David Szalay at literary festivals

Last checked: 28 October 2026

David Szalay writes fiction about people whose private desires meet forces they cannot control. Money, work, travel and the pressure of other people’s expectations run through his books. His appearance at Cheltenham in 2026 centred on Flesh, the novel that won the 2025 Booker Prize. For readers planning a future festival visit, his work offers questions about how much a life depends on choice, what a character understands about himself, and what a novelist leaves unsaid.

Quick facts

Best known for: Flesh and linked literary fiction
Genre or subject: Literary fiction
Latest book: Flesh (2025)
2026 festivals: Cheltenham Literature Festival

About David Szalay

Szalay was born in Canada, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna, according to his publisher. His fiction has received several literary awards. All That Man Is was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016, while Turbulence won the Edge Hill Prize. London and the South-East received the Betty Trask and Geoffrey Faber Memorial prizes.

These books offer different ways into his writing. Some follow a character through a large span of life; others place separate lives alongside one another. A reader can approach a festival conversation through structure as well as subject. Think about where a section begins, how quickly years pass and which apparently ordinary exchanges change the direction of a story. Those choices can be as revealing as a discussion of the main plot.

Start with the title named in an event description, or choose an earlier book whose length and premise fit your reading time. You do not need to work through a recurring detective’s history before selecting one of the books described here.

If you have read the book, consider a question about a decision on the page: a jump in time, a scene told briefly or a conversation that stops before anyone explains themselves. If you have not finished it, avoid inviting a discussion of the ending. A question about craft can open a conversation without requiring a plot summary from the audience.

You might also notice how a change of scale affects your reading. Following one life through many years asks different things from a reader than a sequence of linked stories. Comparing those experiences can prepare you for a discussion without making an entire backlist a requirement.

Where to start with their books

Flesh

István begins life in Hungary and moves through circumstances that eventually take him into the world of wealthy Londoners. The novel brings desire, social position and the consequences of chance into the same life story. It was the focus of the Cheltenham conversation, making it the closest preparation for exploring that programme. While reading, notice the balance between what happens to István and what he appears able to choose. You do not need to resolve that balance into a single explanation before hearing an author discuss it.

All That Man Is

Nine men, at different stages of life and away from home, provide the perspectives in this book. Its European settings and movement from younger to older lives invite comparisons between people who do not share one continuous plot. It is an alternative starting point if you want to consider how a book accumulates meaning across separate sections. Keep track of recurring concerns without assuming that each character supplies the same answer. That can lead to questions about the relationship between a short piece and the larger shape of a book.

Turbulence

This sequence connects twelve lives through air journeys and the effects people have on one another. Travel supplies a framework, but the connections concern relationships and personal upheaval. Its shorter form makes it a manageable choice when reading time is limited. Consider how your attention changes when the focus passes from one person to another. A conversation about that movement can raise questions about perspective: who briefly occupies the edge of one story before becoming central to the next?

Spring

James and Katherine meet at a London wedding in 2006. He has a varied past; she is separated from her husband and working in a luxury hotel. Their developing connection brings money and romantic expectations together. This offers a more concentrated relationship story to compare with the wider scope of the other books here. If you read more than one, look at what the change in scale does to your understanding of the characters. Comparisons can help prepare your own question without requiring an entire backlist.

Festival appearances

For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.

2026

David Szalay: featured events in 2026
Festival	Date	Event and venue	Official source
Cheltenham Literature Festival	18 October 2026	David Szalay with Clare Clark Garden Theatre	Official listing

What their events are like

Cheltenham’s programme included David Szalay in conversation with Clare Clark on 18 October 2026 at noon, at the Garden Theatre. The one-hour event discussed Flesh, including masculinity, power and fate. The programme also included a signing afterwards. The event has finished; use its page for 2026 event details.

That session was an author interview focused on one novel. It gave the interviewer room to connect scenes with broader questions about writing. For a new festival visit, check the individual event’s subject, chair, running time and any signing.

Where to see them next

No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.

A festival’s dates do not confirm an individual author’s return. Wait for a named event before arranging a trip specifically to hear Szalay, and use the organiser’s page to check its details.

Plan your trip

Begin with our Cheltenham festival and stay guides. They cover the festival visit separately from this author profile.

When choosing a future event, put its venue and start time beside your travel plans before reserving a room. Include the journey after the conversation, especially if you want to remain for a signing or meet friends afterwards. Do not build a departure around an activity that the new programme has not confirmed.

For a shared trip, agree whether you both want the same session. Leave enough space between bookings to move between the actual venues, eat and collect any bags. A full schedule is less appealing if every interval becomes a race. Keep accommodation cancellation conditions alongside event and transport reservations so that you can review the whole visit if plans change.

Cheltenham Literature Festival: festival guide · Where to stay · 2027 programme

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Explore the official book and author pages in the sources below.

Your questions about David Szalay

Which book should I start with?

Choose Flesh for the novel discussed at Cheltenham. Turbulence offers another route if you prefer a shorter, linked sequence with several perspectives and journeys.

Is the Cheltenham appearance still bookable?

The event described here took place in October 2026. Use its official page for details, and look for a new named event before making author-specific plans.

Will a future session include audience questions?

Check that event’s description. The 2026 interview cannot confirm the format, signing or audience questions offered at another festival or a later edition.

Do I need to have finished the book?

Read the organiser’s conditions. Finishing can make detailed discussion easier, but keep questions considerate of readers who want to avoid spoilers about the ending.