2026 Programme
Please note that this programme is subject to change without prior notice.
- 09:00
- - 11:00
- Reuben's Restaurant, Daniel Hugo St
The GNU has reshaped South Africa’s political landscape. Is our uneasy coalition built to endure, or destined to fracture? Pieter du Toit (The Dark Prince) probes the coalition’s future with Mandy Wiener (The Deal), Tara Roos (Where to from Here?) and Qaanitah Hunter.
Doors open strictly at 08:15 for breakfast; session starts at 09:00. No entry without a valid ticket.
- 10:00
- - 12:00
- Franschhoek Public Library
Join bestselling author and publisher Melinda Ferguson for a live-writing memoir workshop. Identify what makes your story distinctive, and learn what processes will improve your personal writing. Also get invaluable insights into the publishing scene in South Africa. Bring a notebook and a pen. Space is limited.
- 10:00
- - 12:00
- Huguenot Chocolate Shop
Join self-publishing expert and author Vanessa Wilson (Publish Like A Pro) for detailed knowledge on how to self-publish your book. Learn about the processes involved, how to find the right publishing partner if you want help, and what you can expect when going this route. Handouts will be provided, but bring a pen and notebook.
- 10:00
- - 12:00
- Chapter House Boutique Hotel, Dirkie Uys St
Acclaimed crime writer Mike Nicol’s workshop locks down the fundamentals of the genre: from settings to dialogue, from red herrings to psychological depth, from plausible forensic processes to innovative plotting. Whether you’re polishing a manuscript or brewing an idea, you’ll find new weapons and motivations. Space is limited to 16 participants. [Entrance via Dirkie Uys Street]
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- NG Church
As succession battles intensify, what forces are shaping SA’s next head of state? Leading political journalists, Pieter du Toit (The Dark Prince), Anthony Butler (Presidential Power), Mandy Wiener (The Deal) and Qaanitah Hunter unpack power, personality and the stakes for accountability and public trust.
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- New School Hall
Historians Sam Dalrymple (Shattered Lands) and Mphuthumi Ntabeni join Joanne Joseph, journalist and novelist, for a conversation on migration as inheritance, stories as legacy, and the enduring imprint of history on culture and identity.
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- Old School Hall
Alka Joshi’s beloved Jaipur Trilogy — The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris — follows three unforgettable lives across generations. In conversation with Pippa Hudson, Joshi reveals how her richly imagined world blossomed into a global phenomenon.
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- Church Hall
What turns the ordinary into the unthinkable? Nicky Falkof (The Devil Made Me Do It), David Cornwell (Hell of a Country), and Nicole Engelbrecht (Bare Bones) join Sara-Jayne Makwala King to probe the minds, motives and stories behind South Africa’s most disturbing crimes, and our enduring fascination with them.
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- Congregational Church
Join TikTok foodies and now cookbook authors Fehmz (Damn Good Food), Lila Lerie (The Big Tasty Bite) and Sinoyolo Sifo (The Cooking Husband) as they talk flavour, followers and the stories we tell through food, in conversation with Ilse Van Der Merwe (Timeless South African).
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- Council Chambers
James Urdang (It Always Seems Impossible) and Craig Wilkinson (Force for Good) unpack Urdang’s battle with HSBC Bank over its misconduct towards Education Africa, revealing a gripping real-life fight for justice, accountability and the survival of a life-changing South African charity.
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- Hospice House
Not all novels move in straight lines. Some fracture, circle or whisper. In this conversation, writers Dawn Garisch (The Consulting Room) and Rémy Ngamije (Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space) join Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane to explore narrative risk, structure, style and why some stories refuse to behave.
- 11:30
- - 12:30
- Theatre (Biblioteek Building), Akademie St.
Franschhoek local Janine Temple‘s glorious coffee table book of Franschhoek tells the stories behind some of the most beautiful wine farms, renowned estates, restaurants and local experiences. In this presentation, she will share highlights and anecdotes, set to beautiful imagery.
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- NG Church
Are prisons driving reform or breeding the next generation of criminals? Kyle Cowan (Mafia Land), Rebecca Gore (Behind Prison Walls) and Jeff Wicks (The Shadow State) discuss ongoing issues of abuse of power, corruption enabled organised crime, and the violent deeds that go unchecked.
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- New School Hall
Booker-shortlisted Tan Twan Eng joins Jenny Crwys-Williams to discuss his latest novel, The House of Doors, which evokes 1920s Penang and reimagines writer W. Somerset Maugham amid the events he would later transform into his celebrated short story about the Proudlock scandal.
