The Aesop Queer Library Returns to the UK for Summer 2026
Just in time for Pride month.
The Aesop Queer Library is returning to London this summer to celebrate its sixth annual UK edition. Running for three days at the brand’s Soho outpost, the literary project clears out all the standard product inventory to fill the store shelves entirely with books that platform marginalized authors.
This year’s installment introduces a wider regional presence. A simultaneous Reading Room will open at the Spitalfields branch during the first weekend of July, followed by a dedicated setup in Brighton from July 31 to August 2. Grouped under the title “Body of Work,” the 2026 program highlights the history of queer British community protectors.
The main focal point honors Switchboard, a volunteer-run national helpline that has assisted millions of people since launching in 1974. The library features The Log Books, a central title compiled by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith using forty years of real call records discovered in a hidden office crawlspace. Visitors can stop by any of the participating retail spaces to browse the curated selection and pick up a complimentary book to keep without making a purchase. Supporting the activation, the Aesop Foundation is making direct financial donations to both Switchboard and the national trans+ support charity Not a Phase.
Head to Aesop’s Soho store from July 3 to 5 to experience the library.
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