Edinburgh International Book Festival – Page 2 – The NEN

Edinburgh International Book Festival makes 60 new flagship events available worldwide in major digital expansion

Festival’s biggest-ever on-demand release features Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ben Okri, Judy Murray, Philippe Sands, Linder, Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch, and dozens more – all on a donate what you can basis

Edinburgh International Book Festival is releasing 60 more events from its August 2025 programme for global audiences this week on a Donate What You Can basis. Already watched by viewers from 63 countries, ranging from Japan to a potentially very well-connected viewer in Vatican City, the festival has also been building its digital strategy around inclusion throughout the year, with over 100 events streamed into libraries across twelve Scottish local authorities in August alone, all entirely free. Together, these initiatives represent the festival’s most ambitious digital accessibility efforts to date.

The collection, launched at 10am today, brings conversations with some of the world’s leading literary voices to audiences unable to attend in person, from Pulitzer Prize-winner Ta-Nehisi Coates in dialogue with historian David Olusoga, to novelist Ben Okri‘s exploration of heartbreak and renewal, local crime writing duo Ambrose Parry, and culinary icons José Pizarro and Sami Tamimi, among many more.

The Donate What You Can basis ensures financial barriers don’t prevent access to these conversations, while allowing the festival to continue delivering both its August events and year-round community projects, including the recently launched Paper Trails library project.

The release marks a significant expansion of the festival’s digital offering, with these 60 new events bringing the total of on demand events available to view to almost 150, which more accurately reflect the diversity of the Festival’s in-person programme.

Spanning urgent political debates, intimate author conversations, and family programming, highlights include climate justice discussions with Tony Juniper and Friederike Otto, disability rights activism with Rachel Charlton-Dailey, and renowned Belle and Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch unveiling his stunning debut novel, Nobody’s Empire.

With the support of Event Scotland, a number of international territories will benefit from dedicated marketing materials to encourage increased global engagement with the Festival’s digital offering.

Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “As an international festival, streaming our events around the world during August is a key part of what we do. It’s brilliant to now be able to make that content available all year round, both for international audiences and audiences in other parts of Scotland.

“This is the largest on demand collection we’ve ever released. The depth and range of our programme means even if you did come in August and attended lots of sessions, there will still be an enormous number of insightful and inspiring discussions you might have missed, so it’s a gift that will keep on giving.

“Every donation made to watch these events helps us develop our work as a charity, delivering programmes in communities throughout the year and creating our August festival. We’re very grateful for your support.”

The initiative forms part of the festival’s year-round accessibility strategy, building on its Communities Programme and the Paper Trails library project launched earlier this year.

Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland said: “The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a vibrant celebration of literature, and the streaming of selected shows from this year’s programme offers an exciting opportunity for audiences to continue enjoying the festival beyond its August run.

“This online programme not only creates new opportunities for international audiences to engage with Scotland’s vibrant literary scene, but it helps build a sense of connection and curiosity that inspires future travel.

“As part of our diverse portfolio of events and festivals, the Edinburgh International Book Festival plays a key role in helping to drive Scotland’s visitor economy and reinforces our reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.”

Among the must-watch events now available:

Literature meets politics: Tariq Ali on empire and resistance; Booker-shortlisted Madeleine Thien with translator Deepa Bhasthi on the sanctity of language, Ash Sarkar on identity politics
Genre favourites: Romance authors Bolu Babalola and Beth O’Leary; crime duo Ambrose Parry; bestseller Jenny Colgan (above)
Poetry and performance: Award-winning poets Raymond Antrobus and Najwan Darwish
Family programming: “Brilliant Bugs” and mystery-solving with Robin Stevens
Food and culture: Culinary conversations with José Pizarro and Sami Tamimi; music history with Dylan Jones and Miranda Sawyer
History: TV historian Dan Jones, Edinburgh writer Kate Foster sheds the city’s women and their stories, and Paul French on Wallis Simpson’s formative period in China

All events are available with captions. You can find the full list HERE.

These events are available on a pay-what-you-can donation basis at https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/look-and-listen/player

Love to write? Join the Citizen Collective!

Are you (or know someone who is) aged 15 to 18 and interested in …

journalism and reporting

poetry and spoken word

lyrics, rap and songwriting

fiction writing and storytelling

or nonfiction writing and how facts can be brought to life?

Well, we’ve got a most exciting opportunity to share…

Our free and online young persons creative writing group, Citizen Collective, is open for new members!

Taking place on Wednesday afternoons during term time, this weekly online gathering is a supportive and inclusive space in which you can:

develop your writing skills

make new friends

hear from published writers

go on cultural trips

and, if you’re up for it, perform at the Book Festival next summer!

Interested? Sessions begin Wednesday 22 October and you’ve got until Wednesday 8 October to register!

Find out more including how to sign-up at: edbookfest.co.uk/news/join-the-citizen-collective

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…

Police: Leave plenty of time for your travel in town tomorrow

Edinburgh City Centre is likely to be very busy on tomorrow (Thursday, 21 August) due to several events taking place.

Alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival, AC/DC will perform Murrayfield Stadium and Hibernian FC will play Legia Warszawa.

Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, Chief Superintendent David Robertson, said: “With multiple events on in Edinburgh on Thursday, locals and visitors are advised to leave plenty of time to travel around the city.

“Transport is likely to be busier than normal so please plan your journeys in advance.

“An appropriate policing plan is in place and additional officers will be on patrol in the city.”

Scottish Book Trust celebrates 10 years of Read Write Count

Scottish Book Trust celebrates 10 years of Read Write Count book gifting with Edinburgh International Book Festival

National charity Scottish Book Trust has partnered with the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) to host a special free event for 300 school children to celebrate 10 years of Read Write Count, on Wednesday 20 August.

Read Write Count with the First Minister is a universal national book gifting programme for pupils in Primary 2 and 3 all over Scotland. Since 2015 over 2.5 million books have been gifted to children.

The book Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton was in the very first Read Write Count bag in 2015. The writer and illustrator duo will now host a special event at EIBF tomorrow at 11am. 300 school children will attend the free event with hundreds more watching on live stream across Scotland.

Research by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 85% of parents said that Read Write Count bags helped them to engage better with their children’s learning, while 90% of schools felt that gifting the bags had made a positive impact to their relationship with families.

One parent of brother Ollie, who received the first Read Write Count bag in 2015, and younger sister Elia, who will receive her own bag this year in Primary 2, commented: “We have always loved getting our Bookbug bags so when Ollie got his drawstring Read Write Count bag we were chuffed to have new books and games to use as a family!

“Now Elia will get her own P2 bag this year – we can’t wait!”

First Minister John Swinney said: “Books have the power to open our imagination to new worlds, which makes introducing reading from a young age so vitally important. We also know that nurturing positive relationships with reading supports improved wellbeing and attainment for children.

“Over the past ten years, the Read Write Count programme has played a vital role in supporting more children to access and take joy in reading, and it is more important than ever to recognise and celebrate this incredible milestone.”

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It is wonderful to mark the milestone and legacy of ten years of Read Write Count.

“Gifting books to children to enjoy with their families and carers is vital, helping to give them not only the best start in life but the lasting benefits that comes with having books at home.”

The event will also launch the books and contents of the 2025 Read Write Count bag, which will be distributed through schools during Book Week Scotland in November. Read Write Count with the First Minister is funded by Scottish Government.

How May I Help You?

TOGETHER WE REPAIR: EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

I met a nice couple after our Citizen Group’s performances at the Book Festival on Monday. Time was really tight at the end of the evening – we must have been among the last to leave the Edinburgh Futures Institute – and I’m sorry we didn’t have longer to discuss the event, but thanks for being so kind about it!

As I explained the other night, we had to pare our contributions right back to three minute slots due to time constraints. I think my original draft was over six minutes, but with careful editing (i.e. removing large chunks of swearie words!) I got it down to the required length.

So as promised, here is my Stories and Scran contribution How May I Help You? I am really chuffed that you enjoyed the piece so much and I do hope you’ll enjoy reading it again.

Stories and Scran is a real community event and I know my fellow Citizen writers get just as much pleasure from participating at the event as I do – there’s always a very warm and welcoming atmosphere and audiences are invariably supportive. It’s that enthusiasm that makes Stories and Scran so special.

It was nice to meet you, and who knows – maybe we’ll do it all over again next year!

HOW MANY I HELP YOU?

I was sitting in a queue of morning rush hour traffic when I was startled by a loud blast on a horn. I thought the traffic had moved again while I had been daydreaming, but no: the driver alongside me was pointing down to the back of my car.

Confused, I wound down my window. “Your back tyre is flat”, he called across.

Fortunately there is a big AutoCare Centre just along the road and I was able to trundle along there. The tyre was completely flat now and the wheel made a horrible squealing noise as it rumbled along.

I parked and approached the Reception Desk. John was in charge. I know this because he wore a big badge with his name on it – and he also answered the phone many times while I waited to be seen.

“Good morning AutoCare Centre, John speaking, how may I help you? Ah yes, Mr Wilson. The Zafira, wasn’t it? Let me check …”

I don’t know what John checked. He didn’t move, or even look at a screen. He stood, eyes closed, in a trance-like state for ages … maybe he was psychic?

“Mr Wilson? Sorry about that, sir. Yes, the lads are on it now. Can you give us a call back around lunchtime? … I do realise that, sir, but we have been very busy this morning … yes, I’ll call you back with an update. Of course … Yes, you have a nice day now …

Maybe I imagined it, but I’m sure he muttered: “Phone you back? Aye,right!”

Barely had John put the phone down than it was ringing again. “Good morning, Autocare Centre, John speaking how may … ah hello, Mrs Hill I was just going to call you. Great minds think alike, eh?

“Some bad news, I’m afraid – we are still waiting for parts … yes, six weeks IS a long time but we have to get the parts sent over from France you see … I do understand, Mrs Hill, but between Covid and Brexit … yes, yes, I can only apologise. You know what the French are like … I will chase them up again the second I put the phone down. I’ll call you right back … ‘

He put the phone down, gave a mighty sigh and raised his eyes. “Be with you in a second, sir,” he told me. “Help yourself to a complimentary tea or coff …”

The phone rang again. “Good morning Autocare Centre, John … och it’s just you, Benny!. How you doin’, my man? Are yous busy down there – we’re rushed off our feet here …’

I did fancy a coffee but a lengthy queue was building up behind me and I didn’t want to lose my place.