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- Old School Hall
What happens when when those sworn to uphold the law becomes its biggest threat? In conversation with Koketso Sachane, Mike Nicol introduces Fall the Shadow, his gripping new thriller that delves into corruption, power and the shadowy moral terrain of a cop with a dangerous and illegal side racket.
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- Church Hall
In this searching conversation, Annemarie van Niekerk and Karina Szczurek explore how violence refracts through memory and language. Beginning with a devastating loss, Under a Blood Red Sky, interrogates belonging, estrangement and the uneasy relationship between private grief and public discourse.
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- Congregational Church
In a world shaped by corruption, populism, and the digital erosion of truth, novelists Imraan Coovadia (An Enemy of the People) and Mpho Boshego (Diplomatic Ties) join Tom Eaton to explore morality and fragile bonds between citizens and a state that betrays them.
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- Council Chambers
Beloved chef Karen Dudley joins Ilse van der Merwe to celebrate her new book Upwards – a reflection on food and the creative spirit. Expect stories from the kitchen, laughter, lessons and the reminder that sometimes the way up begins at the stove.
- 13:00
- - 12:00
- Hospice House
A firsthand account of what it means to grow up inside a war. Popina Khumanda (The Smallest Ones) speaks to Zahirah Marty about survival, memory, and the long road from violence to finding her voice. From war in the DRC to the not-so-safe haven of South Africa, what does it mean to carry the curse of a woman?
- 13:00
- - 14:00
- Theatre (Biblioteek Building)
What are the 5 “must-know” aspects of AI for 2026?
AI is taking shape in Africa and moving forward at serious speed – what do African businesses, creatives, entrepreneurs and job seekers need to know to keep up, and thrive? Arthur Goldstuck (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI: The African Edge) shares his insights and answers to this and more.
- 14:00
- - 16:00
- Franschhoek Public Library
Fancy adding “romance novelist” to your CV – and even writing a bestseller? Writing coach and author Sarah Bullen will teach you the must-know rules of romance writing: how to structure your plot and craft your love leads. Plus – How have blockbusting “romantasy” writers like Sarah J Maas changed the game of romance fiction?
- 14:00
- - 16:00
- Huguenot Chocolate Shop
How do you create a world readers can step into? From designing power structures to layering history and cultural texture, fantasy author Nerine Dorman unpacks the craft of world-building – offering practical insights into creating immersive, believable settings that become a true home for your characters.
- 14:00
- - 16:00
- Chapter House Boutique Hotel, Dirkie Uys St
A Reading & Writing about Books Workshop.
Do ‘good readers’ exist? Is there a right way to slam a book, or a right way to gush about it?
News24 books editor, Shaun de Waal, guides participants on how to get the most out of what you read, and what to consider when writing reviews.
Space is limited to 16 participants. [Entrance via Dirkie Uys Street]
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- NG Church
Africa is the world’s youngest continent with a young, ambitious and globally connected rising generation that stands at the centre of its economic future. But will structural inequality, education gaps and political inertia hold them back? Thebe Ikalafeng (Rooted and Rising), Bronwyn Williams (Survive the AI Apocalypse) consider whether this is Africa’s defining moment or a moment at risk of being missed. Osagyefo Mazwai, investment strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment International joins the conversation led by Nozipho Tshabalala.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- New School Hall
Babita Deokaran exposed irregular Covid procurement deals and was murdered soon after. Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks (The Shadow State:Why Babita Deokaran had to Die) and Dennis Davis examine the risks faced by whistleblowers, and what her case says about power, accountability and justice.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- Old School Hall
Public life often looks polished from the outside. In conversation with Danielle Weakley, Rachel Kolisi (Falling Forward) reflects on vulnerability, reinvention and the lessons learned through adversity. Drawing on her new book and documentary, she explores what it means to lead, rebuild and move forward when the spotlight never fades.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- Church Hall
The Soweto Uprising of June 16, 1976 altered the course of South Africa’s history. Fifty years later, Lebo Diseko (The House at 6001) and Lindiwe Hani (Being Chris Hani’s Daughter) join Max du Preez (The End of Normal), who witnessed the uprising as a young reporter, to reflect on memory, justice, and the country that has since emerged.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- Congregational Church
How does conflict change intimacy? How does comradeship blur the line between loyalty and survival? Can literature help us better understand political contexts through fictional, private inner lives? Authors Michiel Heyns (The Wildest Beauty) and Bongani Kona discuss.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- Council Chambers
Beloved Karoo agony aunt and amateur sleuth Tannie Maria returns in a brand-new mystery. In conversation with Nancy Richards, Sally Andrew (Wild Things Never Die) reflects on the enduring appeal of culinary crime, writing warmth alongside murder, and the joy of creating one of South Africa’s most distinctive characters.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- Hospice Hall
Discover the SA writers everyone will soon be talking about. Debut authors Wesley Roodt (All the Saints), Mpho Boshego (Diplomatic Ties) and Tara Roos (Where to from Here?) join Paige Nick, to reflect on their leap from manuscript to bookshop shelves, introduce their first works, and offer a glimpse of what they’re writing next.
