Ealing Book Festival 2026: Full Guide to West London’s Best Literary Weekend

One of West London’s most warmly anticipated cultural events is almost here. The Ealing Book Festival returns for its third edition from Wednesday 29 April to Sunday 3 May 2026, bringing an exceptional five-day programme of internationally acclaimed authors, local writers, family events, school sessions and guided walks to three venues across the London Borough of Ealing.

Now established as one of the most important literary festivals on the London calendar, the 2026 edition is its most ambitious yet — with many events already sold out and tickets for remaining sessions selling fast. If you are planning to attend, booking now is strongly advised.

Where Is the Festival Taking Place?

The 2026 Ealing Book Festival is spread across three venues, each contributing a distinct character to the overall programme:

University of West London (UWL), St Mary’s Road Campus, Ealing W5 5RF The University of West London is the primary venue for the festival’s headline author events, hosting many of the biggest names in the programme across the full five days. UWL’s partnership with the festival has significantly expanded the capacity for popular events, allowing larger audiences to attend than in previous years. The University is a short walk from Ealing Broadway station (Central and District lines, and Elizabeth line), making it one of the most accessible festival venues in West London.

Questors Theatre, Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BQ Questors Theatre — one of the largest amateur theatre organisations in Europe, based in Ealing since 1929 — provides an intimate and characterful second venue for a range of festival events including family sessions and author talks. The Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan family event on Saturday 2 May takes place here.

Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 2RH The recently restored Pitzhanger Manor — Sir John Soane’s former country villa, reopened after a major restoration in 2021 and now one of West London’s finest cultural venues — hosts a selection of festival events in a setting of genuine architectural distinction. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at this venue.

The Headline Authors: Who Is Appearing in 2026?

The 2026 programme brings together an exceptional roster of internationally bestselling authors and public figures across fiction, history, politics, nature writing, music, business and current affairs. Here is the confirmed headline lineup:

Jung Chang — Author of Wild Swans, one of the most widely read non-fiction books of the 20th century with over 13 million copies sold worldwide. Chang, an alumna of the University of West London, opens the public programme on Wednesday 29 April, speaking about her forthcoming novel. Her appearance at her own alma mater gives the opening night a particular resonance.

Anthony Horowitz — One of Britain’s most prolific and beloved crime writers, creator of the Inspector Hawthorne series and the continuing James Bond and Sherlock Holmes novels, as well as the screenwriter behind shows including Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War. Horowitz will reflect on his long-running Inspector Hawthorne series in what promises to be one of the most popular events of the festival.

William Boyd — Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter whose works include Any Human Heart, Restless and Sweet Caress. Boyd will discuss his latest book The Predicament. Boyd is consistently ranked among the finest British novelists of his generation.

Robert Macfarlane — One of the most celebrated nature writers working in English today, whose books including The Wild Places, Underland and Mountains of the Mind have redefined what nature writing can do. Macfarlane will explore themes from his new work Is a River Alive? — a book that raises profound questions about the legal and moral status of rivers in an era of environmental crisis.

Blake Morrison — Poet, novelist, critic and memoirist, best known for his memoir And When Did You Last See Your Father? Morrison is one of Britain’s most thoughtful and versatile literary figures.

Mary Portas — Retail expert, broadcaster and author, known for her work on the revival of British high streets and her television series. Portas brings a business and culture perspective to the programme.

Dan Cruickshank — Architectural historian and BBC broadcaster, whose programmes on British and international architecture have made him one of the most recognised voices in the field.

Andrew Graham-Dixon — Art critic, historian and broadcaster, best known for presenting BBC arts documentaries on painters including Caravaggio, Vermeer and Michelangelo.

Simon Jenkins — Journalist, author and former editor of The Times, known for his writing on architecture, planning and British history.

Alan Johnson — Former Home Secretary, author of a critically acclaimed series of memoirs about his working-class upbringing in West London.

Naz Shah — MP and author, whose memoir has received significant attention for its account of her experiences and political journey.

Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan — Actor and author Stephen Mangan joins his illustrator sister Anita for a special family event at Questors Theatre on Saturday 2 May, featuring games, stories and draw-alongs. The session is aimed at children aged 7 and above and is accompanied by an adult ticket.

Oyinkan Braithwaite — Nigerian-British author of My Sister, the Serial Killer, the debut novel that became an international sensation. Braithwaite represents the next generation of literary talent in the programme.

Lucy Steeds — Art historian and writer, bringing fresh perspectives on contemporary art and visual culture.

John Robb — Musician, journalist and cultural commentator, bringing the world of music and counterculture to the festival’s programme.

The Full Day-by-Day Programme

Wednesday 29 April:

• Jung Chang — Fly, Wild Swans — 6pm–7pm | University of West London
• Anthony Horowitz — A Deadly Episode — 7:30pm–8:30pm | University of West London

Thursday 30 April: Further author events at UWL and Pitzhanger Manor — check ealingbookfestival.com for the full schedule.

