Dua Lipa is set to interview Zadie Smith and Patti Smith as part of her curation of the 19th London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre. The pop star will shape the programme of events, running from 21 October to 1 November, in collaboration with her Service95 book club.
Lipa will speak with Zadie Smith on 24 October to discuss her debut novel, White Teeth. The following evening, she will interview Patti Smith about her memoir, Bread of Angels.
The festival programme also includes appearances from Sudanese Canadian poet and musician Mustafa, Nobel peace laureate Nadia Murad, and a conversation between Ta-Nehisi Coates and Tareq Baconi. Other events feature a translated fiction showcase, a poetry and music night with Kae Tempest, and Censorship Live! in collaboration with English PEN.
Mark Ball, the Southbank Centre’s artistic director, noted Lipa’s “deep curiosity about the world” made her a fitting curator for the venue’s 75th anniversary. The festival also includes free family events and a wider national programme, aiming to reach a million people across the UK in 2026.