Mike Gayle, Jo Nesbo, Alice Oseman, Ray Porter, and A.F. Steadman named Authors & Narrator of the Fair at LBF26
London, Thursday 13th November 2025. The London Book Fair (LBF) has today revealed the Authors of the Fair line-up for 2026, as well as their first ever Narrator of the Fair.
The line-up will feature: author, illustrator and creator of the sensational Heartstopper series Alice Oseman, as the Creative of the Fair; Norwegian international bestselling crime writer Jo Nesbo; Sunday Times best-selling novelist Mike Gayle; and globally best-selling author and creator of the Skandar series A.F. Steadman. Award-winning actor and narrator Ray Porter will be the first ever Narrator of the Fair.
Emma Lowe, Director of The London Book Fair, said: “We are thrilled to unveil our first author line-up for LBF26, which is set to be an incredible showcase of UK and global publishing, as well as the first major international book industry event of 2026. And what an incredible array of talent, too! From the mind and hand behind the sensational Heartstopper franchise, to the creator of the million-copy selling Skandar series, and from the first ever Narrator of the Fair to best-selling novelists across the popular genres of crime and romance. We simply cannot wait to welcome them all to Olympia next year, and we look forward to the wonderful insights they will share on their sessions.”
Alice Oseman is a critically acclaimed, bestselling author-illustrator and a BAFTA-nominated and Emmy-winning screenwriter, based in Kent. Alice is the creator, writer and executive producer behind the Heartstopper Netflix adaptation. Alice secured their first publishing deal at age 17 and has gone on to write four YA novels, two novellas, five graphic novels, an official colouring book and a yearbook. In 2024, Alice was named as Illustrator of the Year by the British Book Awards.
Theysaid: “I’m over the moon to be selected as Creative of the Fair next year. The London Book Fair is such a fantastic celebration of international publishing and I’m so excited to join the conversation and celebrate not only the sixth and final volume of Heartstopper but also champion the enduring power of graphic novels and illustration too!”
Ray Porter is an American actor and audiobook narrator. He has narrated over 500 titles and has won multiple Earphones Awards, as well as an Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year for his narration of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. He starred in the radio play The Goat Doctor on BBC Radio 4. Film/TV roles include Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Rebel Moon, Argo and many others. He has had TV roles in Modern Family, Shameless, Sons of Anarchy, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, among others.
He commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be taking part in the greatest book fair in the greatest city as the first Narrator of The London Book Fair.”
Hailing from Norway, Jo Nesbo is one of the world’s bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth and Knife have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He’s an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world. 2026 will see a major adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series on Netflix.
Mike Gayle became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by The Independent as ‘Full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations,’ and by The Times as ‘A funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic.’ To date Mike is the author of twelve novels including Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty and Wish You Were Here. His books have been translated into over thirty languages. In 2021, Mike was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Hesaid: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been invited to be Author of the Day at the 2026 London Book Fair! There is always such a huge buzz around LBF and I can’t wait to be slap bang in the middle of this crucial week in the publishing calendar. I’m so looking forward to sharing my passion for books, the ones that make you think, the ones that make you really feel and getting to hear all about the new crop of upcoming novels that readers will soon be championing. With the recent surge in romance book sales, I feel especially honoured to be representing this wonderful genre that is making so many readers fall in love with reading.”
A.F. Steadman is a globally bestselling author, writing for both children and adults. Her Skandar series has sold over 1.5 million copies around the globe, been translated into 48 languages worldwide with the film rights optioned by Sony. The final book in the series Skandar and the Spirit War was a no. 1 children’s bestseller on publication in 2025. Her adult fantasy series will begin with TimeLess, publishing in March 2027 and has already sold in 25 languages.
She commented: “It is such a great honour to be appointed as an Author of the Day at LBF 2026. I attended the London Book Fair long before I was published—holding a fragile hope of becoming an author one day—and was blown away by the electric atmosphere, the excitement around new publishing and the pure love for books. To return now, especially during the National Year of Reading, is beyond special and I cannot wait to help spread that same excitement and love for books I felt many years ago. Bring on LBF 2026!”
The Authors and Narrator of the Fair will take part in ‘In Conversation’ events on different days throughout The London Book Fair. Alice Oseman will be attending the Fair on Tuesday 10 March, with a session on the Main Stage at 12:00-12:45. Ray Porter will also attend on Tuesday, speaking on the Tech Stage at 12:45-13:45. Jo Nesbo will be on the Main Stage on Wednesday 11 March at 12:30-13:15, while Mike Gayle will headline a session at Author HQ at 14:05-14:50 on the same day. A.F. Steadman will be speaking on the Main Stage on Thursday 12 March, at 12:00-12:45. Full details of these sessions will be announced shortly.
The London Book Fair (LBF) is the world’s largest spring book trade and publishing event and will return to its home at Olympia London from 10 – 12 March 2026.
Registration is now open at this link, including visitor and media registration. Further details about The London Book Fair line-up will be revealed in due course and will be available at this page. The full programme for The London Book Fair 2026 will be announced early next year.
