Hamnet author Maggie O’Farrell, Sir Lenny Henry and Newsround and Countryfile legend John Craven are among the headliners announced for this year’s Chester Literature Festival.
Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassim, social historian Kate Goodman and Indian history expert William Dalrymple will also appear at the 2026 celebration of storytelling and the written word which takes place at Storyhouse from 12 May to 14 June.
Festivalgoers can expect a month of talks, performances, events and workshops in a wide-ranging programme packed with special guests from the world of literature, poetry, stage and screen.
And there is no better time to celebrate the power of books with 2026 designated National Year of Reading which is dedicated to encouraging reading for pleasure, wellbeing and connection.
Plus, in a special treat for those of us of a certain age, on Saturday, 16 May journalist and broadcaster John Craven shares The Stories Behind the Headlines with Chester audiences.
Join the national treasure as he reflects with insight, nostalgia and warmth on more than 50 years at the forefront of British broadcasting, from presenting the pioneering Newsround which brought the world to generations of young people to covering national and world news and three decades on the BBC’s Countryfile.
Henry comes to Storyhouse on Sunday, 17 May with a new live show which is part stand-up, part storytelling and part conversation (with himself). The superstar comedian, Children in Need mainstay, impressionist, actor, author and fundraiser will trace the roles, characters and moments which have defined his remarkable 50-year career and will reveal what continues to inspire him now as he reflects on a life lived out loud.
Yassim visits on Tuesday, 19 May to talk about My Life Behind the Lens. In his first ever live tour, the wildlife cameraman, presenter – and Strictly Come Dancing champion – will share his infectious sense of wonder and most precious memories, both in life and nature including his epic filming expeditions across the globe. Expect an evening of adventure, storytelling and stunning imagery.
Dalrymple will make his Chester Literature Festival debut on Wednesday, 10 June when he will talk about The Relentless Rise of the East India Company. One of Britain’s greatest living historians and renowned for his meticulous research, William Dalrymple is revered across the globe for his ability to bring the extraordinary history of India to life. In this evening at Storyhouse, he will tell the story of more than 200 years of tumultuous colonial history, covert political machinations and bloody resistance.
Then on Thursday, 11 June, spend An Evening with Maggie O’Farrell. The author of the moment, thanks to the huge screen success of Hamnet, which she both wrote and adapted for the screen, comes to Storyhouse in a special event hosted by Linghams Booksellers and Booka Bookshop to celebrate the publication of her new novel Land.
Inspired by the mapping of Ireland in the mid-19th Century, the award-winning author and Hamnet screenwriter weaves yet another tale that is at once intimate and epic: here a portrait of a family navigating a legacy of upheaval and survival with resilience and love.
Chester Literature Festival is Storyhouse’s annual celebration of books, poetry and storytelling and remains one of the longest-running annual literature events in the country – and we’ve only scratched the surface here.
It was launched in 1989 by volunteer arts organisation Chester Arts 89 and city booksellers who programmed a week of literary activity including a reading by the niece of novelist DH Lawrence. This is the 15th year the festival has been programmed by Storyhouse.
Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson said: “I am delighted that this years Literature Festival has such a fantastic programme bringing internationally acclaimed authors from such a wide range of genres to the stages at Storyhouse, there truly is something for everyone! A great reminder in the National Year of reading that even if you think books might not be for you, your local library is a treasure trove of stories and ideas to excite and inspire.”
For more details visit www.storyhouse.com
