Sir Anthony Seldon and Kit De Waal announced as first authors for LitFest 2026

Marlborough LitFest is delighted to announce its first confirmed authors for 2026 as historian and educationalist Sir Anthony Seldon and award-winning novelist Kit de Waal. Marlborough LitFest will return for its 17th year from 24–27 September, and planning for the programme is underway. Confirmed authors and events will be released over the coming months; for more information, visit www.marlboroughlitfest.org.

One of Britain’s leading contemporary historians, educationalists, commentators and political authors, Sir Anthony Seldon is the author of no fewer than seven political biographies of  21^st– century British prime ministers. He will be talking at LitFest about his career as well as his latest book (published in August), Sunak at 10: The Last Conservative Prime Minister?

The award-winning author Kit de Waal worked for fifteen years in criminal and family law and was a magistrate for several years; she chaired the Woman’s Prize for Fiction in 2025. She will be at LitFest to talk about her sixth novel, The Best of Everything, an unforgettable story of found family and the love that steals into our lives, which The Times calls “Affecting … a story of loneliness and sacrifice that navigates great sorrow with a remarkable lightness of touch”.

Mary-Vere Parr, Chair of Marlborough LitFest, said: “Selecting authors for the LitFest line-up is like a supercharged book club – months of reading and discussing proofs, then negotiating with authors, agents and publicists and finally a high five when the answer is yes! So we are thrilled to announce our first two authors – both outstanding in their fields and sure to delight our audiences.”

Marlborough LitFest would like to thank its sponsors, partners and supporters for 2025: founder sponsor Robert Hiscox; main event sponsor Hiscox; event sponsors: AM, Brearley & Rich, Hamilton Trust, Indigo Antiques, Mcfarlane Property, St Francis School, The Arts Society, Wansbroughs, William Golding Limited; general sponsors: Cocklebury Farm, Deacons, Haine & Smith Opticians, marlborough.news, Steele Davis.