Cliveden Literary Festival has announced the first wave of speakers for its 2026 programme, bringing together bestselling authors, historians, journalists and politicians for a weekend of discussion and debate at the historic Cliveden House.
Returning on 10 & 11 October, the Berkshire festival will once again explore literature, politics, history and contemporary affairs, with tickets now on sale to the public.
Among the early headline names are Kemi Badenoch, who will discuss the future of the Conservative Party with historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, alongside acclaimed investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, novelist Robert Harris, historian Tom Holland, author Julian Barnes, Candace Bushnell, Jay McInerney, and bestselling writers Yael van der Wouden and Alice Winn.
The programme also promises a series of panel discussions tackling some of today’s biggest political and cultural questions. Topics range from the changing landscape of Westminster politics and the future of America in its 250th year to the modern Middle East, historical storytelling, art, gardening and shifting social trends.
The festival will welcome an extensive line-up of writers, commentators and public figures including Michael Connelly, David Nicholls, Emily Maitlis, Mishal Husain, Michael Gove, Wes Streeting, Matt Goodwin, Niall Ferguson, Deborah Lipstadt, Patrick Marber, Jonathan Bate, Katie Kitamura and many others.
Now in its ninth year, Cliveden Literary Festival has established itself as one of the UK’s leading literary events, continuing the long tradition of Cliveden House as a meeting place for writers, thinkers and political figures. Previous speakers have included Salman Rushdie, Ian Rankin, Anthony Horowitz, Zadie Smith, Simon Schama and Brian Cox.
The festival received royal praise last year when Her Majesty The Queen described it as “a perfection of a literary festival” during her visit.
Set within the National Trust estate at Cliveden House near Taplow, the annual event combines author interviews, political debate, historical discussion and cultural conversation against the backdrop of one of Britain’s best-known country houses.
Weekend tickets are now available following the public launch of sales.
