Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a book festival that takes place in the last three weeks of August every year in Charlotte Square in the centre of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. Billed as The largest festival of its kind in the world, the festival hosts a concentrated flurry of cultural and political talks and debates, along with its well-established children’s events programme. It coincides with the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as the other events that comprise the Edinburgh Festival.
The first Book Festival took place in a tent in Edinburgh in 1983. Initially a biannual event, it began to be held yearly in 1997. It is now a large and growing international event, central to Edinburgh’s acclaimed August arts celebrations. Perhaps as a result of this, Edinburgh was named the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004.
There are over 700 events for both adults and children in the three weeks that the festival runs. They range from writing workshops, education events, panel discussions, to talks and performances by international writers, poets, musicians and thinkers.
Running alongside the general programme is a Children’s programme. Incorporating workshops, storytelling, panel discussions, author events and book signings, the Children’s programme is popular with both the public and schools alike, and is among the world’s largest books and reading event for young people. It regularly attracts authors like Jacqueline Wilson, Joan Lingard, Charlie Higson and Anne Fine.
The Book Festival is held in a set of marquees in Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh, at the West End of George Street.
