Launch and on sale dates for 2026 Festival announced

News Story

It takes ten months to cook up the Festival, and you're invited to the feast. We're getting ready to reveal the nearly 600 events we've carefully lined up for you this August. So grab your diaries, mark the calendar, set your alarms... However you keep track of time, take note of these key dates:

First up: The Front List

In case you're new to us or haven't been to one of our Front List events before, this series welcomes the biggest names from the world of literature – and indeed beyond – to the stage of the spectacular McEwan Hall for our 2026 Front List series. These events will take place every day from Monday 17 August at a regular time of 13:00-14:00, with a few special evening events too... all will be revealed very soon:

Announcement: Wednesday 29 April

Advance bookings: from Thursday 30 April

Members get early access. With membership starting at £60 per year (that's just a fiver a month), join up now to join in early with these advance booking periods:

Champions: from Thursday 30 April

Friends Plus: from Friday 1 May

Friends: from Monday 4 May

Find out more about our Memberships, and become a Member here.

Public on sale: Tuesday 5 May, 10:00

The main affair: Our Full Programme

We've got nearly 600 events lined up ready for reveal. But as well as scale, we've got range. From author interviews and panel talks to our special musical performances and commissions, you're sure to find an event (and we bet more than one) that will sing to you.

All that's left to arrange is for you to be there. Here's when you can browse the full programme and book in:

Advance bookings: from Friday 19 June

Be the first to secure tickets, enjoy access to our exclusive Members lounge during the Festival (for some Member levels) and a range of other perks this year as a Member. Advance Member booking periods for the Full Programme begin:

Champions: from Friday 19 June

Friends Plus: from Monday 22 June

Friends: from Tuesday 23 June