Explore Events

Hundreds of events for adults, teenagers and children feature authors, illustrators, musicians, poets, policians, thinkers, prize-winners and rising stars every August.

Use one or more of the search filters below to find events.

    Browse this year's themes
     

    Tracey Corderoy: A Visit to The One-Stop Story Shop

    Age 5-8

    Monday 15 August 14:30 - 15:30

    Tracey Corderoy: A Visit to The One-Stop Story Shop Book
    Why not try? School for Skalds with Macastory School for Skalds with Macastory Families & 6+ Wed 17 Aug 17:00 - 18:00
     

    Frank Dikötter: Rise of a Superpower

    Monday 15 August 14:30 - 15:30

    Frank Dikötter: Rise of a Superpower Book
    • Attend in person
    • Watch online
    Since the death of Chairman Mao in 1976, China has radically reformed. But the result has been uneven, creating real economic growth and global political influence, but also reinforcing the one-party state’s grip over its vast population. Launching...
     

    Reading the World

    Monday 15 August 15:00 - 15:30

    Reading the World Book
    Why not try? Preti Taneja: Shattered Trust Preti Taneja: Shattered Trust Fri 19 Aug 13:30 - 14:30
     

    Catherine Menon & Vauhini Vara: Untangling Family Histories

    Monday 15 August 15:30 - 16:30

    Catherine Menon & Vauhini Vara: Untangling Family Histories Book
    • Attend in person
    Catherine Menon and Vauhini Vara discuss their ambitious debut novels, which unpick family secrets, with Rachelle Atalla. Named one of the Telegraph’s best novels of 2021, Menon’s Fragile Monsters unfolds the dramatic story of a Malaysian family’s...
     

    Justin Webb: Radio Saved My Life

    Monday 15 August 16:00 - 17:00

    Justin Webb: Radio Saved My Life Book
    • Attend in person
    • Watch online
    Respected presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Justin Webb sheds revealing new light on his dysfunctional childhood. His moving, candid and humane memoir, The Gift of a Radio, paints a fascinating picture of the 70s Britain that shaped him....
     

    Sarah Moss: What Did Lockdown Do to Us?

    Monday 15 August 16:15 - 17:15

    Sarah Moss: What Did Lockdown Do to Us? Book
    Why not try? Jakuta Alikavazovic with Allan Little: Lives Shaped by War Jakuta Alikavazovic with Allan Little: Lives Shaped by War Fri 19 Aug 10:15 - 11:15
     

    Amy Bloom: Till Death Us Do Part

    Monday 15 August 16:30 - 17:30

    Amy Bloom: Till Death Us Do Part Book
    • Attend in person
    • Watch online
    The last time American author Amy Bloom came to the Book Festival in 2014 to talk about Lucky Us, she travelled with her husband Brian. In 2020 they made a very different kind of journey together – to Switzerland where Brian was helped by Dignitas to...
     

    Scotland’s Stories Now: On This Day

    Monday 15 August 17:00 - 17:30

    Scotland’s Stories Now: On This Day Book
    Why not try? This is Memorial Device This is Memorial Device Sun 28 Aug 20:30 - 22:00
     

    Workshop: Daniel Hahn on Translation

    Monday 15 August 17:00 - 19:00

    Workshop: Daniel Hahn on Translation Book
    Why not try? Close Read: Chris Power on Denis Johnson's Emergency Close Read: Chris Power on Denis Johnson's Emergency Fri 26 Aug 13:00 - 14:30
     

    Louise Welsh with Nicola Sturgeon: Writing Glasgow, 20 Years On

    Monday 15 August 17:30 - 18:30

    Louise Welsh with Nicola Sturgeon: Writing Glasgow, 20 Years On Book
    • Attend in person
    • Watch online
    • Captioned
    Louise Welsh burst onto the Scottish detective fiction scene in 2002 with The Cutting Room. Her enigmatic protagonist Rilke, auctioneer, cruiser, man of indeterminate morals, has retained his place in readers’ hearts for two decades, as has his...