Tag: Edinburgh Futures Institute

Record book sales and 20% increase in footfall cement EIBF’s place at the heart of the most important conversations of our time

  • 20% increase in footfall, with more than 28,000 people welcomed to the site on each of the Book Festival’s three weekends
  • Fewer events delivered more ticket sales, with 62% of tickets sold to people in EH postcodes
  • Changing Your Mind: Book Festival audiences gathered to explore the defining questions of our age, from AI and social media to democracy, culture and the future of society
  • People in 52 countries tuned in online, extending the Book Festival’s international reach
  • 62 schools from across Scotland were welcomed during the National Year of Reading, with every child receiving a free book
  • 217 library watch parties across more than 80 libraries in 22 local authority areas brought Book Festival conversations to communities across Scotland
  • International artists, writers and cultural leaders came together through Global Ink and Scotland to the World
  • Val McDermid and Jo Sharp’s This Door of the Seas and Lyse Doucet’s The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan were among the Book Festival’s bestselling books

Edinburgh International Book Festival has concluded a record-breaking year that reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s leading spaces for public conversation.

With a smaller programme but a higher proportion of available tickets sold, the Book Festival brought together writers, thinkers, artists and audiences to explore the defining issues of our time under this year’s theme, Changing Your Mind.

In its third year at Edinburgh Futures Institute, footfall increased by 20% compared with last year, while ticket sales rose despite a smaller programme. Meanwhile, 62% of tickets were sold to people in EH postcodes, underlining the Book Festival’s strong local support.

Alongside major discussions on politics, technology and society, audiences flocked to hear acclaimed fiction writers including John Grisham, Maggie O’Farrell and 2026 International Booker Prize winners Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King.

The programme also brought together leading voices writing in English alongside internationally celebrated authors in translation, reinforcing the Book Festival’s reputation as a global home for literature and storytelling.

Together, these conversations demonstrated the Book Festival’s role as a space where complex issues can be explored openly, while helping connect people of all ages with books, writers and reading.

Jenny Niven, Director and CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “Changing Your Mind was more than this year’s theme. It was an invitation to approach the world with curiosity rather than certainty, and to do that in real life, in the company of other people, has felt both joyful and necessary. 

“In the National Year of Reading, it is heartening to see footfall increase, more tickets sold across a smaller programme and our Waterstones bookshop achieve its biggest-ever sales. At a time when literacy rates are declining, book festivals have an important role in helping people discover the pleasure, confidence and connection that reading can bring. Our schools programme, free books for every child attending and year-round work with communities are all part of that commitment. 

“With 62% of tickets sold to people in EH postcodes, the Book Festival remains deeply rooted in Edinburgh. At the same time, people in 52 countries joined us online. That combination of strong local support and international reach shows a Book Festival that is both determinedly local and open-heartedly international.”

A PLACE TO DISCUSS THE DEFINING ISSUES OF OUR TIME

From artificial intelligence and social media to democracy, culture and creativity, the Book Festival provided a space for audiences to engage with some of the defining questions of our age.

Former technology executive and whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams highlighted the urgency of debates around social media and public discourse, arguing that “it’s really important that we start to build up that offline muscle of disagreement”, and warning that social media algorithms encourage people “to fix our identity in increasingly strident and narrow boxes.”

Professor Daisy Fancourt explored the growing importance of meaning, creativity and culture in an AI-driven world, arguing that “What we’re all inherently going to want more and more in an AI world is meaning.”

Politics and public life also remained central to the programme. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown considered how citizens can help bring about positive change, while former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin reflected on the challenges and choices that shaped their leadership. Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also joined the programme, bringing audiences into conversations about the political and economic questions shaping public life.

The appetite for new perspectives extended beyond Book Festival events. The Book Festival’s Waterstones bookshop recorded its biggest-ever sales.

Among its bestselling titles were Val McDermid and Jo Sharp‘s This Door of the Seas and Lyse Doucet‘s The Finest Hotel in Kabul, reflecting audiences’ appetite for ideas and stories that help them see the world differently.

