Join us this August at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Explore the world, in words at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The biggest public celebration of words and stories in the world, the Book Festival takes place every August in the heart of Scotland's capital. With hundreds of events featuring authors from around the globe, there's something for everyone to enjoy at the Book Festival.

Book Festival News

Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024 Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024
Sunday 14 April

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Joshua Wong: Hong Kong’s Champion for Democracy Joshua Wong: Hong Kong’s Champion for Democracy ‘Hong Kongers will never surrender, because we have nowhere else to turn.’ At age 14, Joshua Wong co-founded the student activist group Scholarism, protesting the enforcement of Chinese National Education in Hong Kong. He went on to become a very publ… Working with Words: Inside the New York Times Crossword Working with Words: Inside the New York Times Crossword ‘You can’t think of your troubles while solving a crossword.’ Margaret Farrar, Founding Crossword Editor, the New York Times The world’s first crossword puzzle was published in 1913. By 1924, Simon & Schuster had capitalised on the craze, publ… Outriders: Mariana Enriquez & Kevin MacNeil (2017 Event) Outriders: Mariana Enriquez & Kevin MacNeil (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, Scottish novelist Kevin MacNeil travelled around Argentina with journalist, novelist and short story writer Mariana Enriquez. Starting in Buenos Aires, the writers set off in search of lost voices,… Thomas Keneally at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Thomas Keneally at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The Booker Prize-winning Australian author of Schindler’s Ark, Thomas Keneally comes to Edinburgh having woven another masterpiece in The Book of Science and Antiquities. Ancient human remains are found in Western Australia, causing controversy: was the… Billy-Ray Belcourt & Mary Jean Chan: Words Will Set You Free Billy-Ray Belcourt & Mary Jean Chan: Words Will Set You Free Tired of living out their days through the eyes of others, two of international poetry’s best disruptors turn to language for liberation in tender new collections that carve a space for love amongst the creeping violence of the everyday. Parsing th… Ben Okri at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Ben Okri at the Edinburgh International Book Festival ‘Storytellers sometimes see things before they have been experienced.’ This, from Ben Okri’s new chillingly dystopic novel The Freedom Artist, is a stark warning to readers. His world of truths eroded, of people shambling blindly towards calamity, i… John Pilger John Pilger Radical, passionate and often controversial, John Pilger is one of the most important free spirits in worldwide journalism and filmmaking. In these video highlights from his 2007 event, he talks about the long shadow of imperialism, hidden censorship and … Stripped Comic Fair Film 2013 Stripped Comic Fair Film 2013 Stripped mini comic fair: Scotland's finest comics creators come to Charlotte Square Gardens… Nadine Aisha Jassat & Tsitsi Dangarembga: Outriders Africa Following in their Footsteps Nadine Aisha Jassat & Tsitsi Dangarembga: Outriders Africa Following in their Footsteps As part of the Book Festival's Outriders programme exploring the shifting landscapes of contemporary Africa, rising star of Scottish poetry Nadine Aisha Jassat embarked on a poignant journey across the south-east of the continent with Zimbabwe-based write… David Mitchell with Sam Amidon: The Music of Utopia Avenue David Mitchell with Sam Amidon: The Music of Utopia Avenue While the Summer of Love is about to unfold across the Atlantic, life in 1967 isn’t so easy for a young would-be musician in London’s shabby Charing Cross Road. Yet from this modest starting point, David Mitchell builds a joyful fictional biography of…