Pentlands Book Festival: Nov each year

Pentlands Book Festival 2026: Programme Summary

Now in its twelfth year, the Pentlands Book Festival returns with 15 events across eight venues from October to November, bringing an eclectic mix of voices to libraries, churches, and community halls throughout the area.

Crime and mystery take centre stage with Elaine Thomson, whose historical crime fiction includes her recent ghost story Hawthorn, and James Oswald, known for his Inspector McLean and Constance Fairchild series. Bestselling author Kate Atkinson, three-time Whitbread/Costa winner and creator of Life After Life and the Jackson Brodie novels, joins as a headline guest.

For readers drawn to history and social memory, Alistair Moffat brings decades of expertise in Scottish history and journalism, Brian McGeachan discusses his book on trade unionist Jimmy Reid, Kate Stephenson explores clothing and social history, Alley Jordan shares her work as a garden historian, and Helen Graham brings her historical fiction set in the world of theatrical artists.

Debut and local talent gets a spotlight too: Mark Baillie presents his novel Salvage, exploring Scotland’s Gypsy Traveller history through a missing person mystery, while Kate Mayor and Jonathan Findlay join a shared session showcasing local authorship.

The festival also welcomes writers working in memoir, poetry, and non-fiction: Esa Aldegheri, author of Free to Go, Anne Pia, whose Magnaccioni celebrates her Italian food heritage, and Jenni Fagan, bringing her distinctive literary voice.

Adding a lighter, curious note, Pete Lamont explores magic, psychic phenomena, and critical thinking.

Beyond author talks, Pentlands Open Studios presents an artists’ talks event in 20×20 format, giving local visual artists a platform to share their work. The festival closes with a special donations event hosted by the Library of Mistakes, reflecting on lessons from history and finance.

Across libraries, churches, and community venues, PBF 2026 offers something for every kind of reader, all supported by Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature funding.