YEAR-ROUND IMPACT ACROSS SCOTLAND

The Book Festival’s commitment to access and participation extended far beyond Edinburgh through a programme of free digital activity hosted in communities across Scotland.

This year, more than 80 libraries across 22 local authority areas hosted 217 watch parties, enabling audiences to experience major Book Festival events together in their local communities. People from 52 countries also tuned in online, extending access to the programme around the world.

These free screenings ensured geography and cost were not barriers to participation and demonstrated how the Book Festival continues to use technology to connect audiences with writers, thinkers and ideas.

THE BBC

A new collaboration with the BBC brought Book Festival conversations to wider audiences through programmes including Front Row, Loose Ends and Take Four Books, extending the reach of writers, thinkers and cultural commentators appearing across the programme.

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS

The Book Festival welcomed more than 62 schools from across Scotland and 21 from Edinburgh, with every child receiving a free book to take home.

Taking place during the National Year of Reading, the schools programme is central to the Book Festival’s commitment to encouraging reading and helping children build lasting relationships with books.

GLOBAL REACH THROUGH GLOBAL INK

2026 marked the third year of Global Ink, supported by Expo, bringing international festival directors from four continents to Edinburgh. The programme created opportunities to exchange ideas, develop partnerships and strengthen Edinburgh’s position as a global meeting place for literature, culture and ideas.

SCOTLAND TO THE WORLD

This year’s Book Festival also saw the continued development of Scotland to the World, showcasing ambitious collaborations between writers, musicians and theatre-makers.

Highlights included India Alba, Ali Smith’s collaboration with the New European Ensemble, Delusions by Len Pennie and Paul Leonard-Morgan, and a Japanese Noh Theatre adaptation of The Song of Rona Island, demonstrating how Scottish stories can inspire new artistic forms and reach audiences around the world.

TONIGHT: Community Cabaret at Edinburgh International Book Festival

Monday 24 August 2026, 18:00

Spiegeltent, Edinburgh Futures Institute, Lauriston Place, EH3 9EF

We’ve challenged local writers and poets to respond to this year’s Festival theme: Changing Your Mind.

Join us as we bring them together to perform their work and create a patchwork of ideas on trying new things, listening to different perspectives, and keeping a sense of wonder in our ever-changing world. You can expect a diverse, thought-provoking, and energising evening of live music, poetry, and storytelling.

I’ll be joining Citizen writer colleagues to read a short piece at tonight’s event – see you there (unless I change my mind, of course!) – Ed.

Book Clubs: Try the Book Nook at Edinburgh International Book Festival

What better place to host your August book club than at the heart of one of the largest literary festivals in the world? (That’s us!) 📖

While our site at the Edinburgh Futures Institute bustles with events, authors, and fellow reading fanatics, The Book Nook sits nestled away in a quiet corner and provides the perfect setting for quiet reading, enthusiastic book groups, or those juicy post-event debriefs.

Time slots to use the Book Nook can be booked for free at the link in our bio, so open up that book-ish groupchat and rally your best book group pals … these spots go quickly! 😉

#EdBookFest

#EdinburghInternationalBookFestival

#bookclub

#Scotland

Edinburgh International Book Festival celebrates success as it flourishes in new home

  • Ticket sales up 11% on 2024 including significant rise in first time buyers
  • Footfall increased by 60% with 25,000 visitors in a single weekend
  • Library streaming service resounding success with 41 libraries in 12 local authorities tuning in, for free, for over 90 ‘watch parties’
  • Digital reach saw audiences in 63 countries, ranging from Japan to The Vatican, join online, expanding global audience reach
  • Female Scottish authors and independent publishers topped the Waterstones bestseller lists, alongside event led hits like Katabasis by R. F. Kuang and Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir, Frankly
  • New Kids’ Zone gets seal of approval from thousands of young people and families, with Princess the Unicorn, Bunny Vs Monkey, Supertato and Pikachu inspiring future generations of readers
  • This year’s children’s programme featured multiple sold-out events and a world premiere from Julia Donaldson’s Paper Chase.

