PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED ON NATIONAL POETRY DAY
Edinburgh’s International Poetry Festival, Push the Boat Out (PTBO), returns to Edinburgh this November (20–23, 2025) holding court in a new venue at the Pleasance, Edinburgh with a packed cross-art form programme promising to provoke, entertain and inspire.
The full programme is announced today Thursday 2 October, to mark National Poetry Day.
PTBO’s 2025 programme will bring together over 120 artists for a weekend of poetry, performance, music, and art. Setting sail on three thematic streams – Poetry is Punk reminds audiences that poetry can be raw, rebellious and DIY, the Anthropocene reflects on the human impact on our planet and species whilst The Unseen World dives deep into the mystical, esoteric, and spiritual—exploring belief and imagination beyond the everyday.
For 2025, 63 events will showcase some of the most exciting voices from Scotland and around the world. Audiences can look forward to appearances by acclaimed poets and performers including Leena Norms, Luke Kennard, Anthony Anaxagorou, Marjorie Lotfi, Zinnie Harris, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Victoria Chang, Lorna Goodison, Anthony Vahni Capildeo, Najwan Darwish, Noor Hindi, Roseanne Watt, Michael Mullen, and Scotland’s Makar, Peter MacKay, among many others.
This year’s festival launches in unforgettable style aboard Leith’s floating hotel, The Fingal, with a pre-festival event on 8 November featuring acclaimed poets Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen, who will read from their latest works: Virgin and Muckle Flugga. Celebrations continue as part of the main festival with highlights including:
- New commissions of cross-disciplinary work from poets such as Iona Lee, Taylor Dyson, Craig Aitchison and Garry MacKenzie in association with the National Theatre of Scotland under the theme ‘Anthropocene: the Human-Altered World’.
- Original 1980s ranting poet Tim Wells and punk slam champ Jay Mitra will get rebellious, raw and political in a night of anarchic energy with The Ranting Poets.
- The four winners of the 2024 Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Poetry Award will premiere new collaborations co-conceived with musician Kathryn Williams, unearthing myths from the British Isles with themes of elegy, absence and joy.
- What Now? – a new theatre collective will premiere bold new work responding to today’s geopolitical climate with new commissions from Hannah Lavery, Zinnie Harris, and William Letford. The event is supported by compelling spoken word from acclaimed poet Anthony Anaxagorou, and live music from Carla J. Easton.
- Scots poet Len Pennie will discuss her fiercely honest new collection of poems that confront ideas of patriarchy, gender-based violence and societal injustice.
- Two of Scotland’s standout spoken word poets, RJ Hunter and Gray Crosbie will share new work in a Scratch Night supported by an electrifying performance by Harry Josephine Giles and the Edinburgh Trans Choir.
- Expect sublime soundscape from headliners Lord Of The Isles & Ellen Renton and Edinburgh-based poetic ensemble, Acolyte, with an alternative gig night of poetry, pedals and synths.
- Tinderbox Orchestra sees out the festival with a glorious finale of rappers, poets, heavy bass and drums – transforming preconceptions of what an orchestra and poetry can be.
Around town, it’s scents and sensibilities with bespoke fragrance events in partnerships with Lush Cosmetics that explore perfume, memory, and metaphor.
For the art lovers, one of Scotland’s most distinctive and internationally recognised poets, Ian Hamilton Finlay is celebrated with an exhibition that will run for the duration of the festival.
Emma Collins, Director of Push the Boat Out, said: ‘From high-energy poetry slams and late-night scratch performances, to thought-provoking panel discussions, immersive workshops, development days and genre-blurring collaborations, PTBO continues to push poetry far beyond the page.
“We’re really looking forward to delivering this year’s programme at the Pleasance, one of Edinburgh’s most beloved festival venues and once again, the billing offers variety through its cross-art form experiences.
“The 2025 festival reaffirms its commitment to showcasing iconic poets, fresh voices, radical perspectives, and unexpected intersections between poetry and other art forms, including spoken word, music, and theatre.
“Whether you’re a lifelong poetry lover or a curious newcomer, there are multiple ways to engage with the poetic form via a true celebration of words on and off the page across the weekend.’
For 2025 PTBO continue their community engagement work with partners across the city, including SCOREScotland, Tinderbox Collective, Amnesty International UK, and Simon Community Scotland. For those unable to attend in person, the programme also sees a curated line-up of online workshops, discussions, five free live-streamed events and a full broadcast schedule in collaboration with EHFM radio.
Alan Bett, Head of Literature & Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “This is a creative programme that pushes the boundaries of poetry as an artform, working in the spaces where it meets music, visual art and performance.
“At its core is a diverse range of voices from across Scotland and beyond, showcasing poets at every stage of their creative journey including the likes of Gaelic language poet and National Makar, Peter MacKay, and the current Scots Language Scriever Taylor Dyson.
“Push the Boat Out brings this all into the heart of Edinburgh, inviting everyone – from curious newcomers to seasoned poetry lovers – to experience something unforgettable.”
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham, said: “Edinburgh has long been recognised as a hub of culture and creativity, and festivals like this are testament to that legacy.
“With 63 events featuring fantastic voices from Scotland and beyond, Push The Boat Out adds to the city’s diverse and thriving festival scene that we are proud to host.
“I’m very much looking forward to a weekend that brings together poetry, performance, music, and art in such an exciting way.”
The full programme and line-up can be found at: www.pushtheboatout.org For full programme and event listing PDF – please see here
