Month: June 2026

Edinburgh International Book Festival returns with global 2026 programme

  • Nearly 600 writers from 41 countries gather in Edinburgh from 15–30 August for the 2026 Edinburgh International Book Festival
  • Over 600 events span fiction, politics, science, history, music, and live performance in a 16-day curated programme
  • At a time of intense polarisation and entrenched positions, our 2026 theme Changing Your Mind invites audiences to stay open and curious, championing deep listening and celebrating our capacity to evolve our thinking, informed by a range of reliable experts and diverse perspectives
  • The Festival brings together a carefully curated programme of voices, experts, and ideas, to create space for informed, nuanced public conversation, and encourage new and alternative thinking – a much-needed alternative to debate driven by reaction and polarisation
  • Major public figures include former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, technology writer Cory Doctorow, best-selling author Michael Pollan, and award-winning poet Claudia Rankine, alongside leading writers from across the world
  • A landmark rare event brings one of the bestselling writers of all time, John Grisham, and iconic Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin together on stage, crowning The Front List line up at the McEwan Hall. The roster also includes Tom Holland, David Olusoga, Diana Gabaldon, Kiran Desai and Kae Tempest.
  • Other renowned fiction writers appearing include Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, Ali Smith, Jenni Fagan, Colm Toíbín, Matt Haig, Louise Welsh, Nao-Cola Yamazaki, Candice McCarty-Williams, Ben Lerner, and 2026 International Booker Prize winner Yáng Shuāng-zi
  • Greyfriars Kirk becomes a Book Festival venue for the first time, hosting Scotland to the World – a new series connecting leading Scottish writers Ali Smith, Len Pennie, Kathleen Jamie, and William Dalrymple with international musicians, artists and performers.
  • A strong focus on trust and information runs across the programme, with journalists, analysts and researchers examining misinformation, data, and global narratives, including The New Yorker’s Fergus McIntosh, The News Agents podcast co-host Lewis Goodall, and journalist Yi Ling Liu
  • The Festival explores the AI revolution and its regulation, with pioneers in the development of AI tools and their application – including Steve Crossan, part of the original DeepMind team; Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook; and Tim Wu, inventor of the term ‘net neutrality’ – weighing its impact and risks
  • Global Ink convenes 20 cultural leaders from five continents, reinforcing the Festival’s role as an international meeting point for ideas
  • BBC collaboration transforms the Spiegeltent into a daytime broadcast hub (17–21 August), with live and recorded programming on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds
  • The Festival’s Young Adults programme returns for its second year, bringing together leading YA authors such as Juno Dawson, Samantha Shannon, and Holly Bourne with performance, spoken word and interactive events tailored for audiences under 30
    More than 150 events for children and families, with a Schools programme supporting around 5,000 pupils through free tickets for those in need, transport and books
  • New partnership with LNER delivers a reimagined Kids Zone with free activities every day of the Festival
  • Livestreamed and Pay What You Can events, alongside library streaming, extend access across Scotland and beyond

The Edinburgh International Book Festival returns to Edinburgh Futures Institute from 15–30 August with one of its most relevant and international programmes to date.

In a moment of increasing global polarisation, the 2026 Festival – with a hero theme of Changing Your Mind – brings together almost 600 writers from 41 countries for 16 days of ideas, literature, conversation, and performance.

The Festival is where books and words spark new thinking, forge connections across borders, and generate conversations that matter.

The 2026 programme spans the full breadth of contemporary writing – world-class fiction and nonfiction, a rich programme for children and young people, food, poetry, and live performance – with a special focus on how we engage with the world’s biggest questions: from geopolitics and the flow of global power, to the nature of consciousness, the reliability of information, and how we live well together.

The theme, Changing Your Mind, runs through the programme as an invitation to listen, reconsider, and discover something new, unfolding across strands exploring public debate, new thinking in science and consciousness, and the role of stories and art in reshaping how we understand one another.

Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, pictured outside the Book Festival’s home at Edinburgh Futures Institute. Photo credit Aly Wight.

Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh international Book Festival, said: “Our theme ‘Changing Your Mind’ speaks to the moment we’re in.

“At a time when opinions seem increasingly polarised and online debate is so divisive, we’re creating space for thoughtful, nuanced conversations – exploring the reasons for our increasing social and political divides, and how we might change each others’ minds, or at least agree to disagree, more agreeably.

