EXCLUSIVE: Dundee Culture and Dundee Book Festival have teamed up to give away FREE tickets to the event this weekend

Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Dundee Book Festival 2025 kicks off this Thursday — and Dundee Culture readers are in for an exclusive treat.

Dundee Culture have teamed up with the Dundee Book Festival to offer you the chance to claim free tickets and even hidden books signed by this year’s top authors.

This brand-new festival brings together local and international writers for a week of stories, song, food, history and poetry – and best of all, most events are just £5, making it one of the most accessible festivals in the country.

Every day this week, the first five Dundee Culture fans to pop into any of the following libraries – Lochee, Blackness, Arthurstone, Fintry, Whitfield, Broughty Ferry or Central Library – can claim a set of two free tickets to any event that isn’t sold out.

Just head to the main reception, say you’re a Dundee Culture reader, let the librarians know which event you’d like to attend, and your tickets will be waiting for you at the venue. Easy!

Find a book? Win more tickets!

There’s also a hidden surprise for eagle-eyed book lovers. In a special Dundee Culture exclusive, books by this year’s festival authors will be hidden around city libraries.

If you find one, you keep the book and win two free tickets to that author’s event. So get searching – and good luck!

📚 Visit: www.dundeebookfestival.com for full listings

Event highlights

James Crawford – Wild History

Join author and presenter James Crawford and Scots language champion Alistair Heather as they explore Scotland’s forgotten places being reclaimed by nature. A must for lovers of history, storytelling and Scotland’s hidden landscapes.

🗓 Friday 13 June, 4.30pm | £5

🎟 Book here

Ambrose Parry & Michele Sloan – Writing the Past

Dive into the dark alleys of Edinburgh’s Old Town with Michele Sloan’s fresh take on Burke and Hare. She’s joined by bestselling duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman (aka Ambrose Parry) for a gripping conversation on historical fiction.

🗓 Friday 13 June, 6pm | £5

🎟 Book here

Christopher Whatley & Jim Tomlinson – The Triumph of Textiles

Discover the real story of Dundee’s jute empire and its global reach in this fascinating session with two of Scotland’s top historians.

🗓 Saturday 14 June, 10am | £5

🎟 Book here

Gary Robertson – Life in Words

Dundee’s very own street poet returns for a powerful talk on life, literature and lyrics. With five books, three plays and a band under his belt, Gary’s journey is as unforgettable as his words.

🗓 Saturday 14 June, 1.30pm | £5

🎟 Book here

This week is all about celebrating words, ideas and Dundee’s unique voice – and now’s your chance to be part of it.