The Edinburgh International Book Festival kicks off on Saturday! From 12 – 28 August, we’re welcoming some of the biggest and brightest authors, thinkers, and performers for a range of one-of-a-kind events at Edinburgh College of Art.
Over the last month, we’ve shared with you some of the events in our programme. With over 400 events for adults and over 180 events for children, there’s been a lot to get through. And there’s still more we want to share.
This is an exciting year, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary (wait until you see our homage to the first ever programme in 1983). We can’t wait to welcome you to the Festival and celebrate this milestone occasion with a packed programme, lively Festival Village, and hopefully, some Scottish sun.
The 2023 Booker Prize longlist has arrived
First, though – some exciting book news. Last week, our friends at the Booker Prizes announced their long-list for this year’s Booker Prize award. It’s a fantastic list with some of the most thought-provoking, touching, and boldest books of the year. Of the 13 shortlisted writers, 7 of them will be appearing at the Book Festival to discuss their latest books.
In-person tickets to Sebastian Barry, pictured above, have now sold out (you can livestream the event here), but there are still some tickets for these literary stars below.
Comic novelist Paul Murray returns with The Bee Sting – which sees a family at the brink of collapse after a series of mishaps. Savage humour meets poetic insight in this event.
The House of Doors takes readers to colonial 1920s Penang for a thoughtful examination of Somerset Maugham. Lovers of historical fiction and richly crafted worlds, look no further.
Sarah Bernstein & Sophie Mackintosh: Curious IncidentsWhat to expect at the Book Festival
Over the last couple weeks, our team have been getting the Festival Village ready for your arrival. When you’re not enjoying events with writers, artists, and performers, there’s plenty of ways to spend your time on site. Entry to the Festival Village is free. Food and drink on site will include offerings from Social Bite, Prime Street Food, and ice cream from With a Cherry on Top. The ECA Café is now open and licensed until 10pm. You’re also welcome to bring your own picnic and relax on the grass.
Head to the Festival Bookshop to browse latest releases from authors at this year’s Festival and beyond. Brought to you by Waterstones, there’s something to satisfy everyone’s literary taste. After events, make sure to stop by the signing tent to have your book signed by your favourite authors in an intimate setting.
The Festival site and all venues are wheelchair friendly. We also have wheelchairs that you can borrow. We have sound enhancement systems in our three largest venues, and BSL and captions can be found in wide range of events. For more details on accessibility at the Festival, including information about our Quiet Space, Pay What You Can tickets, and accessible parking, visit here. If you have specific questions, get in touch with us at access@edbookfest.co.uk, or visit our Welcome Cabin next to the Box Office.