Food Season at British Library to return

Fahad Redha

May 5, 2026
2 min read

Food Season at British Library to return

The British Library’s Food Season will return for its eighth year this summer, running from 13^th June to 2^nd July. The three-week event will see leading chefs, food writers, historians, and cultural voices coming together to explore the past, present, and history of food.

A full roster of events will bring together influential names in the worlds of food, drink, hospitality, literature, and history, including Mary Beard on how to party like you’re in Pompei, Jay Rayner on the legacy of Anthony Bourdain, and an event in collaboration with Vittles magazine on the evolution of food photography.

The British Library Food Season Awards will also be making a comeback, celebrating “narrative cookery writing, exhibitions, new talent, and the changemakers across the world of food and drink.”

The season will open with the Food Season Big Weekend from 13^th to 14^th June, a two day celebration of food through talks, tastings, and live events, with highlight appearances from across the season including long-time friends Neneh Cherry and Andi Oliver on the role that food has played in their lives, River Café co-founder Ruthie Rogers on her experiences in running the renowned culinary icon, and actor Simon Russell Beale on the role of food in Shakespeare, as well as a lineup of chefs, writers, academics, and campaigners.

The festival will explore themes including food and identity, sustainability, history, politics, and creativity, as well as the global journey of ingredients and the future of food systems. The season will draw on the British Library’s unique archive of cookery books, manuscripts, and food writing, “connecting history with contemporary conversations,” the library said.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.