MC Grammar, BCLF 25 © Liesel Bockl

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A New Chapter for a National Treasure

Founded in 2015 by a group of local parents at the school gate, the festival has grown from a community initiative into a worldclass cultural event. Despite its scale, it remains the only national literature festival entirely organised and delivered by a dedicated army of over 150 volunteers, an achievement recognised in 2021 with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Amanda Brettargh, Festival Director, said, “In twelve years we’ve grown from a conversation at our school gate to become the UK’s biggest children’s books festival. We are all volunteers at the London Children’s Literature Festival and are immensely proud of our achievements. Our new name reflects the work we have done, bringing children from all over London to events both on our school and public programmes. It’s the best job in the world and we can’t wait to welcome children and families back to Barnes for another stupendous weekend!”

To celebrate this new era, the 2026 festival branding has been designed by comics superstar Jamie Smart. The creator of the smash-hit Bunny vs Monkey series has brought his signature “total chaos” to the new logo and posters, perfectly capturing the energy of the event.

Michael Sheen (c) Rachel Maans                Liz Pichon (c) Clara Molden                      Axel Scheffler

Star-Studded Storytelling

The core of the festival remains its weekend public programme, featuring over 100 live events.

Leading the charge is international screen star Michael Sheen, making his festival debut alongside co-author Jess Webb and illustrator Sarah Massini to introduce their first children’s book, A Home For Spark the Dragon. He is joined by other familiar faces from the screen, including Paddington star Hugh Bonneville, comedian Russell Kane, and Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong.

For those who prefer their stories told through rhythm and rhyme, national treasure Michael Rosen will be performing alongside the book-rapping sensation MC Grammar. Meanwhile, fans of visual storytelling can look forward to appearances by million-selling Tom Gates creator Liz Pichon, ‘Horrible’ historian Greg Jenner, “Illustrator of the Year” Rob Biddulph, The Gruffalo genius Axel Scheffler, and the iconic Lauren Child.

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Something for Every Reader

Whether your child is a fan of “middle grade marvels” or hands-on creativity, the festival covers every niche:

Fiction & Mystery: Best selling authors like Robin Stevens (the queen of kids’ crime), S.F. Said, Maz Evans, and Anna James will be on hand to offer writing tips and historical insights.

The Creative Zone: It’s not just about sitting and listening. Children can dive into Manga masterclasses, LEGO building, and“clay-mazing” workshops hosted by Aardman Animations.

Unique Performances: The festival is famous for exclusive productions you won’t find anywhere else. This year features a family concert with live illustration by James Mayhew set to classical music, and a high-energy live production of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes.

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Plan Your Adventure

With 10,000 tickets sold last year, demand is expected to be higher than ever. To see the full programme and purchase tickets, visit www.londonkidslitfest.org

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