Edinburgh International Book Festival has wrapped up a landmark year, celebrating a two-week long ‘Repair’ themed programme of events for all ages and interests, that saw conversations of global significance take place on stage, and connected with existing audiences while welcoming a whole new generation of readers.

The 2025 festival, which hosted over 650 authors and nearly 700 events saw a remarkable 11% increase in ticket sales over the previous year, with record numbers of people enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.

The festival’s new home at EFI proved a major draw with the courtyard welcoming over 25,000 visitors in a single weekend and a whopping 161,889 people in total, an increase of 60% compared to 2024, an unquestionable sign it’s settled into its new, permanent home.

This surge in footfall, combined with a significant rise in first-time bookers, shows the festival’s success in reaching new audiences and capitalising on its new location right at the heart of the Edinburgh Festivals footprint.

This was evident not least in the newly increased and re-targeted YA programme, which proved a resounding success, hitting its mark with readers 30 and under, solidifying the festival’s appeal to the next generation of literary enthusiasts.

Once again, The Front List strand of events, which increased from eleven to fifteen in 2025, were packed out with over 12,000 people turning up in person at McEwan Hall to hear from writers including literary titans Ian McEwan and Maggie O’Farrell, contemporary phenomena Asuko Yuzuki and R F Kuang, political heavyweights Yulia Navalnaya and Nicola Sturgeon, and even the celebrity co-creator of beloved sitcom Gavin and Stacey, Ruth Jones.

This year also marked a cornerstone moment for Scottish independent publishers and female writers. The bestseller list was topped by standout titles from Scottish women including Mairi Kidd’s The Specimens, and event led titles including Katabasis by R. F. Kuang and Nicola Sturgeon’s Frankly.

Beyond the physical site, the festival’s digital reach expanded dramatically, connecting communities across 12 local authority areas by streaming events, free of charge, into over 40 libraries, which in turn hosted over 90 ‘watch parties’, as part of the newly launched Paper Trails initiative.

In addition, a global audience of almost 19,000 from 63 countries across five continents tuned in for streamed events, proving the festival’s ability to foster conversations that transcend geographical boundaries. And with events available for the rest of the year, and more to be added on an on-demand basis in Autumn, global audiences have lots more coming to enjoy.

This year’s program was defined by timely and important discussions that reflected a public hunger for considered, informed conversations on global issues. Sold-out events like the discussion with prominent Israeli historians Ilan Pappé and Avi Shlaim on the history of Israel and Palestine, a conversation between renowned journalists Lindsey Hilsum and Edward Wong, and several events looking at the impact of AI on literature and the arts more widely, exemplified this trend.

These events drew large audiences and sparked meaningful dialogue on topics of international significance, underlining the festival’s role in generating constructive in person conversations.

The brand new, dedicated Kids’ Zone was also a resounding success, providing a comfortable environment for families to relax and have fun for free, and complementing the children’s programme with unmissable opportunities to meet the Gruffalo, Pikachu and Supertato – and also, for the first time in book festival history, the real-life Princess the Unicorn.

Hosting just some of the sold-out events in the Children and Families programme were Julia Donaldson, who attended with her world premiere of Paper Chase, Cressida Cowellwho hosted a record-breaking back-to-back signing, ensuring hundreds of young people left with a memory that will last a lifetime, and the iconic Michael Rosen.

The festival’s continued growth in both physical attendance and online engagement demonstrates its enduring relevance, and by providing a space for a diverse range of voices and fostering conversations that matter, it continues to thrive and align with its audiences in both its fun-filled programming and its considered approach to conversations of global significance.

Repair Cafe at Book Festival!

Repair Café at the Edinburgh International Book Festival tomorrow! 🛠

This Saturday, Repair Café will be making a special appearance at Edinburgh Book Festival, as part of this year’s theme ‘Repair’ 🔧

If you have any mechanical, electronic or fabric items you think could be repaired but you’re not sure where to start, this is the perfect place to try your hand at fixing them under the guidance of our very knowledgeable volunteers.