“We’re also looking at the potential of the human brain to adapt and relearn, and at the unparalleled power of stories to change our thinking.

Changing your mind is a lifelong process of staying open to new ideas. By bringing amazing speakers and curious audiences together, around knowledge and perspectives that help us challenge our assumptions and see the world differently, we hope the Festival programme this year will help us gain a deeper understanding of both ourselves and each other.”

ARE YOU OPEN TO CHANGING YOUR MIND?

As the world becomes ever more polarised, and opinions increasingly entrenched, we’ve reached a moment where to change your mind is seen as a sign of weakness, or even disloyalty – this year’s key theme seeks to reframe that. A wide range of experts, across three thematic strands, share reliable information and nuanced perspectives, encouraging audiences to think both critically, and flexibly, on a number of prescient topics – and maybe even change their minds about their current stances as they learn more, and expand their understanding.

Can You Change Your Mind? explores how we form and revise our views – featuring internet pioneers Sarah Wynn-Williams, Jimmy Wales and Cory Doctorow on the development of the web, and leading political voices including Gordon Brown, Jeremy Hunt and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on the forces shaping our world today. Practical workshops offer tools for more open and productive dialogue.

Consciousness Now looks at how our understanding of the mind is being transformed – with Michael Pollan and Anil Seth in conversation about what remains distinctively human in a machine-led world, and Gwen Adshead and Orlando Swayne on the brain’s remarkable capacity for adaptation and recovery.

Stories That Change Us celebrates reading as a route to new perspectives, with Daisy Fancourt and choreographer Wayne McGregor examining how the arts support wellbeing and cognition, and Claudia Rankine and Kiran Desai sharing the books that have shaped their lives and work.

INFORMATION WE CAN TRUST

The Festival has a long-standing commitment to trusted, verifiable sources and data – and this year’s Good Information strand brings together journalists, analysts and researchers to examine how we know what we know. Sir John Curtice examines what data tells us about Britain’s electorate today; Fergus McIntosh, who runs The New Yorker’s fact-checking department, discusses rigour in modern journalismwith The News Agents podcast host Lewis Goodall; while journalist Yi Ling Liu takes audiences behind the Great Firewall for a fascinating account of China’s internet.

The New World Orders strand brings together leading voices in economics, law and politics – including former US State Department official Edward Fishman and Oxford economist Carl Benedikt Frey on the shifting flow of global money and power, and Rana Dasgupta and Ece Temelkuran on borders and displacement.

More widely, nonfiction programming this year includes discussions on topics as wide-ranging as the World Cup (Simon Kuper, who has attended every one since 1990), designing cities for the future (Gabriella Bennett), bringing data to life with design (Mona Chalabi), and using the law as a framework to navigate and protect our rights, with Baroness Brenda Hale.

GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS

At the Festival, a book is just the beginning, and a starting point for conversations that reach far beyond the page – and that spirit is at the heart of this year’s programme.

Scotland to the World is a special series at Greyfriars Kirk – the first time the venue has been part of the Book Festival – bringing together Scottish writers including Ali Smith, William Dalrymple, Kathleen Jamie, and Len Pennie with artists and performers from Japan, India, the Netherlands and the United States. Supported by the new Expanded Festivals Fund, the series reflects Edinburgh’s status as a global meeting point for culture, and Scottish writers as our ambassadors.

Highlights include a highly experimental production created by pairing Kathleen Jamie’s writing with performance from Japan’s Noh Reimagined theatre company, alongside leading musicians Aidan O’Rourke and Brìghde Chaimbeul; and Dutch contemporary classical collective New European Ensemble presenting four new pieces inspired by Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet, with the author reading alongside.

The Front List, presented in partnership with Underbelly at McEwan Hall, forms one of the programme’s flagship strands: a curated series of large-scale events bringing leading writers, journalists, historiansand performers into in-depth conversation on some of the most pressing questions of our time.

Highlights include Diana Gabaldon marking 35 years of Outlander, Pulitzer and Booker Prize winners including Colson Whitehead, Douglas Stuart (hot on the heels of his Oprah appearance), and Kiran Desai, as well as conversations with voices such as Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Cory Doctorow and the BBC’s Lyse Doucet.