After quite a while, one customer had had enough. “This is bloody ridiculous!” he said in a very loud voice.

I heard it, the whole queue heard it, the tyre fitters in the workshop heard it – but John was oblivious. His conversation went on and on …

Finally, he glanced up … “Sorry, Benny, I’ll have to love you and leave you … we’re stowed oot the door here!”

I WAS NEXT!

“Sorry about your wait, sir, we’ve been UNBELIEVABLY busy this morning. Now, what can I do for you? What appears to be the problem?

Now, I would have thought that the problem would have been fairly obvious to John, but I pointed to my shredded tyre.

“Ah yes, we’ll take a look at that for you. The lads are busy just now but have a seat and we’ll get it up on a ramp as soon as we can. Help yourself to a coff …

The telephone rang again.

“Good morning, AutoCare Centre, J …Nearly afternoon? What a quick morning it’s been! Ah yes, Mrs Hill! Ye’ll no’ believe this – I was just going to call you …

Edinburgh International Book Festival expands Global Ink programme with EXPO funding

The Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) this week announced an expansion of its acclaimed Global Ink programme for 2026, made possible through EXPO funding from the Scottish Government.

The announcement was made at this year’s Global Ink event, the Festival’s International Industry Day, with an introduction from Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson.

The announcement comes as part of the Scottish Government’s investment in culture, with an increase of over £34m in 2025/26. The Festival EXPO Fund, established in 2007, is designed to support festival innovation and maximise national and international opportunities for the artists who contribute to them.

The expanded Global Ink programme, running from Monday 17 – Wednesday 19August 2026, and which brings together professionals from Scotland, the UK, and around the world, will now include a new landmark international conference in August 2026.

The conference, which is supported by £100,000 of existing EXPO funding, will build on the success of the Book Festival’s existing programme. This initiative will position Global Ink as a vital convening platform, promoting new work and supporting writer development. The event will also platform export-ready Scottish writers, creating international and commercial opportunities and strengthening Scotland’s cultural presence on the global stage.

The new three-day conference will bring together up to 20 leading international Festival Directors and a vibrant online audience. Sessions will address key global challenges such as funding sustainability, programming in politicised environments, and cultural collaboration. The initiative responds to growing international demand for in-person collaboration and sector-wide leadership.

The Global Ink programme also includes panel discussions and networking opportunities. This year’s programme included panels such as “Books That Travel” in partnership with Publishing Scotland, and “Born Digital: Web Novels and the Global Reading Revolution”.

These discussions provide a key platform for authors, publishers, translators, festival organisers, and cultural stakeholders interested in international collaboration.

Jenny Niven, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“In Global Ink 2026 we’re creating an expanded opportunity to showcase Scottish writing to the world. Our hope is that as a result many more Scottish writers will have the opportunity to share their work on international festival stages.

“We value enormously our relationships with Festivals around the world, from India to Argentina, allowing us to collaborate creatively, deepen our knowledge of international literature and to connect through culture at a time when international dialogue and exchange is so necessary.

“We look forward to working with a range of partners to bring this exciting project to fruition.”

Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, said: “The Scottish Government’s EXPO fund has shaped and supported hundreds of commissions, enhanced the ambitions of thousands of Scottish artists and attracted audiences in the millions for EXPO-supported work since its establishment in 2007.

“The expansion of Global Ink 2026, as part of a £200,000 EXPO fund award for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, is a perfect example of its intent to support festival innovation and maximise national and international opportunities for the artists who contribute to them, and I look forward to welcoming attendees next year.”

The initiative continues the EIBF’s long-standing leadership in international festival networks, including founding the Word Alliance and its active membership in the Global Association of Literary Festivals (GoALF) and the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA).

Citizen Writers at the double!

BUSY night tonight for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Adult Citizen Writers, who have back-to-back engagements this evening.

The group will be performing stories on the Together We Repair theme at 7.15 in Venue B and will then nip along to Venue NW to participate in the popular Stories and Scran community event at 8.15pm.

EIBF PROGRAMME NOTES:

Together We Repair

We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that stories help us make sense of our world. We’ve challenged local writers and poets, this year, to respond to 2025’s Festival theme: Repair.

Join us as we bring them together to perform their work: a patchwork of ideas on how to make the world a better place. Today featuring writing and performances from the Book Festival’s Citizen Writing Group.

Stories and Scran celebrates the dynamic and thought-provoking work created by communities across Edinburgh and beyond.

Expect diverse and creative talent from the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group and Citizen Collective, plus a special performance from Dance Base’s Prime Elders Dance Company.

And Scran Academy are back to serve up a delicious, sweet treat you can enjoy during the event.

Tickets for Together We Repair are fully allocated but a limited number of tickets may still be available for Stories and Scran (pay what you can). Check EIBF website for info.

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