Simply book your free ticket and send us an email about the items you wish to bring along and your preferred time! And don’t forget to share with your friends and spread the message of Repair! 🙌

📍 Edinburgh Futures institute, 1 Lauriston place

📆 Saturday 23rd August 2pm-5pm

Tickets available at

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/repair-cafe-edinburgh-at…

Words From The Wards: The Exhibition

FREE EXHIBITION AT EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

The Gallery, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9EF

Last year, through our Words from the Wards project, we asked the people of Edinburgh to share stories about the former Royal Infirmary, to honour the experiences and memories that people connect with the building’s previous life.

Following the success of the project, we worked with Edinburgh College of Art students to illustrate the collected stories.

Join us to view the stories and illustrations side by side in our new festival gallery.

The Gallery, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9EF

Exhibition runs until 17th August from 10am – 9pm daily

£3M FUNDING BOOST FOR EDINBURGH’S SMART DATA FOUNDRY

Smart Data Foundry (SDF) has been awarded £3 million funding to operate a new Financial Data Service, enabling more researchers to study the financial health of millions of households across the UK, by providing secure access to financial behaviours, economic resilience, and regional economic activity.

The funding is made by Smart Data Research UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The new service, which will operate from SDF’s base at Edinburgh Futures Institute, will be part of a network of five other data services across the country.

Together, they will put the UK at the forefront of smart data research and innovation. Providing safe and efficient ways for researchers to access and use the smart data generated through everyday interactions with the digital world, including via mobile apps, navigation systems, social media and shopping.

Led by SDF’s Dougie Robb and Professor Chris Dibben from the University of Edinburgh, the new Financial Data Service will provide unprecedented insights into the economic health of the UK through secure access to de-identified banking and finance data from millions of households and businesses.

Since its establishment in 2022, SDF has earned national recognition for its work using anonymised financial data for public good, including research in partnership with NatWest Group into how Covid-19 affected how people earned, spent and saved during and post pandemic and its work with Sage and CEBR on their quarterly SME tracker.

Dougie Robb, SDF’s Interim CEO, said: “We look forward to joining five of the most forward-thinking data service organisations in the UK in this groundbreaking network. It will foster data sharing partnerships between academia, public institutions and private enterprise leading to public good outcomes which will improve the lives of people across the UK.

“In partnership with the University of Edinburgh (UoE) we’ve made great progress in holding and making available for public benefit research financial data resources. We have forged fruitful data partnerships with NatWest Group, Virgin Money, SAGE, and Equifax,  and built a team of transdisciplinary experts with expertise across finance, banking, digital technology, product, data science, and information governance.”

Professor Chris Dibben added: “Understanding the financial situation of households across the UK is a vitally important for social and economic research. However this key aspect of economic life is often poorly measured in our research datasets or even absent.

“This investment by Smart Data Research UK in a Financial Data Service will allow us to change this situation, enabling more public benefit social and economic policy research. I am really excited to be working with Smart Data Foundry and SDR UK to deliver this significant new resource over the next three years.”

By partnering with financial institutions and leading research institutes, the new Financial Data Service will deliver insights into productivity, prosperity and health and wellbeing, providing access to detailed evidence about financial behaviours, economic resilience, and regional economic activity.

This data will enable researchers to tackle urgent policy challenges including the cost-of-living crisis, financial inclusion, the changing nature of employment, and productivity in different economic sectors and geographic places.

The service will enable a transformation in the UK’s understanding of how economic shocks and policy interventions affect different communities, helping policymakers design more targeted and effective responses to economic challenges.

Magdalena Getler, Head of Academic Engagement at Smart Data Foundry, said: “With the new Data (Use and Access) Bill currently going through Parliament, we are at the beginning of a new age for data.

“If successful, the new legislation will empower safe data use, access, and sharing for the good of society like tackling challenges such as the impacts of poverty and economic inactivity.”

Also awarded funding in this latest tranche was Smart Energy Data Service, part of the Energy Systems Catapult. All six will work collaboratively as part of the Smart Data Research UK programme.

