News Story

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our very first 2026 Festival events with this year’s The Front List line-up, presented in partnership with Underbelly.

Over an expanded programme of 15 events, you’ll get to enjoy rare opportunities to hear from internationally celebrated voices whose work helps shape how contemporary culture, politics, history, and society are understood. From Booker Prize‑winning novelists and globally bestselling storytellers to frontline correspondents, historians, and public intellectuals, The Front List places big ideas and major conversations at the heart of this year’s Festival.

Check out the full schedule below – tickets are on sale to Book Festival Members now, and go on sale to the public at 10:00 on Tue 5 May.

Browse all of the events here: edbookfest.co.uk/events

Want to secure your tickets now? Find out about Membership.

The Front List 2026

Monday 17 August, 13:00
Jimmy Wales and Cory Doctorow, chaired by Gabriel Gatehouse
Supported by the University of Edinburgh
A discussion between the founder of Wikipedia (Wales) and the author of Enshittification (Doctorow) exploring the decline of the internet, who now holds power online, and whether it can be reclaimed as a force for public good.
More info and book >

Monday 17 August, 15:00
Val McDermid & Jo Sharp, chaired by Allan Little
Supported by the University of Edinburgh
Crime legend Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland Jo Sharp discuss their fictional retelling of the Darien scheme, Scotland’s failed 17th‑century colonial project in Panama.
More info and book >

Tuesday 18 August, 13:00
Kae Tempest, chaired by Michael Pedersen
A conversation with the multi-award-winning poet, novelist and musician, reflecting on language, identity and the emotional demands of creative work, and discussion of Tempest’s electric new novel Having Spent Life Seeking.
More info and book >

Wednesday 19 August, 13:00
Diana Gabaldon, chaired by Alisha Fernandez Miranda
Marking thirty‑five years since Outlander began, its creator looks back on the series’ evolution, enduring global readership, and how it’s changed her life.
More info and book >

Thursday 20 August, 13:00
Tom Holland, chaired by Jenny Niven
Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland
The historian and The Rest is History podcast co-host explores the lives of the Roman emperors and why these ancient figures continue to fascinate today.
More info and book >

Friday 21 August, 13:00
Colson Whitehead, chaired by Samira Ahmed
Supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart
The Pulitzer Prize‑winning writer of The Underground Railroad discusses history, race and the moral responsibilities of storytelling, as well as the final title in his Harlem Trilogy, Cool Machine.
More info and book >

Saturday 22 August, 13:00
Lewis Goodall and Edward Wong
Supported by the AEB Charitable Trust
Two leading journalists examine the current state of the US–UK “special relationship” and how journalists report on a rapidly shifting global order.
More info and book >

Sunday 23 August, 13:00
Charlie Mackesy
The author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse reflects on kindness, vulnerability and storytelling in a family‑friendly event.
More info and book >

Monday 24 August, 13:00
David Olusoga
The Frederick Hood Memorial Lecture
The beloved public historian joins us fresh from the Edinburgh-set new series of A House Through Time and his role as the ultimate Faithful in the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, to reflect on his career, and bringing the overlooked stories in Britain’s past back into focus.
More info and book >

Tuesday 25 August, 13:00
Kiran Desai
Supported by the Hawthornden Foundation
The Booker Prize‑winning novelist, who in 2025 released her first work of fiction in two decades, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, reflects on migration, solitude and writing at epic scale.
More info and book >

Wednesday 26 August, 13:00
Mel Giedroyc, chaired by Sue Perkins
The comedian, presenter and bestselling author discusses her heartwarming new novel The Comeback with her life-long best pal.
More info and book >

Thursday 27 August, 13:00
Lyse Doucet, chaired by Sally Hayden
Sponsored by the National Library of Scotland
The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent reflects on reporting conflict and crisis and the human stories behind global headlines.
More info and book >

Friday 28 August, 13:00
Elif Shafak, chaired by Rosie Goldsmith
The acclaimed writer of 21 books, including 13 novels, reflects on freedom of expression, identity and writing across borders.
More info and book >

Saturday 29 August, 13:00
Ann Patchett, chaired by Roxani Krystalli
A conversation about memory, belonging and a life devoted to reading and writing, including discussion of her latest release Whistler.
More info and book >

Sunday 30 August, 13:00
Douglas Stuart, chaired by Jackie Kay
Supported by VisitScotland
The Booker Prize‑winning author of Shuggie Bain discusses family, faith and place in his forthcoming novel John of John, set on the Isle of Harris.
More info and book >

On sale to

Book Festival Benefactors: 10:00, Wed 29 April
Book Festival Champions: 10:00, Thu 30 April
Book Festival Friends Plus+: 10:00, Fri 1 May
Book Festival Friends: 10:00, Mon 4 May
Public: 10:00, Tue 5 May