Richard Dawkins and Alan Ayckbourn to speak at 20th Oxford Literary Festival

More than 60 top-class events already confirmed for 2016 festival

Richard DawkinsThe FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival is set to celebrate its 20th anniversay in style with more than 70 top-class events already confirmed. One of the world's best-known scientists Richard Dawkins, pictured right, will talk about an update of his original work on evolution, The Ancestor's Tale. jacqueline WilsonFormer children's laureate Jacqueline Wilson, pictured left, talks about her life and work, and one of Britain's most successful playwrights Alan Ayckbourn talks about his life and career and receives the honorary fellowship of the festival. Other big names already confirmed for 2016 include the television explorer Levison Wood on his latest trek across the Himalayas, and philosopher A C Grayling on progress in troubled times. Historian and broadcaster Simon Sebag Montefiore talks about his new book on The Romanovs.

Baddiel and Clary added to children's programme

David BaddielAn exciting children's programme includes comedians David Baddiel, pictured right, and Julian Clary on their latest children's books, historian and broadcaster Lucy Worsley on her first children's novel, Tom Gates author Liz Pichon, the new Children's Laureate Chris Riddell, and the return of the popular Harry Potter event. This year's festival takes place between Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 10. Events can be booked online now via this website, and a walk-in and telephone box office will open in the New Year. There will be more than 250 events at this year's festival and they will be added to the festival website as they are confirmed.

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2022

The Oxford Literary Festival sponsors, donors & partners

The Telegraph Festival media partner University of Oxford European Union Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK Cultural Relations Platform Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Oxford Mathematics Spanish Embassy The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture Cervantes Institute, London The Cervantes Institute, London elBullifoundation Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller Symington Wines of the Douro Valley Compassion in World Farming Pasture to Plate Oxford Business College Where learning meets opportunity: education partners of the festival Old Bank Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Old Parsonage Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Oxford Brookes University Oxford International Centre for Publishing Critchleys Accountants to the festival Confucius Institute Voltaire Foundation Felicity Bryan Associates Goldmoney Properties Princeton University Press Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024 Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Jewish Book Week Partner of Oxford Literary Festival Jim Mellon Miles Young Tim and Marion Stevenson Martin and Elise Becket Smith Ian and Carol Sellars David Isaac Mary and Cecil Quillen Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture Other donors Yale University Press London New College New College founded 1379 Exeter College Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314 Worcester College Worcester College founded 1714 Lincoln College Lincoln College founded 1427 Trinity College Trinity College founded 1555 Magdalen College Magdalen College founded 1458 Reuben College Reuben College founded in 2019 Pusey House Founded 1884 Brasenose College Brasenose College founded in 1512 New Dutch Writing Human Ecology Project MACROVegan Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design Racalia Olive Oil Olive oil from Sicily Paul Bloomfield Ltd University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Oxford University Images Oxford University Images CAV Oxford The Litmus Partnership Schoolreaders Windrush Group The Oxford Times BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner Conference Oxford Ox in a Box OX magazine