These two new data services join four others previously announced:

·       Imagery Data Service (Imago)

·       Smart Data Donation Service

·       Geographic Data Service

·       Healthy and Sustainable Places Data Service

A strategic hub based within the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will provide leadership and coordination. It will also offer common services and ethical guidance.

Joe Cuddeford, Director of Smart Data Research UK, said: “Our six interconnected services will enable researchers to access unprecedented insights across finance, energy, health, geography, and beyond – empowering innovative solutions to complex societal challenges facing the UK today.”

Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council, added: “This investment in a new network of smart data services helps put the UK at the forefront of data-driven innovation.

“Data infrastructure is as critical to our shared prosperity as transport, water or power networks. When we invest in data infrastructure we are investing in economic growth, improved public services, and a more sustainable future.”

Mental Health Reference Group meets at Edinburgh Futures Institute

Representatives from Public Health Scotland, RAMH, Penumbra, The Neuk, Cruse Scotland, Samaritans, See Me Scotland, Cosla, Voluntary Health Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and VOX gathered to discuss the ongoing work being driven by the Mental Health Taskforce in response to the HMICS report on Mental Health.

Representatives agreed to participation in forming a new reference group, solely focused on providing Police Scotland with the voices of professional, expert and lived experience to support the development of new, and improved, person centred approaches across Scotland.

Representatives received a presentation from Police Inspector Suzanne Kelsey on the success of the Mental Health Pathway, a Scottish Government funded collaboration with NHS 24 and Scottish Ambulance Service, followed by the presentation and discussion around a collaborative approach to the development of a suicide bereavement support letter providing emotional and practical support for families bereaved by suicide.

The formation of a reference group will lend support and expertise to the current collaborative workstreams, governance structure and newly created Mental Health Taskforce established to address the 2023 HMICS Mental Health Report recommendations for Police Scotland.

Chief Superintendent Matt Paden who leads Police Scotland’s Mental Health Taskforce said: “The taskforce will establish and integrate referral pathways such as the NHS Mental Health Pathway and Distress Brief Intervention, as well as operational guidance on how to access community triage, so individuals in our communities get the most appropriate response from those best capable to provide the help they require and merit.

“The taskforce will also realign Police Scotland training to better equip our officers with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to provide balance around the care, support and compassion in daily policing our communities.

“The success of these initiatives heavily depends on the support and engagement of our partners. There are excellent local examples, such as, but not limited, to Hope Point in Dundee, The Neuk in Perth and the community triage model in Lanarkshire which provide a fantastic support to our local communities in those areas.

“We want to enable similar efforts to be implemented nationally and our goal is to collaborate with partners to ensure that individuals have access to the most suitable assistance with our officers and staff equipped with the knowledge and tools to make that a reality.” 

Thursday marked the first gathering of the Mental Health Reference Group who will support Police Scotland in providing a forum for multi sectoral collaboration.

Wendy Given from the Neuk was among those participating in the meeting. he said: “As a third sector organisation working closely with Police Scotland to provide mental health crisis support, it was great to hear about the work being done on pathways and to have the opportunity to represent the views of those using our services at The Neuk.

“Today was a great opportunity to explore potential gaps and work together on creating a more streamlined and effective response for individuals reaching out in mental health crises.

“We are pleased to be included in the formation of a Mental Health Reference Group to ensure that a cross-section of views informs the work they do. I would like to praise Police Scotland for their dedication to bringing about change that truly puts the person at the centre.”

Neil Mathers, Executive Director for Samaritans Scotland said: “This was a great opportunity to work with partners across the third sector to consider how we can better support people in our communities experiencing mental health crisis.

“It was hugely valuable to learn more about Police Scotland’s new Mental Health Taskforce and the progress being made with NHS24 to ensure timely and effective support to those in distress.

“At Samaritans Scotland we work to ensure fewer lives are lost to suicide. We believe it’s vital to work positively and collaboratively with Police Scotland and other partners to achieve this vision.”

