The UK's award-winning East and South East Asian literary festival returns to Foyles for a day of conversation, book signings and workshops

ESEA Lit Fest is back! The UK’s award-winning East and South East Asian literary festival returns to Foyles Charing Cross Road on Saturday 19 September 2026 for a day of conversation, workshops, and book signings. Chef Rex de Guzman will be serving Filipino-inspired baked treats to raise funds for Project PEARLS at our lunchtime bakesale.

Featured in the Guardian, Harper's Bazaar and Elle, ESEA Lit Fest is a joyful, thought-provoking celebration of East and South East Asian literature and culture that’s open to all. Launched in 2023 to sell-out sucess at Foyles, over two thousand people have attended their talks, creative writing, translation workshops and launches for the ESEA literary community and beyond.

In 2025, these included day festivals at the Southbank Centre and Foyles, and pop-up events at Edinburgh International Book Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival. Previous speakers include R. F. Kuang, Tash Aw, Zing Tsjeng, Tania Branigan, Kaliane Bradley, Elaine Castillo, Tony Tulathimutte, Helena Lee and Will Harris.

ESEA Lit Fest at Foyles is presented in partnership with the Bagri Foundation and supported by Hachette UK and their employee network THRIVE.

IMPORTANT TICKETING INFORMATION: Tickets are available for individual events or a Festival Day Ticket allows you entry to all four of the day’s panel discussions. Please note that a Day Ticket does not include entry to the workshops (tickets available separately via the link below). Student/Low Income Tickets are reserved for students with a valid ID or those in receipt of Universal Credit or on low income.

10 – 11am

Memoir as Return: a creative writing workshop around the sensation of home with Emma-Lee Moss

2nd Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Tickets available (Not included with a Festival Day Ticket) here

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11am - 12pm

On crossing continents and generations: Carla Montemayor and Natalie Gregory, chaired by Suyin Haynes

6th Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Included in a Festival Day Ticket or buy an individial event ticket here

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12:30 - 13:30pm

On rules and devotion: Catherine Cho and Stephanie Sy-Quia, chaired by Joanna Lee

6th Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Included in a Festival Day Ticket or buy an individial event ticket here

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13:45 - 15:00pm

Kamayan: Rex de Guzman's food fundraiser for Project PEARLS

6th Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Chef Rex de Guzman will be bringing a selection of Filipino-inspired baked treats to raise funds for Project PEARLS, a non-profit supporting children and families in underserved communities across the Philippines through education, nutrition, healthcare and empowerment.

Food has always been about more than what is on the plate. This fundraiser brings together the spirit behind Kamayan: sharing, community and bringing people together, while supporting an organisation creating meaningful opportunities for Filipino children and their families.

British-born Filipino chef and author Rex De Guzman has spent over a decade championing Filipino food and culture in the UK. Founder of London Filipino restaurant Turo Turo, Rex is also the author of Kamayan: The Filipino Cookbook, a collection celebrating the bold flavours, traditions and stories that make Filipino cooking so special.

First come, first served - unticketed event, all proceeds donated to Project PEARLS:

https://www.projectpearls.org/

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14:00– 15:00pm

Women's Prize Discoveries creative writing workshop with Ela Lee

2nd Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Tickets available here (not included in a Day Festival ticket)

15:30 – 16:30pm

On Girlhood and wanting with Stacey Yu and Divya Maniar, chaired by Rahel Stephanie

6th Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Included in a Festival Day Ticket or buy an individial event ticket here

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17:00 – 18:00pm

On Vastness and Ambition with Cecile Pin and Xiaolu Guo, chaired John Lau

6th Floor, Foyles Charing Cross Road

Included in a Festival Day Ticket or buy an individial event ticket here

*Please note our Level 2 and Level 6 event spaces are fully accessible via the lifts.

Description supplied by the event organiser.