ESEA Lit Fest 2026

ESEA Lit Fest is back! The UK's award-winning East and South East Asian literary festival returns to Foyles Charing Cross Road on Saturday 19 September 2026 for a day of conversation, workshops, and book signings.

Chef Rex de Guzman will be serving Filipino-inspired baked treats to raise funds for Project PEARLS at our lunchtime bakesale.

In 2025, these included day festivals at the Southbank Centre and Foyles, and pop-up events at Edinburgh International Book Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival. Previous speakers include R. F. Kuang, Tash Aw, Zing Tsjeng, Tania Branigan, Kaliane Bradley, Elaine Castillo, Tony Tulathimutte, Helena Lee and Will Harris.

A Festival Day Ticket allows you entry to all four of the day's panel discussions. Please note that a Day Ticket does not include entry to the creative writing workshop (tickets available separately via the link below). The lunchtime fermentation is free to attend, but advance registration is encouraged. Student/Low Income Tickets are reserved for students with a valid ID or those in receipt of Universal Credit or on low income.

Memoir as Return, a workshop with Emma-Lee Moss

Join singer-songwriter Emma-Lee Moss for a creative writing workshop exploring tools to help us reconnect with place, memory and identity.

10.00 - 11.00am, 2nd Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road. Not included as part of a Festival Day Ticket purchase.

On crossing continents and generations

Carla Montemayor and Natalie Gregory, chaired by Suyin Haynes

11.00am - 12.00pm, 6th Floor Foyles Charing Cross Road. Included in the Festival Day Ticket or available as an individual event.

On rules and devotion

Catherine Cho and Stephanie Sy-Quia, chaired by Joanna Lee

12.30 - 1:30pm, 6th Floor Foyles Charing Cross Road. Included in the Festival Day Ticket or available as an individual event.

Kamayan

Rex de Guzman's food fundraiser for Project PEARLS

1.45 - 3.00pm, 6th Floor Foyles Charing Cross Road. No ticket required; first come, first served.

Women's Prize Discoveries creative writing workshop with Ela Lee

Join Ela Lee - critically-acclaimed author of Jaded and Minbak and Forbes 30 under 30 honouree - for an immersive creative writing workshop.

2 - 3pm, 4th Floor Foyles Charing Cross Road. Ticketed event not included in day ticket.

On girlhood and wanting

with Stacey Yu and Divya Maniar, chaired by Rahel Stephanie

3:30 - 4:30pm, 6th Floor Foyles Charing Cross Road. Included in the Festival Day Ticket or available as an individual event.

On vastness and ambition

with Cecile Pin and Xiaolu Guo, chaired John Lau

5.00 - 6.00pm, 6th Floor Foyles Charing Cross Road. Included in the Festival Day Ticket or available as an individual event.

ESEA Lit Fest 2026 is presented in partnership with the Bagri Foundation, and supported by Hachette UK and their employee network Thrive.

Find out more info or book your tickets on https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/esea-lit-fest-2026

📩 Get ESEA events in your inbox — subscribe to our free biweekly newsletter at novaesea.com/subscribe