Edinburgh International Book Festival celebrates huge success in first year in new home

100k visitors, almost 600 events, 100 sold out and 55 countries watch online

  • Over 100k visits were made to the Book Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute from 10-25 August for first programme from new Director Jenny Niven
  • Authors, poets, politicians, musicians, thinkers and illustrators including Margaret Atwood, Richard Osman, Salman Rushdie, Blindboy, Sarah Pascoe, RF Kuang, Naomi Alderman, Jess Phillips  took to stage and screen for almost 600 events
  • Over 200 events sold to 90% capacity or more
  • Audiences from 55 countries joined online for pay what you can events – many of which are still available to watch
  • Over 4,500 school children from 89 schools across Scotland were transported to the Festival (31 groups free of charge), to attend free events and take home a free book each
  • EIBF authors took part in 12 visits to hospitals and prisons across Scotland
  • Thousands of local residents were introduced to Edinburgh Futures Institute for the first time

Over 100k visits were made to Edinburgh International Book Festival’s new home at the newly opened Edinburgh Futures Institute from 10-25 August 2024, with ticket and book sales significantly up on previous years, and thousands of curious passers-by exploring and enjoying the new site, amongst the heart of Edinburgh’s festival action.

Future Tense, the first Book Festival programme to unfold under new Director Jenny Niven, tackled topics of global importance ranging from AI to the climate crisis, capitalism to the war in the Middle East, migration to inheritance, and more besides.

Legendary authors, writers, poets, thinkers and entertainers including Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie (who joined down the line), Richard Osman, Dolly Alderton, Alan Cumming & Forbes Masson, Phillipa Gregory, Jackie Kay, James O’Brien, Lemn Sissay, Elif Shafak, Louise Welsh, Raja Shehadeh, Marian Keyes, Roger McGough appeared on stage, alongside RF Kuang, Blindboy, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, Evie Wyld, Julius Roberts, and Samantha Shannon.

As well as greats from the literary sector, stars of music and film (Stuart Brathwaite of Mogwai, Esther Swift, Evelynn Glennie, Stuart Murdoch, Steven Moffat, Anjoa Andoh), theatre makers (including Grid Iron’s Ben Harrison), producers, publishers (many appearing as part of the Business of Books strand aimed at those in the industry, and artists (Ruth Millington, Kate Leiper) and actors also featured, bringing the multi disciplinary magic of the Edinburgh Festivals to life, right at the heart of the city.

This year saw a number of brand new types of events unfold, many celebrating cross-discipline collaboration, including the ambitious digital experience, Perambulations of a Justified Sinner and the intimate Have Lunch With… series at Elliott’s Studio, featuring chef-writers (Asma Khan, Sami Tamimi and Rachel Roddy). Clean Money: Can Fundraising Ever Be Ethical brought in audience members with a variety of views to discuss the detail and nuance of modern arts funding in a safe and supported space, and events including ThinkTanks offered audiences unparalleled access to world-class minds including Harold Hongju Koh, Ingrid Robeyns, Joseph Stiglitz and Ken Costa.

Voices from across the political spectrum also joined the conversation, with appearances from John Swinney, Jess Phillips, Caroline Lucas, Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan. 

Jenny Niven, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the success of the Book Festival this year. Audiences have voted with their feet and we’ve seen full houses and brilliant, engaged crowds.

“Debate and discussion has been relished by audiences and authors alike proving the Festival is a truly important space for people to be inspired and come together.

“Edinburgh Futures Institute as a Book Festival venue has been terrific and we’re already looking at the ways we can build on what we’ve created for next year.

“We’re looking forward to beginning conversations in the Autumn with everyone who will be part of our story in our next glorious edition.”

More Words from the Wards tonight

WISHING my CITIZEN friends and colleagues good luck as they take to the stage at Edinburgh International Book Festival this evening.

They will be reading their stories about the old Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh Futures Institute, which was built on the grounds of the old Royal off Lauriston Place.

In spring 2024 EIBF called for people from Edinburgh to submit stories about the former Royal Infirmary, to capture and honour the experiences and memories that people connect with the building’s previous life.

Tonight’s local writers readers will joined by special guest Lisa Williams to perform their work and commemorate the building’s rich history.

The event is free – well worth seeing if you can make it along!

Supported by Edinburgh Futures Institute