An Evening with Bernardine Evaristo and Friends, presented by the Women’s Prize 

An evening exploring the richness of women’s writing, curated and hosted by one of the UK’s most celebrated writers and literary figures, Bernardine Evaristo, recipient of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Outstanding Contribution Award.  Bringing together exceptional writers, both established and exciting new voices, to discuss their work – the evening will feature readings performed by acclaimed actors, bringing these words to life on stage.

Audiences will encounter new writing, hear powerful stories, and discover the breadth of voices shaping contemporary literature. Moments of humour, reflection, insight and surprise will weave through the evening, creating a truly special, one-off experience. Join us to kick off proceedings for Chelsea Arts Festival 2026.

Bernardine Evaristo is the Booker Prize-winning author of ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ and ‘Mr Loverman’, as well as the memoir ‘Manifesto: On Never Giving Up’. Her work spans fiction, poetry and criticism across a career of more than forty years. In 2022 she became President of the Royal Society of Literature – the first writer of colour and second woman to hold the role – and she is Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University London. A longstanding advocate for inclusion, she has championed Black British writing throughout her career.

The Women’s Prize Outstanding Contribution Award was a one-off literary honour marking the 30th anniversary year of the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2025. This prestigious accolade, funded by Bukhman Philanthropies, celebrates Bernardine’s body of work, her transformative impact on literature and her unwavering dedication to uplifting under-represented voices across the cultural landscape.  

One of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, The Women’s Prize for Fiction was established in 1996 to counter the notoriously male-dominated shortlists of other literary prizes. Winning novels such as On Beauty, The Song of Achilles, Home, Half of a Yellow Sun and Hamnet have gone on to become modern classics, cementing the Women’s Prize for Fiction as a leading authority in contemporary writing. 2026 will be the third year of The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, after Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger won the inaugural prize in 2024. The Women’s Prize Trust is a charity improving access to, and appreciation of women’s writing for all readers, providing an awards platform that supports brilliant writers and role models while nurturing an engaged, global community of readers and writers.