Explore the Festival programme

The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place from 9-24 August 2025. The programme will be available in June. Sign up for our ebulletins or follow us on social media to hear announcements and updates.

In the meantime, you can enjoy watching Festival events on the website, have a look at our Festival photographs, listen to or download free podcasts of event recordings and watch exclusive interviews and Festival highlights from past Book Festivals on our YouTube channel and your favourite podcast platforms.

2024 Book Festival Highlights

BT6A0067
Sami Tamimi by Rob MacDougall ROB_5547 - Copy
RMD_8302 PERMISSION
EIBF_2024-08-13_image by Mihaela Bodlovic (294)
EIBF - Phographer- Aly Wight - Super Sunny Murder Club 2 - Copy
Patrick Kane by Rob MacDougall RMD_8231

View more photos

Look, Listen & read

Alastair Campbell: But What Can I Do?

Alastair Campbell: But What Can I Do?

The Rest is Politics podcast has established Labour’s former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy, Alastair Campbell, as one of the most important political commentators of the moment. Also a mental health campaigner and prolific author, Campbell joins Isabel Hardman to discuss his latest book, But What Can I Do?, an impassioned manifesto for future change through participation, and his mission to encourage children and young people to get involved in politics…

Douglas Stuart with Damian Barr: The Making of Shuggie Bain (2020 Event)
Douglas Stuart with Damian Barr: The Making of Shuggie Bain (2020 Event)

In the words of the Kirkus review: ‘You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece.’ This astonishing debut is a powerful and heartbreaking story…

Shokoofeh Azar: After the Iranian Revolution (2020 Event)
Shokoofeh Azar: After the Iranian Revolution (2020 Event)

When Shokoofeh Azar received the news that she was the first ever Iranian writer to be shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, she was transported back to when she was 15…

El Toldo / The Awning
El Toldo / The Awning by Gabriela Ybarra

Durante muchos años hubo una librería en la calle Bailén de Madrid, justo enfrente de la catedral de la Almudena, que tenía un toldo que decía: ‘Ser cultos para ser libres’. / For years there was a bookstore on Calle Bailén in Madrid, across from the…