Dua Lipa Opens Permanent Library Dedicated to Banned and Challenging Books

Dua Lipa is expanding her passion for literature with the launch of the Manifesto Library, a permanent collection celebrating books that challenge censorship, authority and traditional narratives.

Opening June 27 in Porto, Portugal, the library was created in partnership with the historic Livraria Lello bookstore as part of the inaugural BABELL – City of Books festival.

The collection features 100 books organized around four themes: power, control, voice and memory. Included are titles that have been banned, censored or sparked debate over race, gender, identity, political power and freedom of expression. Among the featured works are Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Reginald Dwayne Betts' Felon.

The project is the first permanent home for Lipa's Service95 Book Club, which has grown into a global platform connecting readers with influential authors and thought-provoking books.

"When I founded the Service95 Book Club, my ambition was for it to become a home for writers and readers, wherever they are," Lipa said. "Sometimes the most subversive thing you can do is read a book and then talk about it."

Rather than serving as a traditional library, the Manifesto Library is designed as an interactive cultural space where visitors can read, discuss ideas and participate in literary events.

The opening celebration will feature Service95's signature "Book Tasting" experience, pairing book discussions with Portuguese wines, while authors including Olga Tokarczuk and Salman Rushdie are expected to take part in the wider festival.

The new library marks another step in Dua Lipa's growing role as a literary advocate, continuing to bridge the worlds of music, publishing and culture through her Service95 platform.