Fiction this year ranges from Colm Tóibín and Maggie O’Farrell to recent International Booker Prize winners Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King, and international stars Daniyal Mueenuddin and Japanese literary sensation Mieko Kawakami, with Scottish voices including Fern Brady, Jenni Fagan and Graeme Armstrong.

This August also sees a landmark pairing: John Grisham – whose books have sold over 500 million copies worldwide, with more than 50 consecutive number-one bestsellers and translations into almost 50languages – joins Ian Rankin for an event marking Grisham’s first visit to the Festival.

It is a rare chance to see the godfather of the legal thriller genre with one of the biggest names in contemporary crime writing together on stage, celebrating the accessibility of books and highlighting this year’s status as a National Year of Reading.

A limited number of VIP tickets will offer audiences the chance to enjoy a pre-event drinks reception with Ian Rankin, with proceeds supporting the Festival’s charitable aims, including its communities and Schools programmes.

BUILDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

The Festival’s international reach extends well beyond its programme. Global Ink, the Festival’s industry forum, reaches a new milestone in 2026 – spanning five continents for the first time, bringing senior figures from 20 of the world’s leading festivals and cultural organisations together for three days of exchange and collaboration with the support of Scottish Government EXPO funding. Now in its third year, Global Ink reflects the Festival’s role as a global meeting point for ideas and the people who champion them.

A multi-year creative partnership with Celtic Connections continues, with The Golden Road – inspired by William Dalrymple’s award-winning book – which premiered at Celtic Connections in January 2026developing into an expanded Festival performance in August.

This year, the BBC will use the Spiegeltent as a base for wider Festival coverage, curating its own selection of content and voices for broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, bringing the atmosphere of theFestival to national and international audiences.

COMMUNITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE, AND ACCESSIBILITY

In the National Year of Reading, the Festival maintains its commitment to bringing the benefits of reading to all. New research shows fewer than 1 in 5 children currently read daily; 1 in 4 children do not reach the expected reading level by age 11. Both within the National Year of Reading, and as a long-term commitment, the Festival creates environments where reading is fun, sociable and imaginative, rather than solely educational.

Twenty percent of this year’s programme is for children and young people, with more than 150 events for families alongside a Schools programme supporting around 5,000 pupils each year through free ticketsfor pupils in need, transport support, and a free book for every participant, supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart. Authors appearing include Cressida Cowell, Julia Donaldson, Neill Cameron, and Jodie Ounsley of Gladiators fame, while the LNER Kids Zone and Families Hangout offer creative activities and relaxed reading spaces designed for all ages, with free events daily.

A dedicated Young Adults programme for readers aged 30 and under includes BookTok sensation Jack Edwards bringing his Inklings Book Club to life as a live podcast, alongside YA authors Juno Dawson, Samantha Shannon, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Holly Bourne, and a range of special pop-up events let audiences connect with one another and make new friendships.

The Festival’s year-round Communities Programme works to address literacy inequality and social isolation. Paper Trails, the flagship five-year library initiative launched by HM Queen Camilla in 2025 and developed with City of Edinburgh Council, works with five Edinburgh libraries through co-created creative programming.

This August, events will be livestreamed free to libraries across 20+ Scottish local authorities (up from 13 LA’s in 2025), including as far afield as Shetland. Community work will also be visible throughout the Festival in the Communities Cabaret, the Where We Are exhibition featuring work by Edinburgh College of Art students, and writing from young people at Spartan Foundation’s Alternative School, as well as in visits to hospitals and prisons by a range of authors.

Events will continue to be livestreamed globally with a Pay What You Can model helping to widen access, alongside live and AI captioning, British Sign Language provision and events designed for audiences with learning disabilities.

Lyse Ducet, Chief International Correspondent and senior BBC presenter

FURTHER PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

How to Live a Meaningful Life offers warmth and perspective: Waterstones Children’s Laureate and the first ever Children’ Booker Prize judge Frank Cottrell-Boyce discusses protecting childhood, Prue Leithreflects on the pleasures of ageing, and philosopher Julian Baggini celebrates the meaning of coffee – with a tasting from Santu Coffee.

Table Talks returns with the chance to share a meal with writers including Ella Risbridger, Yasmin Khan, Jess Elliott Dennison, Meera Sodha, Michelin-starred chef Santiago Lastra and former Ottolenghi pastry chef Helen Goh.

