The Observer’s Debut Novelists 2026

Recorded: Sun 26 Apr 2026

Duration: 1 hour

The Observer’s Debut Novelists 2026

Spring 2026

Every year, The Observer shines a light on the debut novelists whom they consider to be the rising stars of fiction writing – Louise Kennedy, Bonnie Garmus and Sally Rooney are just a few of the novelists who soared to the top, and this year is no exception. Meet debut novels Stephanie Sy-Quia, Rebecca Perry and Jem Calder, three of this year’s rising stars of fiction, in conversation with Tom Gatti, Literary Editor for The Observer, in this event from our Spring 2026 Festival.

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Athena Kugblenu | History’s Most Epic Fails

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Lord Nicholas Stern | The Growth Story of the 21st Century: the economics and opportunity of climate action

James Macintyre | Gordon Brown: power with purpose

The Observer’s Debut Novelists 2026

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Francesca Wade on Gertrude Stein

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Wayne McGregor | We Are Movement

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Steve Richards | Rock ‘n Roll Politics

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Sophie Raworth | Running on Air: From headlines to finish lines

Callum Cant & Matthew Lee | The 1926 General Strike

Caroline Lucas | Lecture: The State of Nature

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James Fox | Craftland

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