Clifton LitFest 2026: Mary Portas, Baroness Hale and Michael Gove Lead Expanded Three-Day Lineup

More than 70 writers, journalists, politicians, and cultural figures will head to Bristol this November as the Clifton LitFest returns for its largest edition to date.

 

Running from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026, the festival—organised by the registered charity Friends of Clifton Centre and Library (FoCCaL)—has expanded to a full three-day format for the first time. Headline speakers include retail expert Mary Portas, former Supreme Court President Baroness Hale, ex-Education Secretary Michael Gove, and environmentalist Jonathon Porritt.

Events will take place across five key village venues: Clifton Library, Christ Church, Clifton High School, the Clifton Club, and Pavey House.

Friday: Local Heritage and National Education Debate

The festival opens on Friday 13 November at the Clifton Club with a focus on regional writers and historic Bristol connections. Highlights include historian Mike Jay uncovering the story of Clifton’s 1790s Pneumatic Institution, alongside local novelist Patrick Charnley discussing his debut, This, My Second Life.

Friday evening hosts one of the weekend’s primary debates, as Michael Gove and economist Professor Guy Standing meet to discuss How Can Education Fix Society?, examining the role of schooling amidst rapid technological change and AI automation.

Saturday: Law, Media, and Environmental Crises

Saturday 14 November shifts the hub of the festival across Clifton Village. Key talks include:

• Baroness Brenda Hale: Reflecting on landmark cases and her landmark career in the UK judiciary.

• Mary Portas: Joining BBC journalist Harriet Robinson to explore retail history and consumer culture.

• Andrew Graham-Dixon: Unveiling new biographical research into Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.

• Guy Shrubsole & Jonathon Porritt: Examining ecological breakdown and the survival of Britain’s temperate rainforests.

The evening closes at Christ Church with a retrospective on West Country author Laurie Lee, combining poetry, archive footage, and live performance from the Bristol Metropolitan Ensemble.

Sunday: Wellbeing, Food, and Hopeful Futures

Sunday 15 November focuses on culture, philosophy, and practical solutions. MasterChef winner Brin Pirathapan will showcase his debut book Elevate, while philosopher Julian Baggini partners with Bristol’s Clifton Coffee for a discussion on everyday ethics.

Closing discussions feature political journalist Michael Crick alongside former Bristol MP Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, followed by journalist John Kampfner discussing global policy fixes in Braver New World.

Paula O’Rourke, Chair of Clifton LitFest, explained the ethos behind this year’s curation:

“We kept returning to the idea of positivity and happiness. There is no shortage of difficult news in the world, and we wanted LitFest to offer a weekend that doesn’t shy away from big questions, but gives people space for curiosity, pleasure, and discovery.”

Ticket Information and ‘Golden Ticket’ Hunt

Tickets are available online via Ticket Tailor and in person at Clifton Library. To mark the launch, organisers have hidden 50 “Golden Tickets” inside printed festival programmes at Clifton Library, offering finders a complimentary pair of tickets to an event of their choice.

All proceeds from the volunteer-run festival are reinvested into community reading projects and local library services.

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