Poetry ranges from Loud Poets’ Grand Slam Final and Push the Boat Out’s Open Mic Night to Simon Armitage, Hanan Issa and Peter MacKay – the UK and Welsh Poet Laureates and Scottish Makar – on the idea of national poetic identity.

The Festival’s Spiegeltent programme includes a new edition of Buffy’s Book Club, a celebration of 50 years of Scottish punk with Caledonia Screaming, and Hamish Hawk performing the Festival-commissioned Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0, following a UK tour and sold-out Glasgow show.

Workshops cover war reporting with Sally Hayden, translation with Polly Barton, Tarot as a writing tool with Jill Dawson, and – building on the Festival theme – open conversations with Sarah Stein Lubranoand deep listening with Emily Kasriel.

Edinburgh Climate Festival programme revealed

And our programme is LIVE! 🎪💃

We are excited to share with you this year’s free performances, workshops, talks and activities – including our wonderful art installations (and of course our many fabulous stalls during the day)!

We are really looking forward to seeing you all there, keep an eye out for further info and easy read versions being released soon! 🌻

🔊 Indicates activities and areas that are estimated to have a higher noise level

#edinburgh

#June

#festival

#ClimateAction

Men’s Health Week

MEN’S HEALTH MATTERS

Men’s mental health matters. 💜

This week is Men’s Health Week and it is all about encouraging men to take steps to look after both their physical and mental health, as well as breaking the stigma around asking for help. 🧠

For more support for men check out the organisations signposted or visit our website: mentalhealth.org.uk💻

#MensHealthWeek

#MensMentalHealth

#MentalHealthAwareness

#SupportMen

#BreakTheStigma

Picnic in the Park

SUNDAY 21st JUNE at VICTORIA PARK 12.30 – 3.30PM

🧺

Pack your picnic baskets and join us this Sunday, 21st June in Victoria Park!

Trinity Community Croft and Drakkar’s Drift garden, located on the bowling greens, will be open to all. There will be live music, tours and activities throughout.

See you there!

QMU to host Healthfest inspiring Scotland’s next generation of healthcare professionals

Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh is set to welcome more than 550 senior school pupils from across Scotland to its popular Healthfest event, designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and support informed career choices. 

Taking place TOMORROW Wednesday 17 June 2026, the festival-style event is aimed at pupils in S4 to S6. Now in its fourth year, Healthfest will see young people – many from schools in Scotland’s disadvantaged communities – take part in a programme of interactive workshops and campus experiences, providing valuable insight into a wide range of healthcare courses and careers. 

With a strong focus on hands-on learning, pupils will have the opportunity to explore both well-known and lesser-known career roles within the health sector. These include occupational therapy, podiatry and speech and language therapy, alongside careers in radiography, paramedic science and nursing. 

Suzanne Ewing, from Queen Margaret University’s Widening Participation and Outreach team, who has helped organise the event, said: “Healthfest has a real science festival feel, with lots of engaging, practical workshops for young people to get involved in.

“Activities range from using ultrasound technology to observe tongue movement during speech production, to CPR demonstrations delivered by paramedics, as well as sessions demonstrating foot injections to improve foot health and discussions around the psychology of food and eating. 

“Pupils can also take part in bespoke campus tours, giving them a first-hand look at our specialist labs and clinical learning environments. This helps them understand what studying a healthcare degree at QMU is really like.” 

Suzanne concluded: “Healthfest continues to grow in popularity because it opens pupils’ eyes to the wide variety of opportunities available within the health sector.

“Importantly, it supports them to make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways as they gain an insight into different professions and learn about the facilities and equipment that they would use as students on healthcare degree courses.  

“In addition, it creates more equality of opportunity for Scotland’s young people – opening up the healthcare sector to a wider pool of young talent.”

Alongside the workshops, pupils can also enjoy creative activities including a themed photobooth, with props such as prosthetics, lab coats and masks, offering a fun and memorable element to the day. 

QMU will host two sessions for schools to choose from: 10.00am–12.00pm and 12.30pm–2.30pm. 

Schools interested in attending this widening participation healthcare festival can contact Suzanne Ewing E:Healthfestteam@qmu.ac.uk for further information. 

Traditional fiddler Aly Bain to receive the Edinburgh Award 2026

Aly Bain, one of Scotland’s most celebrated and influential musicians, has been selected to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award in its 20th year. 

The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh. Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople.

