Explore the Festival programme

The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place from 15-30 August 2026. The programme will be available in June 2026. Sign up for our ebulletins or follow us on social media to hear announcements and updates.

In the meantime, you can enjoy watching nearly 150 events from the 2025 Festival on our website. 

2024 Book Festival Highlights

EIBF_2024-08-13_image by Mihaela Bodlovic (247)
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EIBF - Phographer- Aly Wight - Sun 11-08-24 - File-07200
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EIBF - Phographer- Aly Wight - Sat 10-08-24 - File-6300

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Look, Listen & read

Joe Boyd: Bringing It All Back Home

Joe Boyd: Bringing It All Back Home

Responsible for the sound on the night Bob Dylan went electric, and producer of Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, and R.E.M, few know the 20th century’s most popular music better than the legendary Joe Boyd – or are more familiar with the global……

Ian Rankin: A Rebus for the Dark Times (2020 Event)
Ian Rankin: A Rebus for the Dark Times (2020 Event)

We have all become familiar with living through these strange times but for Ian Rankin 2020 was unusual in more ways than one. For starters, even though the number one bestselling…

Anne Applebaum: Democracy Under Siege (2020 Event)
Anne Applebaum: Democracy Under Siege (2020 Event)

‘Given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy. Indeed, if history is anything to go by, all of our societies eventually will.’ Pulitzer Prize-winning writer…

I Wanna Hold Your Hand
I Wanna Hold Your Hand by Cat Clarke

There are some things in life you take for granted. And by you, I mean me, so I might as well continue in that vein…