DUA Lipa has pulled off a bold career swerve by taking over the Southbank Centre’s London literature festival, putting her far beyond the pop world and into one of the capital’s biggest cultural jobs.
The Brit-winning star will curate the 2026 event as part of the venue’s 75th anniversary celebrations, shaping the opening weekend and wider programme with her Service95 book club.
“Reading has anchored me through every chapter of my life – from being the new kid at school in a new country to finding quiet refuge on tour,” said the star.
“Curating the Southbank Centre’s London literature festival is a dream come true. I’m thrilled to indulge one of my greatest obsessions: books and the brilliant minds behind them.”
It is a huge move for Lipa, who has spent the past few years building her reading brand alongside her music empire. Now she is stepping into a role usually linked with heavyweight cultural names, not chart stars.
Southbank bosses made clear they see her as more than a celebrity booking. Artistic director Mark Ball hailed her as a “global cultural force” and backed her to pull a fresh audience into the festival.
“Dua Lipa is a global cultural force with millions of fans around the world, and her passion for the written and spoken word has inspired a new generation of readers,” Mark said.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Dua will take the reins of our flagship London literature festival.”
Lipa has pushed hard to be taken seriously in the books world since launching Service95’s book club in 2023.
She has interviewed major literary names including Margaret Atwood, George Saunders and Olga Tokarczuk, sharpening her credentials before this latest coup.
She also framed the new role as deeply personal, saying reading carried her through upheaval from childhood to life on tour. Curating the festival, she said, lets her dive into one of her “greatest obsessions”.
The festival runs from 21 October to 1 November and will mix free and ticketed events, with organisers promising a line-up of Lipa’s favourite writers and new voices.
That raises the stakes fast, because expectations will now be sky-high over who she can attract.
Previous festival figures have included Self Esteem, Ai Weiwei, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and Margaret Atwood, so Lipa is walking straight into elite company. And now the pressure is only building.
Key Points
- Brit pop star to curate Southbank Centre’s 2026 London literature festival for its 75th anniversary.
- She built literary credibility via Service95 book club and interviews with Atwood, Saunders, Tokarczuk.
- Southbank hopes her global profile will attract younger, larger audiences amid high expectations.
Why They're In The News
Why This Matters
Dua Lipa curating Southbank’s London literature festival matters because it bridges pop stardom and high culture, potentially drawing younger, global audiences into books while reshaping who gets to steer major cultural institutions.
