is Broken - and What We Can Do to Fix It, former Care and Support Minister turned campaigner Sir Norman Lamb calls for revolutionary change in the UK, asking what we can learn from others.

Dr Sian and Sir Norman will be in conversation with Steph Douglas on the Gower Cottage Brownies Ltd stage at the Town Hall.

From 2 to 11 October, Henley Literary Festival returns with more than 140 events featuring some of the biggest names in books, politics, food, history, sport and entertainment.

Join us for conversations with Nigella Lawson, Maggie O’Farrell, Meera Syal, Matt Haig, Michael Morpurgo, Tony Adams, Charlie Mackesy, Rob Biddulph, Eric Idle, Theresa May, Sebastian Faulks, Prue Leith, Sarah Wynn-Williams, Joe Wicks and many more.

🎟 Explore the full programme and book tickets now via the link in our bio 🔗

From the copper in Mesopotamian ploughs to the silicon in our smartphones, trading networks have evolved over millennia ...
03/09/2026

From the copper in Mesopotamian ploughs to the silicon in our smartphones, trading networks have evolved over millennia to fulfil the distinctly human need to buy and sell. Amid an unprecedented volume of trade, fractures in the global order and a challenging future, Material World bestseller Ed Conway tells an extraordinary story through three products: bread, cloth and cars. In Trade World the Sky News economics editor blends history with his inside access to show us what’s behind what we buy.

Ed will be in conversation with Genevieve Gaunt on the Gower Cottage Brownies Ltd at the Town Hall.

From 2 to 11 October, Henley Literary Festival returns with more than 140 events featuring some of the biggest names in books, politics, food, history, sport and entertainment.

Join us for conversations with Nigella Lawson, Maggie O’Farrell, Meera Syal, Matt Haig, Michael Morpurgo, Tony Adams, Charlie Mackesy, Rob Biddulph, Eric Idle, Theresa May, Sebastian Faulks, Prue Leith, Sarah Wynn-Williams, Joe Wicks and many more.

🎟 Explore the full programme and book tickets now via the link in our bio 🔗

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