Beyond Words Festival of Literature 2026

Beyond Words Festival of Literature taking place from 8 to 22 June at the Institut français in London.   

Audiences can expect the best of contemporary French literature in English translation, the latest and most inspiring publications from both sides of the Channel and a great line-up including Sorj Chalandon, Camille de Peretti, Olivier Norek, Fergal Keane, Joseph Incardona, Nastassja Martin, Valentin Deudon, and many more. 

Spanning geographies from Beirut to Italy and iconic figures as Klimt and Cantona—the festival journeys through a rich landscape of ideas, moving fluidly between the intimate and the political. 

The programme extends to the screen, where stories transcend the page through new adaptations—from Balzac to Camus—as well as films exploring the lives of writers.   

For more details, please visit www.institut-francais.org.uk/festivals-and-series/beyond-words/