About This Event

In an era defined by noise, from AI-generated content and disinformation to ideological echo chambers, what does truth look like now, and who decides it? Against this backdrop, a different kind of writing cuts through - deeply researched, rigorously verified, powerfully told true stories. The Baillie Gifford Prize celebrates the exceptional human stories in and behind the best non-fiction books of the year, the critical role they play in an age of misinformation, and why these stories shape not just our understanding of the world, but the world itself. Join the Prize Director Toby Mundy and 2026 judges Kirsty Lang and Ravi Mattu for a fascinating overview of this year's shortlisted books. There will be a book signing after this event. Get ahead of your Festival reading and visit the Waterstones Cheltenham Literature Festival bookshop and support Cheltenham Festivals with every purchase.

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