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

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EIBF_2024-08-13_image by Mihaela Bodlovic (247)
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EIBF - Phographer- Aly Wight - Sat 10-08-24 - File-06628
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Look, Listen & read

Peter Mackay: Meeting One’s Makar

Peter Mackay: Meeting One’s Makar

At this unique event, we introduce this trailblazing poet, academic, and broadcaster, and discovers how a son of the Western Isles became the fifth incumbent in this totemic Scottish literary role. Tha fàilte air càch!…

Anne Enright with Vicky Featherstone: Mothers and Daughters (2020 Event)
Anne Enright with Vicky Featherstone: Mothers and Daughters (2020 Event)

‘You were always sitting in character, you were just never sure which one.’ So says Norah to the memory of her mother in Actress, the new novel by Anne Enright. The mother in…

Val McDermid & Jo Sharp: Shaping a Better Future (2020 Event)
Val McDermid & Jo Sharp: Shaping a Better Future (2020 Event)

At last year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, bestselling author Val McDermid and professor of geography Jo Sharp were inspired by the festival theme, We Need New Stories…

Freedom is a Collective Conscience Project
Freedom is a Collective Conscience Project by Djamila Ribeiro

As I studied Philosophy, I understand that freedom is a different concept depending on your perspective. When they ask me: ‘What is freedom?’ I always answer: it depends on who you ask…