Edinburgh International Book Festival


From prize-winners to emerging writers, the Edinburgh International Book Festival returns with an exciting programme celebrating the written word, literature and ideas.

Woman sitting on a bean bag and reading a book
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9th August - 24th August
Prices vary – see individual events for details.

Featuring close to 700 events, and writers from all over the globe, Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place from 09 to 24 August 2025.

This year’s vibrant and relevant programme showcases world literature and tackles topics including geopolitics, disinformation, and the climate emergency, putting robust and dynamic discussion on a global stage.

Repair is the core theme for 2025, seeking to explore the many things around us which feel broken, and how we might seek to fix them – from the physical to the political, the emotional to the environmental, and beyond.

The lineup ranges from Yellowface author R F Kuang, who appears as part of the festival’s newly programmed Young Adults strand, which directly responds to topics of social and cultural importance often driven by the digital landscape, to firm festival favourites, Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, V E Schwab, and Ali Smith.

The Book Festival also plans to have a dedicated children’s zone, offering families an oasis away from the bustle of the city this summer.  

A selection of events will have signed and captioned events for both adults and children. See Accessible events for full listings.

Events take place at Edinburgh Futures Institute. The main entrance is accessed from Middle Meadow Walk, 1 Porters Walk, by Quartermile, Middle Meadow Walk (just opposite the yoga studio). The building can also be accessed from 1 Lauriston Place. Lothian Buses services 12, 23, 27, 35, 45, 47 and 47B all stop on Lauriston Place in both directions.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from 09 to 24 August 2025.