Friday 1 May: Author events continuing across all three venues.

Saturday 2 May:

• Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan — family event with games, stories and draw-alongs — 2pm | Questors Theatre (for children aged 7+, accompanied by an adult)
• Local Authors’ Showcase — featuring 20 writers selected from a record 70 applications
• Guided literary walks through the borough

Sunday 3 May: Final day of the main programme.

Saturday 9 May (additional free family day): A special free family day for children aged 3 to 12 takes place at The Dominion Centre in Southall, featuring two story time events with local children’s book authors and a poetry workshop with Narvir Singh. Tickets are free but booking is required via the Ealing Book Festival website.

Most events run for approximately one hour and are followed by book signings. Some events — including the Local Authors’ Showcase and guided walks — run longer.

The Local Talent Showcase: Celebrating Ealing’s Own Writers

One of the most distinctive elements of the Ealing Book Festival is its commitment to local writers alongside the international headliners. This year’s Local Authors’ Showcase attracted a record 70 applications for 20 places. Among those selected is Ealing resident Jack Waddington, who will present a book written following the death of his brother Sam — a deeply personal work that exemplifies the kind of authentic local storytelling the showcase is designed to support.

The schools programme is equally ambitious. Ahead of the main programme, a schools oracy event on 23 April saw 60 pupils from five Ealing primary schools perform poems on the theme “Proud to be Me”, led by poet Alain ‘Fusion’ Clapman.

Guided walking tours of the borough, led by local historians, give festival-goers a chance to explore Ealing’s own literary and cultural heritage between events — a reminder that the borough has its own rich history of writers, artists and cultural figures.

Why UWL Is Central to the Festival

The University of West London’s role as the principal venue for the 2026 Ealing Book Festival is a natural extension of its position as one of West London’s most important civic institutions. Jung Chang’s status as a UWL alumna makes her opening night appearance at the campus particularly meaningful — a return to the institution where she studied, now presenting her new work to the community that shaped her early years in the UK.

Professor Peter John CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President of UWL, described the partnership as a reflection of the university’s belief that “universities should be places where communities come together to learn, debate and be inspired.” That principle — the university as a genuinely open institution rather than a closed campus — is what makes UWL’s hosting role something more than a venue arrangement.

For the festival, UWL’s central Ealing location and expanded audience capacity have allowed this edition to take on authors and events at a scale that earlier editions could not have accommodated.

Practical Information: Tickets, Access and How to Get There

Tickets: Available at ealingbookfestival.com. Many events are already sold out — book remaining tickets immediately to avoid disappointment. The free family day at the Dominion Centre on 9 May requires separate booking via the festival website.

Refund policy: Refunds are issued only in the event of cancellation. The festival operates a no-return policy otherwise. Any changes to events will be updated on the festival website.

Photography: Permitted at events. Recording is not permitted.

Accessibility: The festival is committed to being fully accessible. Contact ealingbookfestival.com for specific accessibility requirements.

Children: Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult at UWL events. Under-16s must be accompanied at Pitzhanger Manor events.

Getting to UWL (St Mary’s Road, Ealing W5 5RF):

• Elizabeth line: Ealing Broadway — 5-minute walk to campus
• Central line: Ealing Broadway — 5-minute walk
• District line: Ealing Broadway — 5-minute walk
• National Rail: Ealing Broadway (Great Western Railway from Paddington)
• Bus: Multiple routes serve Ealing Broadway

Getting to Questors Theatre (Mattock Lane, W5 5BQ):

• Tube: Ealing Broadway or South Ealing (Piccadilly line) — approximately 10-minute walk
• Bus: E2, E3, 65 and other routes serve the area

Getting to Pitzhanger Manor (Mattock Lane, W5 2RH):

• Same directions as Questors Theatre — the two venues are adjacent

Ealing Book Festival in the Wider London Literary Context

Now in its third year, the Ealing Book Festival has established itself as one of west London’s most warmly anticipated cultural events — intimate, neighbourhood-rooted and genuinely inclusive in its ambitions. It sits within a broader landscape of London literary festivals that has grown considerably in recent years, reflecting a sustained appetite for live author events across the capital’s diverse communities.

London’s festival calendar in spring 2026 is particularly full. If you enjoy exploring London’s cultural events beyond the literary world, our roundup of the Hot Sauce Society Festival returning to Peckham in May gives a flavour of the independent food festival scene that is equally thriving in south London this spring — a reminder that the capital’s community events calendar rewards exploration beyond the most obvious destinations.

For readers who enjoy literary festivals with a strong Scottish and London cultural dimension, our coverage of the St Andrews Book Festival celebrating Scottish literature and culture in London explores a festival that takes a similarly community-focused approach to bringing celebrated authors and readers together in a distinctive London setting.

Quick Reference: Ealing Book Festival 2026