Festival Programme 2026
'The most amazing festival we have been to, perhaps the best in the world." — Dr David Nott
Our full programme is still to be confirmed, and we will be adding to this list of speakers.
The programme may be subject to change due to unforeseeable circumstances.
Programme highlights so far
Ian McEwan - Imagining our Future (with Kirsty Lang)
Ian McEwan is an internationally celebrated novelist, winner of the Booker Prize for Amsterdam, author of Atonement and most recently What We Can Know, with several works adapted for film.
Dmytro Kuleba - Ukraine, Europe and Russia: What Next? (with Misha Glenny)
Dmytro Kuleba served as Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from March 2020 to September 2024 and is author of the best-selling The War for Reality. He lives in Ukraine.
Hélène Landemore - Learning from Pericles
Hélène Landemore teaches Political Theory at Yale University and is the author of the acclaimed Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule.
Sir Alex Younger - The Secret War
Sir Alex Younger was head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) from 2014-2020. Before this, he served in the Balkans, Afghanistan and other theatres, overseeing all SIS operations.
Angie Hobbs - Why Plato Matters Now
Angie Hobbs is a writer and broadcaster famous for bringing Classical civilisation to life. She teaches at Sheffield University and her most recent book is Why Plato Matters Now.
Peter Frankopan - The Earth Transformed
Peter Frankopan is an historian, writer, and hotelier. He is a professor of global history at Worcester College Oxford, and Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research. His books The Silk Roads and The Earth Transformed achieved critical acclaim and continue to be international bestsellers.
Mehreen Khan - The Corruption of Sport
Mehreen Khan is Economics Editor at the Times and was Brussels correspondent for the FT. For our purposes, she is one half of the Humans and Heroes football podcast.
Simon Kuper - The Corruption of Sport
Simon Kuper is an author and FT journalist who lives in Paris and writes about everything from Europe to sport. He is also the other half of the Humans and Heroes football podcast.
Rachel Dobbs - Can AI Save us from Climate Change?
Rachel Dobbs writes about every aspect of climate change for The Economist, plus the occasional cryptic crossword. Before this, she was a freelance foreign correspondent.
Eleni Tsigarida - The Mani: Its History and Buildings
Eleni Tsigarida is one of Greece’s most celebrated architects and was voted among its 100 most influential people in 2024. She lives in the Mani and is expert on its extraordinary history and buildings.
Isabella Tree - Rewilding Europe
Isabella Tree is co-owner of Knepp, a pioneering rewilding project in Sussex, and author of the international best-seller, Wilding. She works on practical solutions for nature recovery across the world.
Brendan Simms - The Return of the Great Powers
Brendan Simms is the founder and Director of the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge and has advised governments across Europe and the US. His new book is The Return of the Great Powers.
Marietje Schaake - The Tech Coup: How to Save us from Silicon Valley (with Misha Glenny)
Marietje Schaake teaches at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Centre and the Institute for Human-Centred AI. From 2009 to 2019 she was an MEP working on trade, foreign and tech policy. She is the author of The Tech Coup.
Misha Glenny
Misha Glenny is a writer and broadcaster and former Rector of the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna. Since December 2025, he has been the new host of BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time.
Kirsty Lang
Kirsty Lang is a journalist and broadcaster who works for BBC Television and Radio, and before that The Sunday Times and Channel 4 News. For the BBC she has reported for the World Service and Newsnight, and presented Radio Four’s Front Row from 2004 to 2021.
Joshua Barley - Athens Tales
Joshua Barley lives in Athens and is fluent in Greek and all things Greek. He has written, selected, translated and edited books on the poet Michalis Ganas and Greek folk songs. His new book, Athens Tales, is an anthology of the best writing on Athens.
Police Dog Hogan - Live at the Gala Dinner
By overwhelmingly popular demand, Police Dog Hogan will be returning to play at the Gala Dinner on the quay.
The Kalamata Big Band - Live in Old Kardamyli
The Kalamata Big Band is certainly the best Greek band in the Peloponnese. Eleni, Haris, Nikos, Eleni, Costas and Dimitris have played for many years together all over Greece. They will be playing on Saturday night at Palaia Taverna for all those who love – or want to love – Greek dancing. Dancing guides will be available.
An inspirational gathering of minds eager to find new ways of being in the world." — Sir Antony Gormley
A magical festival in a glorious setting – like stepping into another world, filled with colours, ideas and joy.” — Peter Frankopan
The most life-enhancing, life-encouraging, life-enjoying book festival you could imagine." — Adam Nicolson
An extraordinary setting, the most engaged and eclectic audience - my favourite festival." — Rory Stewart
A glorious literary festival … inspiring, fun, devastatingly beautiful and immaculately organised." — Andrea Wulf