Extraordinary Events

Extraordinary Events

Looking for something different?

First Edition

Begin each weekday with a leading journalist as they delve into the morning papers at 10am in the Spiegeltent. Hear their take on the day’s headlines and explore where in the Festival programme you can find out more. Some sessions will include emerging journalists in collaboration with the John Schofield Trust. Supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart.

Inside Out – Earth, Sky, and Water

Endurance cyclist and author Emily Chappell is back with our popular Inside Out series. Hear Emily chatting (Inside) to a host of authors, and join a small group (Outside) on a foray to some iconic local locations, including Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Tickets for Outside events are limited and booked separately to Inside events. See listings for more information.

Think Tank

Think Tank invites you to take part in small group conversations where experts share their thoughts on topics at the forefront of the global agenda, with lots of space for questions and discussion. Over 90-minutes (and a glass of wine, if you like), these intimate events get you up close and personal. In this series dig into US foreign policy with presidential advisor: Harold Hongju Koh joins with years of experience in diplomacy; Ingrid Robeyns unpacks the ethics of extreme wealth; Ken Costa discusses intergenerational wealth transfer; and Suzy Glass and Georgina Voss tackle systems-thinking.

(Lunch) Box Fresh

Come along at lunchtime to hear readings from new and vibrant talent and discover brilliant new work being created every day. Who knows, you could be the first to see the next Irvine Welsh or Jenni Fagan. These are 45-minute lunchtime sessions with Scottish Book Trust, Glasgow Women’s Library, Scottish Poetry Library, and Jenny Brown Associates. Pay what you can and show your support for the next constellation of Scottish literary stars.

Industry Days & Global Ink

Meet and connect with editors, publishers, festival organisers, translators, and other experts across three days of panels, showcases, and receptions specifically aimed at those working within the publishing industry (both Scottish and international). Expect discussions on AI, sustainability, audiobooks, pitching sessions, and accessibility.

A one-day Industry Pass is £40 [concessions £25]. Spaces are limited so check edbookfest.co.uk/industry for details on how to register. Some events will take place online too.

Wednesday 14 August: Global Ink: International Working

Monday 19 August: Industry Day 1

Wednesday 21 August: Industry Day 2

 

Daniel Hahn: The Work of Translation

Monday 12 August 16:00 - 18:00

  • Attend in person
Award-winning literary translator, editor and critic Daniel Hahn returns to the Festival with his popular translation workshop, where he will take you through the process of translating a piece of fiction, and the painstaking and exhilarating work it...
 

Stories and Scran

Monday 12 August 20:00 - 21:15

  • Attend in person
  • Captioned
Enjoy tasty food and brilliant performances from local people. Returning for its fifth year, Stories and Scran celebrates dynamic, thought-provoking work created by our Citizen participants. Expect diverse and creative talent from Project Esperanza’s...
 

First Edition

Tuesday 13 August 10:00 - 11:00

  • Attend in person
Quality journalism is indispensable. The model of ‘breaking the news’ has changed enormously in recent years, but we’re here to sing the praises of essential stories, well told. In an age of diminishing local resources, global conglomerates, and...
 

Shane Strachan: Writing Art in Edinburgh Workshop

Tuesday 13 August 10:15 - 11:45

  • Attend in person
Edinburgh has been a literary and artistic muse for generations – and it can be yours too. Join poet Shane Strachan as he leads a workshop using art as inspiration for your own poems and prose set in the city. Shane will take you through the process...
 

(Lunch) Box Fresh

Tuesday 13 August 12:00 - 12:45

  • Attend in person
What better way to spend your lunchbreak than discovering your next favourite writer? Sit back in the Spiegeltent and discover brilliant new work from stellar emerging talent with this series of readings. This edition is presented in partnership with...
 

Think Tank: Ingrid Robeyns

Tuesday 13 August 15:30 - 17:00

  • Attend in person
How much is too much wealth? Leading Dutch political philosopher and economist Ingrid Robeyns asked this over 10 years, leading to the concept of ‘limitarianism’: an alternative to our current system where there’s a hard limit to how much...
 

First Edition

Wednesday 14 August 10:00 - 11:00

  • Attend in person
Quality journalism is indispensable. The model of ‘breaking the news’ has changed enormously in recent years, but we’re here to sing the praises of essential stories, well told. In an age of diminishing local resources, global conglomerates, and...