UEA Live Returns With Major Literary Names for National Year of Reading

Image: Sanam Mahloudji (credit: Amaal Said), Francis Spufford (copyright: Antonio Olmos), Cecile Pin (credit: Ariane Lebon)

(IN BRIEF) UEA Live returns in 2026 with a diverse programme of literary events featuring internationally renowned authors, award-winning writers and emerging talent. Hosted by the University of East Anglia in Norwich, the UNESCO City of Literature, the festival includes appearances by Yann Martel, Tash Aw, Francis Spufford, Sanam Mahloudji, Nicola Dinan and Cecile Pin. Timed with the National Year of Reading, the season offers audiences the chance to explore contemporary writing, engage with authors’ creative journeys and celebrate the power of literature.

(PRESS RELEASE) NORWICH, 12-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of East Anglia is set to welcome the return of UEA Live in 2026, presenting a vibrant programme that brings together debut novelists, emerging voices and internationally acclaimed authors. As the UK marks the National Year of Reading, the festival offers audiences an opportunity to engage directly with some of the most compelling figures in contemporary literature through a series of in-conversation events hosted in Norwich, a UNESCO City of Literature.

This year’s UEA Live line-up reflects the University of East Anglia’s long-standing reputation as the home of creative writing. Among the headline guests is Yann Martel, author of the Booker Prize–winning Life of Pi, later adapted into an Oscar-winning film directed by Ang Lee. Martel will appear later in the season to discuss his latest novel, Son of Nobody, a work that explores how stories shape truth across time.

Award-winning writer and UEA alumnus Tash Aw also returns to campus. A graduate of UEA’s MA in Creative Writing, Aw will speak about his Booker Prize 2025 longlisted novel The South, a sweeping exploration of family, inheritance and desire. His appearance highlights the enduring connection between the festival and the University’s internationally respected creative writing programme.

The 2026 programme opens on Tuesday 27 January with Nicola Dinan, winner of the Polari First Book Prize. Dinan will discuss her latest novel Disappoint Me, which examines millennial anxiety, trans identity and the pull of domestic life. Her debut novel Bellies received widespread critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.

On Monday 9 February, UEA Live moves to Dragon Hall, where debut novelist Sanam Mahloudji will discuss The Persians. Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize 2025, the novel is a darkly comic portrayal of an Iranian family navigating social decline. Mahloudji is also a Pushcart Prize winner and a nominee for the PEN/Robert J Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers.

Celebrated author Francis Spufford will appear on Tuesday 24 February to talk about his new historical fantasy Nonesuch. Spufford’s debut novel Golden Hill won both the Costa First Novel Award and the Desmond Elliott Prize, while his second novel Light Perpetual was longlisted for the Booker Prize.

UEA Live continues on Tuesday 10 March with the return of Tash Aw, followed by Yann Martel’s appearance on Friday 27 March. The season concludes on Tuesday 21 April with award-winning writer Cecile Pin, who will discuss her forthcoming novel Celestial Lights. Pin’s debut Wandering Souls was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.

All events offer concessionary pricing for UEA staff and students, with options to purchase individual tickets or a season pass. In addition to gaining insight into each author’s creative process, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and have books signed.

Hannah Tough, Public Events and Engagement Manager at UEA, said the team was particularly excited to unveil this year’s programme, noting that the diverse line-up offers something for every reader. She added that UEA Live aims to bring together both long-standing book lovers and new audiences, creating a shared space for conversation, inspiration and discovery.

Further details and booking information are available via the UEA Live website.

Media Contact:

communications@uea.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of East Anglia