The Borders Book Festival celebrates its 20th edition this summer. There are well-known faces and voices from the worlds of television, current affairs, politics, literature, sport, history, and children’s writing and many more besides. All set to join the party.
The book festival runs from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 June, against the stunning backdrop of Melrose’s Harmony Garden, in the Scottish Borders.
Also, joining the line-up:
Principal sponsor, Baillie Gifford, will be sponsoring a number of events. Including maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound about the discovery of Shackleton’s ship Endurance. National media partner, The Financial Times will host events, including former Celtic and Ireland manager Martin O’Neill on his football career spanning five decades. The Financial Time’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf will also be explaining the crisis of democratic capitalism and how to fix it. Additionally, navigating the cost of living crisis with practical money saving advice and habit changing tips from the Financial Time’s consumer editor Claer Barrett, and The Batch Lady Suzanne Mulholland.
The McInroy & Wood lecture is this year with Kate Bingham, who has written a compelling account of her role as Chair of the UK’s Covid-19 vaccine taskforce and the race to get Britain vaccinated and out of lockdown. She’ll be in conversation with journalist Tim Hames and book festival chairman Michael Moore.
The book festival will mark the Tercentenary of the birth of Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith, with events sponsored by the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. Including prominent French-British writer Philippe Sands KC and ex Bishop of Edinburgh and broadcaster Richard Holloway paying tribute to the pioneering political thinker.
We could not be more excited about our programme this year. It brings some of the best-known and most respected thinkers, writers, leaders, commentators, and personalities from around the UK – and beyond – to our beautiful Harmony Garden at the height of the Scottish summer.
This year’s book festival feels even more special because we have the absolute pleasure of celebrating our 20th edition. A milestone that I could not, in my wildest dreams, have imagined reaching when I started the festival back in 2004.
The endurance of the Borders Book Festival is testament to the phenomenal array of devoted writing talent on offer in Scotland and beyond. To the dedicated book festival team who work tirelessly year-round to ensure the festival’s success. To the many sponsors and funders who make the festival possible; and, not least, to the hordes of loyal, audiences who continue to push us to bring even bigger and better events to them every year. Thank you to you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Now, make sure you come and join the party in June!
The Children’s Programme, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, takes place throughout the day on the Saturday and Sunday 17 and18 June, packed with exciting author events, including:
In addition, there will be free kids’ craft activities, storytelling and interactive creative workshops. Everything that curious young minds could wish for to get those imaginations buzzing.
The winner of this year’s prestigious £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction is to be announced at a special event at the book festival, chosen from a shortlist of seven books:
Throughout the four days, there will also be live music, the Orchard tented food village, and a plethora of free, fun activities. Making the Borders Book Festival a great day out for all the family to enjoy.
Visit the Borders Book Festival website to buy tickets for the event.
We are delighted to be supporting the 20th edition of Borders Book Festival, as part of EventScotland’s National Events Programme. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the festival brings together an exceptional line-up of renowned writers and thinkers. To share their stories with locals and visitors alike, all against the picture-perfect backdrop of Melrose’s Harmony Gardens. Scotland is the perfect stage for events and cultural gems like the Borders Book Festival showcase the vibrancy and quality of our country’s enviable events portfolio.
Two decades of celebrating Scottish writers and bringing literary delights to Scottish readers in the Borders is a wonderful achievement. This year’s programme is another classic, set to bring together audiences, entertain the whole family, encourage conversation, and do what the Borders Book Festival does so well – a fantastic, fun-packed day out in beautiful surroundings, with brilliant writers.