Renowned writer Salman Rushdie to appear at Hay Festival
Renowned writer, free speech advocate and Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie will appear at Hay Festival 2025 this spring in a new event
In this exclusive session on Sunday 1 June, he will talk to literary editor Erica Wagner about his recent books Knife and Victory City.
In 2022, while appearing in New York, Rushdie was stabbed on stage. He survived but lost an eye. His most recent work, titled Knife, tells the story of the event.
Rushdie is the author of 22 works of fiction and non-fiction, including Midnight’s Children for which he won the Booker Prize and the Best of the Booker, The Satanic Verses, and Quichotte ,which were both shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
A former president of PEN American Center, Rushdie was knighted in 2007 for services to literature and was made a Companion of Honour in the Queen’s last Birthday Honours list in 2022.
His appearance follows his Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias event earlier this year, where he led celebrations for the Festival’s 20th anniversary in Colombia.
“We are honoured to welcome Salman Rushdie back in person to our Town of Books this spring. In a very special event, we’ll explore his recent work and the power of storytelling to change the world. We know how much this appearance will mean to readers here; a chance to speak with one of our greatest living writers. Join us!”
Salman Rushdie said: “I’m delighted to be returning to Hay Festival after too long and greatly looking forward to talking with Erica Wagner. Let’s hope the weather gods are kind.”
Hay Festival runs its 38th spring edition in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, with more than 600 events over 11 days, May 22 until June 1 2025.
Launching the best new fiction and non-fiction books, while sharing insights around the biggest global issues, the programme sees more than 600 artists, policymakers, pioneers and innovators take part from around the world.
Tickets are on sale now at hayfestival.org/hay-on-wye
