University of East Anglia Unveils UEA Live Autumn 2026 Programme Featuring Zadie Smith, Booker Prize Winner David Szalay and Leading Contemporary Writers

L-R: Zadie Smith (credit: Ben Bailey Smith) and David Szalay

(IN BRIEF) The University of East Anglia has announced its UEA Live autumn 2026 programme, featuring an extensive line-up of internationally recognised writers led by Zadie Smith, who returns to UEA for the first time in 21 years, and 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay. The season includes Catriona Ward delivering the Noirwich 2026 lecture on 9 September, Janice Hallett discussing The Silent Appeal on 30 September, Hallie Rubenhold presenting her latest historical work on 8 October, Szalay discussing Booker-winning novel Flesh on 14 October, Louise Doughty and Jill Dawson appearing during the Norwich Book Festival on 24 October, Smith discussing her new essay collection Dead and Alive on 4 November, and John Lanchester closing the programme on 1 December with his latest novel Look What You Made Me Do. Each event will include an audience Q&A and book signing, while the programme also highlights UEA’s continuing links with major literary figures, Creative Writing graduates and contemporary British writing.

(PRESS RELEASE) NORWICH, 7-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of East Anglia (UEA) has announced the autumn 2026 programme for UEA Live, bringing together prominent figures in contemporary fiction, crime writing, literary criticism and social history for a series of public events in Norwich.

The programme includes a rare UEA appearance by acclaimed novelist and essayist Zadie Smith, returning to the University for the first time in 21 years, alongside 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay.

Other featured writers include Catriona Ward, Janice Hallett, Hallie Rubenhold, Louise Doughty, Jill Dawson and John Lanchester.

Each event will include an audience question-and-answer session followed by a book signing, with books available to purchase on the evening.

Zadie Smith returns to UEA after more than two decades

One of the highlights of the season will be the return of Zadie Smith on Wednesday 4 November at Lecture Theatre 1, UEA.

Smith, whose novels include White Teeth, On Beauty and Swing Time, will discuss her new essay collection, Dead and Alive.

The event marks her first visit to UEA in more than two decades and will explore the questions and themes shaping her latest work.

Hannah Tough, Public Events and Engagement Manager at UEA, said the autumn line-up represents one of the strongest UEA Live programmes to date, with a broad range of authors and subjects intended to appeal to different audiences.

She highlighted Smith’s return after 21 years as a particularly significant addition to the programme.

Booker Prize winner David Szalay to discuss Flesh

David Szalay, winner of the 2025 Booker Prize, will appear at UEA on Wednesday 14 October.

The Vienna-based writer will discuss Flesh, his sixth work of fiction and the novel that secured him the Booker Prize.

Szalay is also a recipient of the Gordon Burn Prize, Plimpton Prize for Fiction and Edge Hill Prize, and was previously shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016.

Tough said securing Szalay for UEA Live was particularly significant following a busy year of international appearances and book tours for the author.

Catriona Ward delivers Noirwich 2026 lecture

The season also includes the Noirwich 2026 lecture on Wednesday 9 September, delivered by award-winning horror novelist and UEA Creative Writing MA graduate Catriona Ward.

Her lecture, “Reading with the Body,” will explore ideas of embodiment in crime, gothic and uncanny fiction, examining how physical responses from readers form part of their engagement with literary texts.

Ward is the author of Rawblood, Sundial and Nowhere Burning and is the only woman to have won the August Derleth Award three times.

The Noirwich event will be followed by the launch of the MA Creative Writing Crime Fiction anthology, introduced by Harriet Tyce, a UEA MA in Crime Fiction graduate, and a drinks reception.

Janice Hallett opens main UEA Live autumn programme

The main UEA Live autumn programme begins on Wednesday 30 September with award-winning crime novelist Janice Hallett at The Enterprise Centre.

Hallett, whose debut The Appeal was named a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and won the CWA Debut Dagger Award, has since written six Sunday Times bestselling novels.

In conversation with Dr Nathan Ashman, she will discuss The Silent Appeal, the anticipated sequel to The Appeal.

Hallie Rubenhold returns to UEA

Prize-winning social historian Hallie Rubenhold will appear at UEA Drama Studio on Thursday 8 October.

Rubenhold, who previously studied at UEA during a year abroad, will discuss her latest book, Story of a Murder: The Wives, The Mistress, and Dr Crippen.

The work revisits one of the twentieth century’s most infamous murder cases while placing greater emphasis on the experiences and perspectives of the women involved.

Louise Doughty and Jill Dawson join Norwich Book Festival programme

On Saturday 24 October, UEA will host Louise Doughty and Jill Dawson as part of the third Norwich Book Festival.

Doughty, a UEA graduate, is the author of the bestselling psychological thriller Apple Tree Yard, which was adapted into a BBC One television series.

She will appear alongside poet and novelist Jill Dawson, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, for a discussion covering their latest books, writing processes and experiences as authors.

John Lanchester closes 2026 season

UEA Live will conclude its 2026 programme on Tuesday 1 December with journalist and novelist John Lanchester at the UEA Drama Studio.

Lanchester, whose previous books include Capital and The Wall, will discuss his latest novel, Look What You Made Me Do.

The darkly comic story examines themes including resentment and entitlement through the experiences of two women from different generations moving toward an increasingly intense confrontation.

UEA Live continues University’s literary tradition

The autumn line-up reflects UEA’s longstanding association with creative writing and contemporary literature, bringing established authors and prize winners together with students, graduates and public audiences.

The programme spans fiction, crime, horror, literary essays, social history and contemporary cultural themes, while maintaining the UEA Live format of author conversation, audience participation and book signing.

Media Contact:

communications@uea.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of East Anglia