More articles Tuesday 04 November 2025 10:30am
60 new events now available on demand
Today we’re releasing 60 more events from our August 2025 programme for global audiences on a Donate What You Can basis, bringing the total of on demand events available from this year’s Festival to 150 – our biggest collection ever, and one which we hope better reflects the variety of our in-person programme for online viewers around the world.
We’ve added conversations with some of the world's leading literary voices, from Pulitzer Prize-winner Ta-Nehisi Coatesin dialogue with historian David Olusoga, to novelist Ben Okri's exploration of heartbreak and renewal, local crime writing duo Ambrose Parry, and culinary icons José Pizarro and Sami Tamimi, among many more.
There are political debates, intimate author conversations, and family programming, highlights include climate justice discussions with Tony Juniper and Friederike Otto, disability rights activism with Rachel Charlton-Dailey, and renowned Belle and Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch unveiling his stunning debut novel, Nobody’s Empire.
With the support of Event Scotland, a number of international territories will benefit from dedicated marketing materials to encourage increased global engagement with the Festival’s digital offering.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:
“As an international festival, streaming our events around the world during August is a key part of what we do. It's brilliant to now be able to make that content available all year round, both for international audiences and audiences in other parts of Scotland.
This is the largest on demand collection we’ve ever released. The depth and range of our programme means even if you did come in August and attended lots of sessions, there will still be an enormous number of insightful and inspiring discussions you might have missed, so it's a gift that will keep on giving.
Every donation made to watch these events helps us develop our work as a charity, delivering programmes in communities throughout the year and creating our August festival. We're very grateful for your support.”
Our on demand initiative is part of our year-round accessibility strategy, building on our established Communities Programme and Paper Trails library project launched earlier this year.
Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland said:
“The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a vibrant celebration of literature, and the streaming of selected shows from this year’s programme offers an exciting opportunity for audiences to continue enjoying the festival beyond its August run. This online programme not only creates new opportunities for international audiences to engage with Scotland’s vibrant literary scene, but it helps build a sense of connection and curiosity that inspires future travel.
“As part of our diverse portfolio of events and festivals, the Edinburgh International Book Festival plays a key role in helping to drive Scotland’s visitor economy and reinforces our reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.”
Among the must-watch events now available:
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Literature meets politics: Tariq Ali on empire and resistance; Booker-shortlisted Madeleine Thien with translator Deepa Bhasthi on the sanctity of language, Ash Sarkar on identity politics
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Genre favourites: Romance authors Bolu Babalola and Beth O'Leary; crime duo Ambrose Parry; bestseller Jenny Colgan
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Poetry and performance: Award-winning poets Raymond Antrobus and Najwan Darwish
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Family programming: "Brilliant Bugs" and mystery-solving with Robin Stevens
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Food and culture: Culinary conversations with José Pizarro and Sami Tamimi; music history with Dylan Jones and Miranda Sawyer
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History: TV historian Dan Jones, Edinburgh writer Kate Foster sheds the city’s women and their stories, and Paul French on Wallis Simpson’s formative period in China
Explore and watch the events on a pay-what-you-can donation basis at https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/look-and-listen/player
