All Events

There are events for just about every age and interest at the Book Festival, bringing readers and writers together for inspiration, entertainment and discussion. Over 900 authors appear in around 800 events, including novelists, poets, scientists, sportsmen, illustrators, comics creators, historians, musicians, biographers, Nobel and Booker prize-winners and many more besides.

Showing events that are not sold out.

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    Browse this year's themes

    Unbound with Edinburgh Gin

    The Lark Ascending

    Wednesday 21 August 21:00 - 23:00

    Unbound with Edinburgh Gin
    Our countryside isn’t all babbling brooks and skylarks: it’s rife with power struggles, protest movements, and poetic inspirations. From Vaughan Williams’ romantic orchestral The Lark Ascending to 60s counterculture and the rave scene of the 80s,...

    Are You Sitting Comfortably? / A bheil thu cofhurtail nad shuidhe?

    All Ages

    Thursday 22 August 10:00 - 10:30

    Are You Sitting Comfortably? / A bheil thu cofhurtail nad shuidhe?
    Join one of our Festival authors each morning for a magical half hour of storytelling, poetry, song or rhyme. This daily changing event is suitable for children of all ages. Appearing today: Cròileagan – Edinburgh's Gaelic playgroup. Thig còmhla...

    Ten at Ten

    Thursday 22 August 10:00 - 10:10

    Ten at Ten
    A small yet perfectly formed reading from one of our Festival authors to start your day. Check the screen in the Entrance Tent to see who's reading today.

    Little Wardrobe Monsters with Bryony Thomson

    Age 3-6

    Thursday 22 August 10:00 - 11:00

    Little Wardrobe Monsters with Bryony Thomson
    Author-illustrator Bryony Thomson presents her heart-warming debut picture book, created with inventive hand-printing techniques. Every night, Dora hears a mysterious knocking sound at the wardrobe door. It’s keeping her and the toys awake, but...

    Anna Mackmin & Nina Stibbe

    Surviving the Seventies

    Thursday 22 August 10:15 - 11:15

    Anna Mackmin & Nina Stibbe
    The 1970s are brought into sharp focus by Anna Mackmin and Nina Stibbe today. Devoured, a new novel by award-winning theatre director Anna Mackmin, is set in a commune in deepest Norfolk where a 12 year old girl seeks a positive future. Nina Stibbe’s...

    John Burnside

    A New Way of Looking at Things

    Thursday 22 August 11:00 - 12:00

    John Burnside
    ‘There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy.’ Although that could have been written in 2019, it’s from American writer Henry Miller, whose career was tarnished by misogyny accusations in the 1970s. Today acclaimed writer...

    The Great Gaelic Drop-In / Thigibh A-steach

    All Ages

    Thursday 22 August 11:00 - 13:00

    The Great Gaelic Drop-In / Thigibh A-steach
    Drop in and join author-illustrator duo Marie C Macaulay and Robin Bans for lots of Gaelic fun. Take a look at their colourful Teàrlag tales, learn some Gaelic words and make a mess with creative activities. All ages and Gaelic levels welcome. Thigibh...

    Dina Nayeri & Nick Thorpe

    Seeking Justice and a Home

    Thursday 22 August 12:15 - 13:15

    Dina Nayeri & Nick Thorpe
    Iran-born writer Dina Nayeri arrived in the US at the age of ten and in The Ungrateful Refugee she compares her journey as an asylum seeker to those battling for status today. Journalist Nick Thorpe bore witness to the millions who fled the Middle East...

    Charlotte Guillain: Skies in their Eyes

    Age 3-6

    Thursday 22 August 13:15 - 14:00

    Charlotte Guillain: Skies in their Eyes
    Charlotte Guillain takes you on a journey up through the atmosphere, way into outer space and back again with her richly illustrated giant concertina book The Skies Above My Eyes, perfect for inquisitive young minds. Unfold the pages with her to...
    Cancelled

    Roger Scruton

    What Have We Become?

    Thursday 22 August 13:30 - 14:30

    Roger Scruton (Cancelled)
    Why not try? Richard Holloway Richard Holloway Stories We Told Ourselves Wed 14 Aug 13:30 - 14:30

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