Dua Lipa has celebrated the success of the 2026 London Literature Festival, calling her experience as curator a dream come true. The Grammy-winning singer, whose family has Kosovo Albanian roots, brought together major figures from literature and music for a series of sold-out events.
The Southbank Centre confirmed the festival’s success in a statement released on November 2, following its conclusion on November 1.
The event marked the 19th edition of the London Literature Festival and formed part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
Dua Lipa Brings Patti Smith and International Stars Together
Working with her Service95 Book Club, Dua Lipa curated conversations featuring American music icon Patti Smith, British novelist Zadie Smith and Sudanese-Canadian singer and poet Mustafa.
All three discussions sold out at London’s Royal Festival Hall, which has a capacity of approximately 2,700 people.
During her conversation with Patti Smith, Lipa explored the musician’s memoir Bread of Angels, which reflects on her childhood, artistic career and personal experiences.
Meanwhile, Zadie Smith discussed her acclaimed debut novel White Teeth, published in 2000.
The conversation with Mustafa focused on his poetry collection Nour and the role of poetry in everyday life.
Following the festival, Lipa expressed her gratitude to the organizers and audiences.
“Curating the London Literature Festival was a dream come true,” she said in a statement released by the Southbank Centre.
She also described the experience of sharing conversations with her literary heroes before full audiences in her hometown of London.
Beyond Music: Dua Lipa’s Growing Cultural Influence
The festival highlighted another side of Lipa’s career, extending her public work beyond music and live performances.
In 2023, she launched the Service95 Book Club, an initiative dedicated to introducing readers to literature from around the world.
Through the platform, she regularly recommends books and interviews authors about their work.
Her involvement in the London Literature Festival brought that initiative to a major international cultural institution.
The wider program also featured Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, discussions about freedom of expression and events celebrating translated fiction.
For fans across the United States, Canada and the Balkan diaspora, Lipa’s latest achievement offers another example of her influence beyond the global pop music industry.
While she remains one of the most internationally recognized performers with Balkan family roots, her work in literature has become an increasingly visible part of her public career.
