Explore the Festival programme

The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place from 15-30 August 2026. The programme will be available in June 2026. Sign up for our ebulletins or follow us on social media to hear announcements and updates.

In the meantime, you can enjoy watching nearly 150 events from the 2025 Festival on our website. 

2024 Book Festival Highlights

EIBF - Phographer- Aly Wight - Sat 10-08-24 - File-6300
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RMD_8302 PERMISSION
EIBF - Phographer- Aly Wight - Sat 10-08-24 - File-6834
Patrick Kane by Rob MacDougall RMD_8231
EIBF_August 14, 2024 photo credit by Kat Gollock-200_HIGHRES

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Look, Listen & read

Ash Sarkar: Immigrants Aren’t Eating Your Pets

Ash Sarkar: Immigrants Aren’t Eating Your Pets

One of the left’s most prominent commentators, Ash Sarkar wades right into the middle of the culture wars in Minority Rule in hyper-intelligent, acid fashion…

Lola Olufemi & Minna Salami: Critical Reflections on Feminism (2020 Event)
Lola Olufemi & Minna Salami: Critical Reflections on Feminism (2020 Event)

Since 2010, the award-winning blog MsAfropolitan has connected feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective. Its founder is…

Olivia Laing: Art is Political (2020 Event)
Olivia Laing: Art is Political (2020 Event)

With Fiona Bradley, Director of the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh, Laing unpacks our political, emotional and creative selves in this event recorded live at the 2020 Book…

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Untitled by Nicola Davies

You can find Freedom leading the rebellion, battering at the prison gates and shouting outside the palace window, calling dictators to account. But Freedom’s other work, her main occupation in fact, is much quieter…