FAQs

Covid-19 safety

The Book Festival will follow Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council health and safety recommendations at all times to ensure the safety of our audiences, artists and team. Please continue to check the website for the latest Covid-19 safety measures at Edinburgh International Book Festival.

When are details of the programme available?

The 2023 Book Festival programme will be launched at 12:00 on Wed 14 June.

When do tickets go on sale?

Tickets go on sale at 10:00 on Thurs 29 June 2023. Sign up to our ebulletins to be among the first to receive updates.

How long do events last?

The majority of events last one hour. Occasionally some events may be 75 or 90 minutes or even up to two hours long and events for very young children are often less than an hour. Check the end time of events when booking – each is detailed on the online event listing.

Where are the venues?

All but one of our venues are located within the grounds and buildings of the Book Festival Village, in our new home at Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place in central Edinburgh EH3 9DF. Our event venues are dotted around the Festival Village. With the exception of the Greta Thunberg event on 13 August, which will be held at Edinburgh Playhouse, 18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA.

When is the Book Festival Village open?

We are open every day during the Festival from 9:30 until 23:30.
The 2023 Festival runs from 12–28 August.

Are there any events for children?

Yes, we have a programme of events dedicated to children. It features readings, discussions, storytelling and creative activities to keep children absorbed and entertained. Use our event search to find events for children or visit our families page to see the themes in this year's Baillie Gifford Children's Programme.

Do you admit latecomers?

Out of consideration to audience members and authors, we do not admit latecomers once the doors have been closed to an event, or give refunds on latecomers' tickets. However, we understand people with young children may need to leave an event unexpectedly and we will help you exit as discreetly as possible, and get you back in again should you want to return. Please be sure to allow yourself enough time to get to the venue and get seated before the event start time. The Festival site may be busy with many people milling around, and it may take longer than usual to walk across it to your venue.

Who runs your bookshops?

This year, our Festival Bookshop is brought to you by Waterstones and we’ve filled our shelves with an array of titles from visiting authors, related literature, and local publishers. You’ll also find exclusive copies you won’t get anywhere else.

How long has the Festival been running?

The very first Book Festival was held in Charlotte Square Gardens in 1983, so 2023 marks our 40th year.

Can I bring a picnic onto site?

Yes! The Book Festival Village is a great place to sit, relax and eat with friends and family.

Can I bring my dog onto site?

Can I get online?

During the Festival there is free wifi access in the Book Festival Village, to use it simply follow the instructions and login.

Edinburgh in general is very well covered by the main mobile networks, with a strong 4G signal in most parts of the city centre and beyond, and excellent 3G coverage.

There is now also a free wifi service across the city centre. Simply turn on wifi on your mobile device, select EdiFreeWifi from your list of available networks and then log-in using your basic information. More information on this can be found on the Edinburgh Free Wifi website. 

What happens to the books after the Festival?

All the books in our bookshops are supplied on a sale or return basis and any left at the end of the Festival will therefore be returned to the publishers. Books given to us by publishers and other organisations for work use are donated to charities after the Festival is over.

How can I work at the Festival?

We employ short-term temporary staff during the Festival itself in August and some long-term contractual staff from May through to September most years. Recruitment and interviews usually take place from April onwards. We also employ permanent staff who work all year round. When we are recruiting staff it will be advertised on the Jobs page of this website and we also publicise new vacancies via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.