Born in Lerwick, Shetland, Aly began playing the fiddle at the age of 11, inspired by his neighbour the renowned fiddler and teacher Tom Anderson. Under Anderson’s guidance, Aly developed an exceptional talent that would go on to shape traditional music in Scotland.

As Aly Bain celebrates his 80th birthday this year, his contribution to Scottish culture and music remains unparalleled. Widely recognised as a Scottish icon, he has proudly called Edinburgh home since his early twenties, establishing the city as the base for a outstanding international career.

His deep connection to Scotland has been reflected throughout his life and work, including performances at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and at the funeral of Scotland’s First Minister, Donald Dewar, in 2000.

In his early years he performed with The Humblebums which included two then-emerging talents, Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly. He later became a founding member of the influential folk group Boys of the Lough, touring extensively across the world and recording more than 20 albums.

Alongside these achievements, he developed a distinguished solo career through collaborations, recordings, and acclaimed television projects including the creation of the internationally renowned Transatlantic Sessions.

Aly will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost and have his handprints set in stone at the City Chambers later this year.

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Civic Award Committee, Robert Aldridge said: “Aly Bain is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I’m really pleased that he has accepted.

“Aly’s contribution to Scottish music and culture is simply immeasurable. For more than six decades, he has carried the traditions of Scotland to audiences around the world while remaining deeply connected to the communities and heritage that shaped him. 

“Through his extraordinary musicianship, generosity of spirit, and commitment to nurturing traditional music, Aly has inspired generations of performers and music lovers alike. As he celebrates his 80th year, it is fitting that we recognise not only a remarkable artist, but a true cultural ambassador whose legacy will endure for many years to come.”

Aly Bain, said: “I’m honoured indeed to accept the Edinburgh Award.

“Edinburgh has been my home for the last sixty years. The city where I have raised my family and where my professional musical journey began.

“From small beginnings in places like Sandy Bells pub Scottish traditional music has spread and is now respected worldwide.

“My life has been spent performing in cities all over the world but after every tour I have been lucky enough to return home to the most beautiful city of them all.

“My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this award possible.”

New homes released in one of East Lothian’s most desirable coastal communities

Homebuyers seeking a coastal lifestyle within easy reach of Edinburgh have a fresh opportunity to secure a home in one of East Lothian’s most sought-after locations, as Cruden Homes releases 14 new properties at its award-winning Longniddry Village development.

With prices starting from £240,000, the latest release includes a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, two bedroom bungalows, three-bedroom terraced homes and the last chance to buy four-bedroom family homes.

Located in the heart of Longniddry, one of East Lothian’s most desirable villages, the development combines the charm of coastal living with excellent transport connections and everyday convenience.

Residents benefit from easy access to beaches, woodland walks, golf courses, local shops and schools, while Edinburgh city centre can be reached in under 20 minutes by train.

The newly released homes include the four-bedroom Hamilton A and Huntington house types, alongside a range of other properties designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of buyers.

Each home has been thoughtfully designed to offer modern, energy-efficient living, complemented by green spaces and a strong sense of community.

Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, said: “Longniddry Village offers an exceptional lifestyle, combining the benefits of coastal village living with fantastic connections to Edinburgh and the wider East Lothian area.

“We’ve seen consistently strong demand from people attracted by the area’s natural beauty, strong community spirit and excellent local amenities. This latest release provides further opportunities for buyers at different stages of life, whether they’re purchasing their first home, looking for more space for a growing family or seeking to downsize without compromising on quality or location.”

Longniddry Village forms part of a wider vision to create a sustainable and connected community, with high-quality homes, landscaped public spaces and pedestrian-friendly routes that encourage active travel and outdoor living.

For more information on the latest release, visit www.cruden.co.uk or contact the sales team on 01875 666002. Showhomes are open Thursday to Monday, 10am-5pm.

OMNi gives toys a second chance as Toy Hospital arrives ahead of Toy Story 5

Free Toy Hospital Pop-Up comes to OMNi this weekend

Edinburgh’s OMNi Centre is set to give beloved toys a new lease of life this weekend (20 – 21 June),  as it hosts the Leith Toy Hospital for the very first time. Offering free toy repairs for local families.  Coinciding with the buzz around Toy Story 5, visitors can bring along their well-loved teddies and dolls  for expert TLC. 

Run by skilled toy surgeons, the Toy Hospital based in Musselburgh specialises in soft toy and doll  repair and restoration, giving cherished toys a new lease of life.

