News Story

We're thrilled to announce the full programme for our 2026 Festival, including this year's hero theme of Changing Your Mind.

“Our theme 'Changing Your Mind' speaks to the moment we're in. At a time when opinions seem increasingly polarised and online debate is so divisive, we're creating space for thoughtful, nuanced conversations - exploring the reasons for our increasing social and political divides, and how we might change each others' minds, or at least agree to disagree, more agreeably. We're also looking at the potential of the human brain to adapt and relearn, and at the unparalleled power of stories to change our thinking.

Changing your mind is a lifelong process of staying open to new ideas. By bringing amazing speakers and curious audiences together, around knowledge and perspectives that help us challenge our assumptions and see the world differently, we hope the Festival programme this year will help us gain a deeper understanding of both ourselves and each other.”

- Director, Jenny Niven

There's lots to explore over on our events pageand our themes pages, but here are just a few headlines and highlights:

Almost 600 writers from 41 countries will gather in Edinburgh from 15–30 August to present 600 events spanning fiction, politics, science, history, music, and live performance in a 16-day curated programme.
At a time of intense polarisation and entrenched positions, our 2026 theme Changing Your Mind invites audiences to stay open and curious, championing deep listening and celebrating our capacity to evolve our thinking, informed by a range of reliable experts and diverse perspectives
We're bringing together a carefully curated programme of voices, experts, and ideas, to create space for informed, nuanced public conversation, and encourage new and alternative thinking - a much-needed alternative to debate driven by reaction and polarisation
Major public figures include former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, technology writer Cory Doctorow, best-selling author Michael Pollan, and award-winning poet Claudia Rankine, alongside leading writers from across the world
A landmark rare event brings one of the bestselling writers of all time, John Grisham, and iconic Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin together on stage, crowning The Front List line-up at the McEwan Hall.
Other renowned fiction writers appearing include Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, Ali Smith, Jenni Fagan, Colm Toíbín, Matt Haig, Louise Welsh, Nao-Cola Yamazaki, Candice Carty-Williams,Ben Lerner, and 2026 International Booker Prize winner Yáng Shuāng-zi
Greyfriars Kirk becomes a Book Festival venue for the first time, hosting Scotland to the World - a new series connecting leading Scottish writers Ali Smith, Len Pennie, Kathleen Jamie, and William Dalrymple with international musicians, artists and performers.
A strong focus on trust and information runs across the programme, with journalists, analysts and researchers examining misinformation, data, and global narratives, including The New Yorker’s Fergus McIntosh, The News Agents podcast co-host Lewis Goodall, and journalist Yi Ling Liu
We're exploring the AI revolution and its regulation, with pioneers in the development of AI tools and their application - including Steve Crossan, part of the original DeepMind team; Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook; and Tim Wu, inventor of the term 'net neutrality' - weighing its impact and risks
The third edition of our Global Ink programme convenes 20 cultural leaders from five continents, reinforcing the Festival’s role as an international meeting point for ideas
A new BBC collaboration transforms the Spiegeltent into a daytime broadcast hub (17–21 August), with live and recorded programming on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds
Our Young Adults programme returns for its second year, bringing together leading YA authors such as Juno Dawson, Samantha Shannon, and Holly Bourne with performance, spoken word and interactive events tailored for audiences under 30
Audiences can look forward to more than 150 events for children and families, alongside a Schools programme which support around 5,000 pupils through free tickets for those in need, transport and books
Livestreamed and Pay What You Can events, alongside library streaming, return to extend access across Scotland and beyond

Tickets go on sale to Book Festival Members from Wed 17 June.
Public on sale opens at 10.00 (BST) on Thu 25 June.

Want to secure your tickets first? Find out about Book Festival Membership.

Brochures are available now from branches of Waterstones, libraries, and a range of other retail and community spaces across the Central Belt. You can also download this year's brochure as a PDF here(8MB).