Joanna Prior, Pan Macmillan CEO, announced as keynote speaker at London Book Fair 2026
Joanna Prior will be speaking at the event, held at the Olympia in London, during the National Year of Reading.
Prior will take to the Main Stage at 10am on Wednesday 11 March and will make the case that the most profound and immediate issue facing our industry is not Artificial Intelligence, but the decline in reading and literacy.
Commenting on her upcoming appearance, Joanna Prior said:
'I'm honoured to be speaking at The London Book Fair next year. As the international book industry's first major event of 2026, the Fair is a chance for us to reconnect, strike deals, and, critically, set the agenda. But for 2026, the stakes are undeniably higher. As we celebrate the National Year of Reading, the atmosphere will feel pivotal, challenging us to look outward.
This is our moment to ask: 'What are we doing to convince the entire country that reading is a source of joy, discovery, and powerful connection in their lives?' As an industry, we must champion the profound, life-changing benefits of books and make a compelling case for why reading is truly for everyone. That external focus — that bias for action – is how we build readers of the future and secure our industry for generations to come.'
‘This is our moment to ask: What are we doing to convince the entire country that reading is a source of joy, discovery, and powerful connection in their lives?’
Emma Lowe, Director of The London Book Fair, also commented on the announcement:
'We’re delighted to announce the first industry keynote speakers for next year, which will spotlight the opportunities created by the UK’s Year of Reading. Our keynotes’ expertise spans British and international publishing, audiobooks, children’s titles, independent publishing and much more. We are looking forward to announcing further speakers and details of our Seminar Programme in the coming months.'
Other named speakers at the London Bookfair include Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK, and Bob Carrigan, CEO of Audible.
Read the full conference programme on The London Book Fair website.
Read the full synopsis of the upcoming keynote speech below.
Why the reading crisis is a bigger threat than AI.
The industry is abuzz with talk of algorithms, generative models, and the promise – or peril – of Infinite Content. The debates over copyright, upskilling, and ethics are vital, but let’s be honest: are we obsessed with the wrong fundamental challenge?
As CEO of Pan Macmillan and Chair of The National Literacy Trust, Joanna Prior will make the case that the most profound and immediate issue facing our industry is not Artificial Intelligence, but the decline in reading and literacy.
The uncomfortable truth is this: while we debate whether AI might ever be capable of writing a Booker-prize winning novel, our audiences are quietly disappearing. We are in danger of losing the critical readers we need to consume the very high-quality content we fight so hard to protect.
The National Year of Reading 2026 is not simply a charitable endeavour – it is a strategic imperative. This is our bias for action. Leveraging our resources and new technology to tackle the literacy gap is the only way to build the readers of the future, improve life chances, and strengthen and protect our industry for generations to come. The time to innovate is now, and the innovation must be focused on building a culture of reading.
