British Library Food Season 2026: Neneh Cherry, Mary Beard and Ruthie Rogers headline food and culture talks in London
The British Library Food Season returns from 13 June to 2 July 2026, bringing chefs, writers and historians together for talks on food, culture, identity and history
The British Library Food Season returns this summer for its eighth edition, running from 13 June to 2 July 2026, with a programme that brings together chefs, writers, historians and cultural commentators to explore food through the lenses of culture, politics, history and storytelling.
Opening with a Food Season Big Weekend (13–14 June), the programme features live conversations, tastings and discussions drawn from the British Library’s extensive culinary and literary archives. Across three weeks, events examine how food shapes identity, reflects history and responds to global change, with a mix of stage conversations and in-depth talks.
Among the highlights of the 2026 season, musician Neneh Cherry joins broadcaster Andi Oliver to discuss food, memory and influence, while classicist Mary Beard and writer Charlotte Higgins explore the food culture of ancient Pompeii. Restaurateur Ruthie Rogers reflects on the legacy and longevity of the River Café, and writer Jay Rayner chairs a discussion on chef Anthony Bourdain and his cultural impact, featuring Sally Abé, Andrew Clarke and Zoe Williams. Actor Simon Russell Beale also joins contributors to explore food in Shakespeare’s world.
Elsewhere in the programme, food writers including Felicity Cloake, Olly Smith and Catherine Kurtz examine the growing move from food writing into fiction, reflecting a broader shift in how culinary storytelling is evolving across media and literature.
Now established as a key fixture in London’s cultural calendar, the Food Season uses the British Library’s collections of cookbooks, manuscripts and food writing to connect historical food culture with contemporary debates around sustainability, politics, creativity and global food systems.
The season has been developed by Dr Polly Russell, Head of the Eccles Institute for the Americas and Founder and Director of Food Season, alongside co-directors Angela Clutton and Melissa Thompson.
Russell describes the programme as a space where food becomes a “lens for understanding the world”, bringing together writers, chefs and thinkers to explore everything from culinary legacies to contemporary food politics.
The British Library Food Season 2026 runs from 13 June to 2 July, with tickets available across individual events and weekend passes. The full programme and tickets are available via the British Library website.
Tickets range from £2.50 online to up to £25 for weekend passes, with concessions available. There are 10% discounts for groups over 10 when booked in advance.
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
