Hay Festival Segovia is back this autumn with a programme focused on championing the pursuit of beauty in the face of the immediate and the superficial. From 10 to13 September, the historic city of Segovia will once again welcome hundreds of speakers and visitors for four days of inspiring conversations, with literature and culture taking centre stage. As every year, the programme will feature prominent voices from the UK cultural scene.
Thanks to the support of the British Council in Spain, and in collaboration with IE Creative Campus Segovia, ARBOLA Fest and Festival Sismògraf, this year's programme will feature multidisciplinary artist Olana Light. IE Creative Campus (Palacio de Mansilla) will host her project Searching for a Place to Belong, a photographic exhibition that examines women’s relationship with nature, the environment, and what it means to be part of nature. The exhibition will be open to the public from 5 to 20 September and will be accompanied by The Birch Tree Family, a captivating performance in which Olana transforms into a living birch tree sculpture that walks through Segovia's streets, rooted yet wandering.
Performance schedule for The Birch Tree Family:
Friday 11 de September, 11:00 h – Plaza Mayor de Segovia
Saturday 12 September, 12:00 h and 18:00 h – IE University Creative Campus
Free admission
In addition, on 11 September at 12:30 h, british novelist Jessica Andrews will take the stage alongside Cristina Ward, Head of Arts at British Council Spain. Jessica Andrews Jessica Andrews is a novelist and cultural critic. Her debut novel, Saltwater, won the Portico Prize in 2020, while her second novel, Baby Teeth, was shortlisted for the 2023 RSL Encore Award. Her fiction has been translated into seven languages. She is also a contributing editor at ELLE magazine and a regular contributor toThe Guardian, The Independent and BBC Radio 4. During the conversation, Andrews and Cristina Ward will discuss her work, exploring the powerful themes that run through her writing, including the intersections of identity, class, gender and the body. More information here. Andrews will also take part in a poetry reading on 12 September at 11:00 h.
Music will also play an important role in this year's festival. On 12 September at 12:00 h the Juan BravoTheatre will once again welcome the Colegio Británico de Madrid's Symphony Orchestra, Big Band and Choir, who will delight audiences with their concert titled Music without Borders. The programme will range from classical works to contemporary and popular music, including film scores, jazz and choral pieces, and will feature acclaimed pianist Luis Fernando Pérez.
Other British Highlights
This year's festival will feature a strong British presence across the programme. As every year, we are pleased to share some additional UK-related events taking place during the festival:
Martin Dahms, Helena de Bertodano, Nuria García Arenas, Richard Hogenkamp, David Sharrock and Miquel Molina in conversation
Second edition of the new Europa Tribune
Wednesday 9 September, 19.00h – Espacio Fundación Telefónica (Madrid)
Co-organised with Fundación Telefónica, Fundación Banco Sabadell and La Vanguardia
Screening of The Stringer, produced by renowned Anglo-American photojournalist Gary Knight
The truth behind the image
Thursday 10 September, 13.00h – IE University. Refectorio
Co-organised with Netflix and IE Foundation
Anna Bosch and Gary Knight in conversation with Borja Santos Porras
The Beauty of Looking Again
Friday 11 September, 11:20 h – IE University. Refectorio
Co-organised with Netflix and the IE Foundation
Andrea Martínez, Lidia Merenciano and Sandra Miret in conversation with Debbie Christophers
Who tells the story?
Saturday 12 September, 12.00h – Biblioteca Municipal Casa de la Lectura
Co-organised with the British Embassy in Spain and in partnership with Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
Adam Lowe in conversation with Sol Costales and Alex Ellis, UK Ambassador in Spain
Beauty: A Cultural Prejudice
Saturday 12 September 2026, 13.30h – IE University. Aula Magna
Co-organised with the British Embassy in Spain and Around Art
David Lindo in conversation with Sir Alex Ellis, UK Ambassador in Spain
Beauty in Flight
Saturday 12 September, 18.15h – IE University. Refectorio
In collaboration with the British Embassy in Spain and El Confidencial
For more information on each event or to see the full programme, you may access this link.