Full line up announced for the Cheltenham Literature Festival 2021

The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2021 is thrilled to reveal this year’s unmissable full programme of events, setting the scene for an international literary celebration like no other.

From Friday 8 to Sunday 17 October, the world’s foremost writers, thinkers and performers will descend on the vibrant spa town when the Literature Festival village returns to the heart of Regency Cheltenham, The Festival Town.

JONATHAN FRANZEN | JOAN COLLINS | COLSON WHITEHEAD | SARAH MOSS | JED MERCURIO | MAGGIE O’FARRELL  

JEANETTE WINTERSON | ALLIE ESIRI | DAVID HAREWOOD | RICHARD OSMAN | RAY MEARS | ISABEL ALLENDE 

 LEÏLA SLIMANI | MARK BILLINGHAM | PAULA HAWKINS | MILES JUPP | PHIL WANG | MARIAN KEYES  

LIONEL SHRIVER | HOLLIE MCNISH | KATHERINE RYAN | BIMINI BON BOULASH | CANDICE BRATHWAITE | HELEN GARNER 

JOSH WIDDICOMBE | WILL YOUNG | EILEEN ATKINS | HAYLEY MILLS | MEL GIEDROYC | SANJEEV BHASKAR | JIMMY PAGE 

DAWN FRENCH | SKIN | MICHAEL ROSEN | AINSLEY HARRIOTT | NOVA REID | BELLA MACKIE | ELIF SHAFAK | ANNIE MAC 

ROBERT WEBB | PETER SCHMEICHEL | JESS PHILLIPS | SHIRLEY BALLAS | ALEX GEORGE | CALEB AZUMAH NELSON   SHAMIL THAKRAR | ALDO KANE

JACK DEE | ELIZABETH DAY | MICK HERRON | RAYMOND BLANC | BRENDA HALE RAVINDER BHOGAL PAUL MENDEZ | GILES COREN

TOM DALEY | PAULA SUTTON | ALAN JOHNSON | GILES TERERA  ALYS FOWLER KATE MOSSE | GWENDOLINE RILEY  BOLA SOL | SARAH ASPINALL

NIKESH SHUKLA | OLGA TOKARCZUK | KAYO CHINGONYI | RAYMOND ANTROBUS | DAVID OMAND | SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR  JOHN BARNES | JULIAN CLARY

SUSIE BOYT| AMIKA GEORGE | ED MILIBAND | ALEXANDRA WILSON | JACKIE MORRIS | MONICA GALETTI  ANTHONY SELDON | MARY BEARD

SIMON ARMITAGE | MATT BAKER | POORNA BELL | CARLA VALENTINE OTEGHA UWAGBA | GERALD STRATFORD | ALEXANDRA SHULMAN | MARTIN PARR | ALISON WEIR  

GUEST CURATORS:  

BERNARDINE EVARISTO | JOAN BAKEWELL  

THE RECEIPTS PODCAST: TOLLY SHONEYE, MILENA SANCHEZ, AUDREY INDOME  

THE WEEK JUNIOR | RESIDENT LITERARY EXPLORER ANN MORGAN 

FAMILY PROGRAMME:  

JOE WICKS | LENNY HENRY | CRESSIDA COWELL | MICHAEL MORPURGO | DAVID BADDIEL 

 BEN MILLER | NADIA SHIREEN | LIZ PICHON | CLARE BALDING | ROB BIDDULPH | DAPO ADEOLA | FEMI FADUGBA JOSEPH COEHLO | RASHMI SIRDESHPANDE

 MALORIE BLACKMAN | ALEX WHEATLE | MADDIE MOATE | PHIL EARLE  MOLLY OLDFIELD | MG LEONARD | MATTHEW SYED | JAMES MAYHEW |

ANUSKA ALLEPUZ | TOM PERCIVAL | JOHNNY FLUFFYPUNK | JOSHUA SEIGAL | TONGUE FU FOR KIDS 

The world’s first literature festival continues to blaze a trail with unique experiences and the unparalleled line-up, announced today, is set to create even more unforgettable memories for book lovers this autumn. Showcasing literary legends, fresh new voices and the biggest books of the year, there is something on offer for everyone: from stars of the stage and screen to incisive political debate. The programme spans history, food, travel, poetry and spoken word, art, sport, faith, philosophy, fashion, psychology, science, nature, business and much more.

The lively Festival village is the perfect setting for a family day out with a bumper programme of events, free activities, workshops, and story trails featuring the greatest storytellers and illustrators, sure to inspire a love of reading in children of all ages and stages. The Literature for Schools programme, featuring Cheltenham Festival’s flagship education programme Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils, will also give thousands of school children the chance to meet their literary heroes.
The Festival is harnessing digital technology as part of its drive to create a world in which everyone can explore culture. Cheltenham Festivals’ YouTube channel will broadcast highlights from each day of the Festival, including filmed talks with international writers as part of the Read The World theme. In addition, recordings of over 140 events will be available on demand until 31 December 2021 via the #CheltLitFest Player.

Charging into its 6th year in Cheltenham, for one night only Lit Crawl sees the town’s bars, record stores, cafes, tattoo parlours and barbershops packed with literary revellers until late into the night sampling everything from flash fiction to ghost stories, music to comedy, pop-up readings to spoken word.

An immersive and visually striking new venue and programme lands this October at the Literature Festival. VOICEBOX will bring youth voices to the forefront through a completely free programme of talks, workshops, panels, DJ sets and more, shining a light on the topics and trends that matter to young adults. Events will feature the best established and emerging local and national young writers, artists and creatives and digital audiences will be encouraged to join in the conversation through the Festival’s social media channels, continuing discussion and debate beyond the 10-day event.

Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festivals Members on Friday 3 September and general booking opens on Friday 10 September.

Click here to see the full programme - Cheltenham Literature Festival 2021