Opening Night Gala

Celebrate the opening of this year’s Festival in this captivating evening of new, specially commissioned writing, hosted by Festival director, Jenny Niven.

We’ll bring you a kaleidoscope of perspectives and provocations from a diverse line-up of stellar writers, including Y M Abdel-Magied, Graeme Armstrong, Anne Enright, Gavin Francis, Naomi Ishiguro, and Jackie Kay, as they each read powerful new pieces of writing responding to our 2026 theme of Changing Your Mind, with music from Aidan O’Rourke.

Check back soon for the full line-up.