- 14:30
- - 15:30
- Franschhoek Theatre
Family shapes who we become. Lebo Mazibuko (Fabrics of Love), Rémy Ngamije (Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space) and Karen Lane explore the power of family belonging, loyalty and love in this thoughtful conversation about inheritance, obligation and the stories and family ties that hold us together.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- NG Church
The gentle wisdom of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse has moved millions with its message of courage and kindness. In conversation with Jenny Crwys-Williams, Charlie Mackesy reflects on the journey of his beloved fable, from humble sketches to an Oscar-winning animated film, and introduces his new book, Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- New School Hall
Power, justice and the public good… In a constitutional democracy, the law promises fairness, protection and equality, but does it deliver? Judge Dennis Davis (Democracy, Deliberation and Degradation) and legal commentator Rebecca Gore (Behind Prison Walls) examine how law operates in practice and the lived reality in South Africa today.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- Old School Hall
What really happens in the ICU or autopsy suite, in the quiet moments after death? Africa Melane joins forensic pathologist Ryan Blumenthal (Trace: Case Studies of a Forensic Pathologist in Africa) and doctor-novelist Marina Auer (Three Echoes) to explore the science of the body, the realities of a medical practice and how working so close to death impacts the way that they live, and write.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- Church Hall
Roger Lucey’s music career was silenced by apartheid’s security police. In this intimate performance of songs and storytelling, he reflects on survival, rebuilding and finding his way back to creativity in the Breede River mountains, inspired by his memoir How to Build a House in the Mountains.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- Congregational Church
Small town living has never been so hot! Sally Andrew (Wild Things Never Die), Bonnie Espie (Lifting The Lid) and Tom Eaton share how extraordinary South African landscapes and the quirks of small-town life inspire their stories of humour and hidden darkness.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- Council Chambers
Sven Axelrad, known for fiction that probes masculinity, power and morality, chats to Nancy Richards about his latest novel, The Dogs of Vivo, where he reflects on the evolving questions that continue to drive his writing with a deep dive into craft, climate and the storms that shape his characters
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- Hospice Hall
Michael Fridjhon speaks to Bridgid Hamilton-Russell (Red Tape), as they unpack the remarkable story of Tim Hamilton-Russell and the legacy of Hamilton Russell vineyards blending biography, history, legal challenges, political obstacles and family heritage through an insider’s view in the first book to chronicle the Hemel-en-Aarde wine region.
- 16:00
- - 17:00
- Theatre (Biblioteek Building), Akademie St.
Some relationships break loudly. Others unravel quietly. Joy Watson (Because I Love You) and Koketso Sachane explore the stories we tell ourselves about love, endurance and loyalty, and the moment when staying begins to cost more than leaving.
- 17:30
- - 18:30
- NG Church
What happens when the great ideas of the late 20th century collide with the political realities of today? Francis Fukuyama (Liberalism and Its Discontents) joins Tony Leon virtually to reflect on the state of liberal democracy. From the legacy of The End of History to the rise of populism, identity politics and institutional decay, is democracy in retreat, renewal or being remade.
- 19:00
- - 22:30
- The Bridge House Theatre, Bridge House School
Join us for a fun-filled evening of music and dance at the Bridge House Theatre at Bridge House School to raise much-needed funds for the FLF School Reading Programme, the festival’s best kept secret.
The FLF is responsible for running the school library in four under-resourced schools in the valley, bringing a love of reading to learners through the year-long reading programme. Coupled to the library activities, the FLF hosts an annual literary quiz between the four Franschhoek schools, which captivates and excites young minds driving more engagement with the written word.
Franschhoek’s very own Uncorked will play immortal hits from ABBA to Coldplay.
- LIGHT DINNER INCLUDED – Select 1 of 3 delicious options when booking through Webtickets:
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SINGLE TICKET + MEAL OPTION 1 (STEAK IN RED WINE JUS)
-
SINGLE TICKET + MEAL OPTION 2 (CHICKEN ROULADE)
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SINGLE TICKET + MEAL OPTION 3 (VEGETARIAN, STUFFED BUTTERNUT)
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- BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS (No bar available)
Bridge House Theatre, Bridge House School, R45. Approximately 10km from central Franschhoek; allow extra travel time.