The 40th Edinburgh International Book Festival has launched its 2023 programme
Author: Jonathan MoynihannPublished 14th Jun 2023
Last updated 14th Jun 2023
The 40th Edinburgh International Book Festival has launched its 2023 programme, with a glittering list of Scottish writers set to appear such as Trainspotting author, Irvine Welsh.
Beyond the borders of Scotland, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, will come to the capital to take part in a climate positive series, It’s Not Too Late to Change the World, at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 13th August.
Alongside climate change, the festival will delve into politics with the First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf interviewing Hashi Mohamed, a leading housing barrister.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP, former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will talk about Scotland’s political future.
The festival will take place at the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) from 12 – 28 August this year.
Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival said: “At a time of polarised opinion and deep divisions, we hope to rediscover the pleasure of conversation; the satisfaction of spending time with people who can offer positive insights into the world today.
“This is my fourteenth and final programme for the Book Festival and I’m very excited by the prospect of 18 days in August with such a cornucopia of brilliant writers,”
Amongst the events helping the festival commemorate its 40th anniversary, writers from community groups like Intercultural Youth Scotland and Open Book, will perform new stories focused on Edinburgh as part of the Our City, Our Stories programme.
There will be almost 600 live events with over 470 authors, writers and thinkers from a staggering 49 countries.
More than 100 events will be live streamed and Festival Late Nights will return for the first time in three years.
Christina McKelvie, Culture Minister, said: “With the world’s greatest writers and thinkers gathered in Edinburgh, there really is something for everyone.
“The Scottish Government is proud to support the festival as it celebrates its 40th anniversary with £182,500 from our Expo and PLACE Funds.”
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a registered charity. The festival celebrates the written word, literature, and ideas. The world’s best and up and coming international, British and Scottish authors and thinkers come together to inspire each other and audiences at the festival.
