Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Ealing Book Festival 2025 drew over 1,900 attendees to Pitzhanger Manor and UWL, celebrating acclaimed and local authors in a four-day event.
As reported by The Ealing News, the festival featured a variety of well-known and up-and-coming voices with a program that included speeches, workshops, walking tours, and poetry readings.
The mainstays of the non-fiction program included art critic Laura Cumming, music producer and author Joe Boyd, historian Anne Sebba, architect Ben Pentreath, suburban observer Simon Pollock, and fiction writers Hanif Kureishi, Elif Shafak, Andrew O’Hagan, Tracy Chevalier, Abi Daré, and Natasha Brown.
The first Huntley Archive Talk, which honored Eric and Jessica Huntley’s groundbreaking Black bookstore in West Ealing, was hosted by Guardian correspondent Lanre Bakare.
In the meantime, poetry took center stage thanks to workshops led by local poet Narvir Singh and performances by Roger McGough and James Pendle.
The show was centered on local voices. At a local authors showcase, twenty published authors from Ealing and its seven towns came together to provide readers an opportunity to get to know the borough’s literary skills.
The authors had two minutes to “pitch” their book to the complete audience in the hopes that they would buy a copy for themselves.
Jojo Silva, host of Capital Xtra’s early breakfast show and a strong supporter of reading, particularly among younger audiences, presented the event, which featured pitches for children’s novels, criminal fiction, non-fiction, dark humor, poetry, and historical drama based on real-life events.
Popular children’s programs were organized by author-illustrator Steve Antony and Ealing resident Sam Copeland. With 170 kids in attendance and more watching online, Konnie Huq, a former Blue Peter host, hosted the first schools’ event at the University of West London.
Winning submissions from the children’s poetry and illustration competition will be on display, and the Mayor of Ealing attended the awards ceremony.
Chair Catherine Jaquiss said:
“We had aimed to build on the success of the inaugural 2024 Ealing Book Festival, but this year’s festival exceeded all our expectations.
From the outstanding lineup of established and emerging writers to the incredible support from our local community, partners, sponsors and volunteers, we couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved.”
Ms Jaquiss added:
“This is a volunteer-led event, and we’re deeply grateful to our 51 volunteers who generously gave their time to make it happen. With the 2025 festival now complete, we’re already turning our thoughts to the next edition.”
Anne Sebba described it as “a wonderful experience,” while Hanif Kureishi hailed it as “a great occasion with a lovely audience.”
For 2026, preparations are already under way.
What are the standout events at the Ealing Book Festival 2025?
Both local writers and well-known literary personalities were featured in the festival’s extensive and varied program. Renowned authors including Hanif Kureishi, Elif Shafak, Andrew O’Hagan, Tracy Chevalier, Roger McGough, Natasha Brown, Abi Daré, and Laura Cumming made appearances and gave speeches, among other highlights.
Speaking about his book Shattered, Hanif Kureishi reflects on life following a severe disaster (Sat 26 April, 2pm).
At 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25, Elif Shafak will present her historical epic novel, There Are Rivers in the Sky.
Girl With A Pearl Earring author Tracy Chevalier discussing her new book, The Glassmaker (Sat 26 April, 4pm).
Andrew O’Hagan on Caledonian Road, his most recent book.
Thunderclap: A Memoir of Life and Art and Sudden Death, presented by Laura Cumming, with illustrations.