A Star-Studded Line Up
Price £20 per talk (plus £25 for a festival pass)
Talk tickets and festival passes will be released for sale online at 10am on 15 April 2026.
Chatsworth Friends and Patrons pre-sale will be launched via email at 7pm on 14 April 2026.
From emotional rollercoaster 'tearjerkers' to gripping 'whodunnits', our Queen's Reading Room Festival headliners represent a multitude of literary genres. Join us for live conversations, where you can hear these talented writers discuss their work and the influences behind it.
This year's headliners include Clare Balding, Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Cecelia Ahern, Meg Mason, Elif Shafak, Ann Cleeves, Louise Penny, Jeffery Archer, Kate Atkinson, William Boyd, Jessie Burton, Reeta Chakrabarti, Daisy Fancourt, Lucy Foley, Jane Harper, Louise Kennedy, Phillipa Perry, Jennifer Saint, Nussaibah Younis, and Louisa Young.
Don't forget your festival pass
To attend any of the talks, you will need to purchase a festival pass in addition to a ticket for each of the talks you wish to experience. All passes and tickets must be booked in advance.
A festival pass also provides access to the house, garden and farmyard, plus additional entertainment in the Festival Hub. Festival passes can be purchased without the need to purchase a talk ticket.
Avoid double booking
The talks last 50 minutes and are scheduled throughout the day, with some overlap. Be sure to check that the talks you are booking do not take place at the same time.
The Bookshop Signing Tent
Buy a book from our Orangery gift shop or Bookshop Signing Tent and have it signed by the author.
Book purchases are subject to availability, and signings are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Saturday 19 September: Chapel Stage
Saturday 19 September: Garden Stage
Saturday 19 September: Fountain Stage
Sunday 20 September: Chapel Stage
Sunday 20 September: Garden Stage
Sunday 20 September: Fountain Stage
Ticket information
Talk Tickets - must be booked in advance
£20 per talk (plus £25 for a festival pass)
The Festival offers the opportunity to hear from a range of world-class published authors and special guests.
To attend a talk, you must purchase a festival pass plus a ticket for each talk you wish to attend.
All talk tickets and festival passes must be booked in advance.
Festival Pass - must be booked in advance
£25 per person
A festival pass includes entry to Chatsworth House, Garden, and Farmyard on the day of your visit, plus access to the Festival Hub.
In the Hub, you'll find The Writers' Room, The Poetry Room, Bookshop Signing Tents, and a Catering Village.
Festival passes include free parking for one vehicle per transaction.
Festival Universal Credit Tickets
We want as many people as possible to be able to experience Chatsworth and The Queen's Reading Room Festival.
Universal Credit Tickets are available for selected talks and entry to the Festival Hub.
Discover more...
The Queen's Reading Room Festival 2026
19 & 20 September 2026
A literary festival like no other, uniting literature enthusiasts for a weekend dedicated to celebrating the written word.
The Queen's Reading Room Festival Afternoon Teas
19 & 20 September 2026
Add an elegant afternoon tea in the Old Duke's Glasshouse in the Chatsworth Garden to your Festival experience.
Lee Child and Special Guests
19 September 2026
From Reacher to Rehabilitation: Writing, Reading and Second Chances
Bestselling author Lee Child is joined by special guests to discuss the transformational power of literature and storytelling.
FAQs
View our frequently asked questions.
Stay With Us
With miles of walks on the estate and in the national park, as well as centuries of heritage, art and design to explore, Chatsworth and the Peak District are a dream destination for an unforgettable escape. Find a stay with us in a hotel, inn, cottage, or shepherd’s hut here.
Please note: Please be aware that for technical, operational or safety reasons, some facilities may be removed or closed, or entertainment and event timetables cancelled and/or altered at any time, including at short notice. Chatsworth reserves the right to change the programme of attractions and entertainment if, at any time, it is deemed necessary or appropriate to do so, this may also include closing attractions or areas of the estate. We apologise in advance for any disappointment caused should this need arise.
