The event, branded as “one of the UK’s most important literary festivals” by the Evening Standard, will take place from October 16 to October 26.
A host of renowned figures, including John Cooper Clarke, Lemn Sissay, and Lady Hale, are slated to attend, alongside esteemed novelists Alexander McCall Smith, Anthony Horowitz, and Jonathan Coe.
John Cooper Clarke, the legendary punk poet, will perform at Wimbledon BookFest 2025, bringing his sharp wit and iconic verse to the festival’s eclectic programme (Image: Paul Wolfgang Webster) This year’s extravaganza will also witness insightful discussions with Mary Portas, Johnny Ball, and Lynda La Plante, as they narrate their intriguing life stories.
Attendees can look forward to intellectually stimulating dialogues on a broad range of topics, from politics to sustainability, with speakers such as Michael Heseltine, Lyse Doucet, and Tim Marshall.
The festival is set to introduce ‘Table Talk,’ a novel food and drink-themed segment featuring widely acclaimed names like Thomasina Miers, Sam Holland, and Pizza Pilgrims.
Fiona Razvi, the festival’s founder and director, said: “We are thrilled to announce the line-up for our 2025 edition.
“Woven through this year’s programme are themes of hope and kindness as we celebrate the power of stories and storytelling to offer insight and comfort in challenging times.”
The festival will also feature a collaboration with the Lahore Literary Festival, now in its third year, to highlight South Asian creatives, and debut novelists Fiza Saeed McLynn, Garrett Carr, and Emma Cowing.
An increased number of accessible events will be held at Merton Arts Space at Wimbledon Library.
Aside from the main festival, a schools programme will feature authors including Stephen Mulhern, MC Grammar, and Liz Pichon, aiming to inspire budding creatives.
