After much anticipation, the programme for the 32nd Hay Festival has been announced. Packed tantalisingly full of events to delight even the most hardened literary enthusiast, the programme boasts speakers such as Stephen Fry, Simon Schama and Ian McEwan.

We are delighted to announce that as part of our partnership with Hay, we are sponsoring three main stage events (the Serious Readers Series). The events that make up the series are highlighted below.

If you are a Friend of the Hay Festival, tickets can be purchased as of today (26th March 2019). General sale opens on Friday 29th March. Click here to learn more about becoming a Hay Festival Friend.

So, what are our top picks from this year’s programme? We’ve chosen one must-see event from each day, but every single one of the 390 events are worth attending – Click here to view the whole programme.

Thursday 23rd May
Stacey Dooley talks to Imogen Walford
On the Front Line With Women Who Fight Back
5:30pm – Baillie Gifford Stage

Friday 24th May
Marcus Brigstocke
Stand-up: Devil May Care
9:45pm – Baillie Gifford Stage

Saturday 25th May
Simon Schama
Rembrandt’s Eyes
1pm – Baillie Gifford Stage
Part of the Serious Readers Series

Sunday 26th May
Stephen Fry
Mythos
7pm – Baillie Gifford Stage
Part of the Serious Readers Series

Monday 27th May
Jonathan Edwards, Catherine Fisher, Rhiannon Hooson and Elizabeth Parker
The Seren Poetry Gala
8:30pm – Starlight Stage

Tuesday 28th May
Rosie Boycott, Hannah Critchlow, Fiona Fox, Bronwen Maddox and Magdalena Skipper
Nature 150 Platform: Separating Science Fact From Science Fiction
5:30pm – Llwyfan Cymru – Wales Stage

Wednesday 29th May
Paul Merton’s Impro Chums
The Hay Show
8:30pm – Baillie Gifford Stage

Thursday 30th May
Prue Leith talks to John Mitchinson
Books and Food
7pm – Oxfam Moot

Friday 31st May
Stephen Pinker
The Raymond Williams Lecture: Enlightenment Now
8:30pm – Baillie Gifford Stage

Saturday 1st June
Ian McEwan talks to Marcus du Sautoy
Fictions: Machines Like Me
4pm – Baillie Gifford Stage
Part of the Serious Readers Series

Sunday 2nd June
Karen Armstrong
The Lost Art of Scripture
4pm – Baillie Gifford Stage

Serious Readers are proud to be sponsoring the Hay Festival for the third time. Click here to find out more about the new Serious Reading Room, featuring daily readings from festival speakers.