Visitors are invited to bring along teddies or dolls in need of repair to OMNi on 20 and 21 June where the Leith Toy Hospital team will be  on hand to carry out first aid style repairs, along with prescription cards for toys needing further work offsite.  

The pop-up toy hospital service is free of charge and charity donations for OMNi’s charity partner  Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) are welcome on the day. 

Neil Mackie, OMNi Centre Manager, said: “We’re delighted to host Leith Toy Hospital’s expert team for the first time at OMNi.

“Offering  free toy repairs is a fantastic way to give back to our community and bring families together  around something truly special.” 

Mari Jones, director of Leith Toy Hospital, added: “Favourite toys become part of the family, and just like Woody and Jessie, they each have a  story to tell. It’s an honour to care for these treasured companions so that their stories can  continue for many years to come.” 

The free pop-up will take place from 10am-4pm on the 20th and 21st June, with no booking required.  Free on-the-day repairs will include seam repairs, stuffing top ups, surface cleaning and sprucing up  of fur. 

The family fun doesn’t stop there… OMNi will continue its family entertainment into July, with money saving offers and a free craft station to keep little ones busy.

For full details, visit the OMNi website and join OMNi on its social channels for latest information and behind the scenes content: Instagram,  TikTok and Facebook.

OMNi is open 6am – 1am, Monday to Sunday. Individual brand opening times may vary, including  Bank Holidays.

Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster

National Audit Office assesses progress of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Programme    

A new National Audit Office (NAO) report examines the progress and evidence underlying the costed proposals for the programme to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster (the Palace) and assesses them against established practice to determine whether the programme is currently set up for success.

The Palace, a Grade I listed building within a UNESCO World Heritage site, requires extensive restoration to address serious risks, including failing mechanical and electrical systems, fire safety issues and high levels of asbestos.

The Restoration and Renewal Programme (the Programme) is intended to address these concerns.

The Programme is now at a critical stage, with parliamentary approval being sought to reduce the number of options from four to two.

The two recommended options are:

  • Full decant: £11.1 billion to £15.6 billion, 19 to 24 years
  • Enhanced Maintenance and Improvement plus (EMI+): £19.5 billion to £39.2 billion, 38 to 61 years

Building on its previous work, this new report by the independent public spending watchdog finds that further delaying the decision on which option to pursue carries risks to achieving value for money, with each year of delay adding between £320 million to £420 million to the overall cost of delivering the Programme.

Although the options and their underlying estimates have been through a standard process of development and have been subject to internal and external checks to examine and assure them, all are at an early stage and are likely to face cost and schedule pressures as designs develop.

The costed proposals provide enough information for a decision, although the EMI options are less developed and more uncertain.

The proposals also recommend that Parliament approves an initial seven-year programme of ‘Phase One’ enabling works capped at £3 billion.

Undertaking these works is a sensible approach, as this allows the Programme to progress while managing several risks. But plans for how the works will be overseen and delivered need to be finalised.

Suitable temporary accommodation is essential if the Houses are to decant and Parliament is to function properly. All Programme options depend on this accommodation being ready on time, but current risks could delay the move, particularly the full decant option.

The Programme must also strengthen its governance arrangements to be able to bear down on cost, schedule and scope; manage interdependencies across the Programme; and support Parliament’s decision on the final delivery option.

To put the Programme on a stronger footing, the NAO recommends that the responsible delivery teams:

  • publish and regularly update a clear, non-technical summary, potentially alongside its business case, akin to Strategy and Delivery Plans used for mega-projects
  • provide cost estimate ranges for all ‘Phase One’ work packages and set out how interdependencies between key projects will be managed
  • ensure that links and decision-making responsibilities between projects across the Programme and related work on the Parliamentary estate are managed through a single, integrated delivery plan
  • work with MPs and Lords at speed to create a clear vision for how each House, and Parliament as a whole, will operate in their temporary accommodation
  • review the Programme’s governance arrangements to set clear requirements and hold those delivering to account

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “Today’s NAO report on the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster provides valuable information to parliamentarians on the costs of the proposals and the significant decisions they will need to make.

“This project will affect the working lives of parliamentarians and staff for many decades to come. It is therefore vital that they are provided with comprehensive and accurate information in advance of a parliamentary vote, so that they can reach an informed judgement on this important matter.”