The Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival - the longest running celebration of the written and spoken word of its kind in the capital - has been announced to take place from 20 - 30 October. Now in its 15th year, the festival features prestigious authors alongside rising literary stars. 

Greta Thunberg headlines the Festival in a world exclusive launch of her book The Climate Book , which features crucial climate voices including Kate Raworth, Naomi Klein and Margaret Atwood.

To coincide with this launch, the London Literature Festival explores the climate crisis. Science journalist, author and broadcaster Gaia Vince reframes the crisis and demonstrates how migration could be the answer in an event around her new book Nomad Century.

Highlights from the Festival include:

• Festival lineup features UK & international literary names such as Malorie Blackman, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Karl Ove Knausgård and George Saunders. Well-known names include YouTuber Adam B, Minnie Driver, Graham Norton and Jon Snow.

• The Southbank Centre is supporting new writing talent with events featuring debut London writers and the next generation of writers including Writers’ Day in partnership with Creative Future .New commissions include Jay Bernard’s performance piece Joint, about joint enterprise, a contested law that is often used in racist and classist ways.

• A free family programme celebrating the natural world and the environment, with talks and readings highlighting upcoming children's authors.

  
  

• A feast of poetry events including a showcase performed by the 2021 New Poets Collective and a National Poetry Library Open Day at the world’s biggest public collection of modern poetry.

Ted Hodgkinson, Head of Literature & Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre says: “I am truly thrilled that Greta Thunberg is headlining this year’s festival in a world exclusive launch of The Climate Book. With inclusivity and accessibility at the Southbank Centre’s heart, we’re also live streaming this event for free around the world. We welcome everyone to join us to celebrate the power of language and explore the most timely story of today - how and why our planet is changing.” 

“This year’s London Literature Festival promises to inspire, entertain and empower audiences of all ages. We’re combining the very best of our year round programme with a wider range of aspiring writers and events, featuring emerging homegrown London talent alongside internationally acclaimed authors, artists and thinkers, plus an exciting and engaging free programme for all the family.” 

London Literature Festival 2022 will open with We Move: Debut London Literature, celebrating debut titles from some of the city’s most exciting writers including James Cahill, Gurnaik Johal, Arji Manuelpillai and Sheena Patel. Click here for the full event listing and to book tickets.

Click here to discover our interview series by some of the artists who will be preforming at We Move: Debut London Literature as part of The Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival.