Atwood, Azumah Nelson and Hyde to feature at Hay

Authors including Margaret Atwood, Caleb Azumah Nelson and Marina Hyde will be attending Hay Festival this year, as the organisation announces 32 early-bird events for its 36th spring edition.

Next year’s programme includes Margaret Atwood on her short story collection Old Babes in the Wood (Chatto & Windus), Eleanor Catton on Birnam Wood (Granta); former Hay Festival international fellow Fflur Dafydd with The Library Suicides (Hodder & Stoughton) Azumah Nelson on his new novel Small Worlds (Viking); and Alexander McCall Smith celebrating 25 years of his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series; while Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Dua Lipa presents a live recording of her new podcast, "At Your Service".

Equity, sustainability and democracy are debated in events with the Guardian columnist Marina Hyde, historian Simon Schama, travel writer Isabella Tree, philosopher A C Grayling and broadcaster Jon Snow. Peter Frankopan, David Olusoga and Jeremy Bowen will also appear at the festival. 

The Institute of Human Science in Vienna and Hay Festival will present the first of a series of debates about the future of Europe, as journalist Misha Glenny discusses the rise of autocracy with historian Orlando Figes, Turkish novelist and political thinker Ece Temelkuran, and Hungarian politician and expert in foreign policy Zsuzsanna Szelényi.

An expanded HayDays programme for children and families will see actor, writer and Rizzle Kicks member Jordan Stephens join illustrator Beth Suzanna to share their new book, while Julia Donaldson will also be hosting event on creativity.

Meanwhile Scottish rock duo The Proclaimers, poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Sir Michael Parkinson and Rukmini Iyer will be participating.

Hay Festival c.e.o. Julie Finch said: “We are delighted to share this preview of next spring’s Hay Festival programme, offering a promise of our intent and some early delights as we build a line-up of writers and performers to inspire, examine and entertain. Hay Festival is for everyone and next spring’s offer of a broad and inclusive line-up, an expanded families offer, and even more free activities in and around the festival village will underscore that further to reach the widest possible audiences. 

"Alongside this, we will be expanding our education and outreach offer to bring festival content to our widest audiences yet. Tell your friends and we’ll see you there.”

Dua Lipa said: “I have wanted to explore the bookshops of Hay and experience the literary atmosphere of the Hay Festival for such a long time. So I’m thrilled that I will be there next year to share stories on stage and off with some of my favourite authors, and to soak up the inspiration alongside my fellow book lovers. I can’t wait to see you there!”

The festival will take place from 25th May to 4th June 2023. It is supported by lead sponsors Visit Wales and Baillie Gifford. The full programme will be revealed in early spring. Events will take place at the free-to-enter festival village on Dairy Meadows, presenting a range of pop-ups including the Festival Bookshop.

Two free Programme for Schools days open proceedings on Thursday 26 May (KS2) and Friday 27 May (KS3 and 4), blending live performance, workshops and storytelling in specially will also take place.

Early-bird event tickets are on sale now to Friends of Hay Festival at hayfestival.org/wales and go on general release at 12 noon on Friday 16 December.