One week to go: Why Dundee Book Festival 2026 could be its biggest yet

Jenni Fagan is one of the authors taking part (📸 Mihaela Bodlovic)

Dundee Book Festival returns for its second outing after a successful debut.

Readers, writers, poets, historians, broadcasters and curious minds come together to share ideas, discover new voices and celebrate the written word. Now, with just one week to go until Dundee Book Festival 2026 begins, anticipation is building across the city.

Taking place from 19 to 21 June, this year’s festival will bring more than 25 events to venues across Dundee, featuring everyone from bestselling authors and television personalities to local writers, poets and emerging voices.

With most tickets priced at just £5, organisers hope to make the festival as accessible as possible while showcasing the depth and diversity of contemporary writing.

Several headline events have already sold out, including appearances by former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Professor Sue Black, highlighting growing demand for one of Dundee’s most ambitious literary celebrations yet.

A festival with something for everyone

One of the strengths of Dundee Book Festival is its ability to bring together very different audiences under one programme.

Food lovers can spend an evening with Dundee chef and MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, who will discuss her latest cookbook Feast while sharing stories, cooking inspiration and delicious samples in the atmospheric surroundings of The McManus.

Those looking for contemporary Scottish fiction can hear from acclaimed author Jenni Fagan, whose latest novel The Delusions takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through life, death and the afterlife.

Meanwhile broadcaster and bestselling author Sally Magnusson will explore Norse mythology and modern storytelling through her latest novel The Shapeshifter’s Daughter, inspired by the legend of Hel, goddess of the underworld.

Celebrating Dundee’s comic heritage

The festival will also shine a spotlight on one of Dundee’s most famous cultural exports.

As Dennis the Menace celebrates his 75th anniversary, Beano’s Directors of Mischief and Mayhem, Mike Stirling and Craig Graham, will take audiences behind the scenes of one of Britain’s most iconic comics.

The event promises plenty of laughs while offering insight into how the characters, stories and comic strips that generations have grown up with continue to evolve for modern audiences.

For a city synonymous with comics, publishing and storytelling, it feels like a fitting addition to this year’s programme.

Poetry arrives in the city centre

Alongside the ticketed events, visitors can also enjoy a weekend of free activities through A Poet in Every Port.

Presented in partnership with Southbank Centre, the programme will transform the area outside The McManus into a welcoming space for poetry, creativity and conversation.

The Mobile National Poetry Library will be visiting Dundee as part of a UK-wide tour, accompanied by workshops, readings and opportunities for people of all ages to explore poetry in an informal and accessible way.

Whether you’re an experienced writer or simply curious, organisers hope the programme will encourage more people to discover poetry in unexpected places.

Dundee voices at the heart of the festival

While the festival welcomes nationally recognised names, local voices remain central to the programme.

Authors including Jim Crumley, Erin Farley, Zoe Venditozzi, Professor Chris Whatley, Taylor Dyson and Robin Crawford all feature across the weekend, helping to ensure the festival reflects Dundee’s own creative community alongside wider literary conversations.

That blend of local and national talent has become a defining feature of Dundee Book Festival, creating opportunities for audiences to discover new writers while celebrating familiar names.

A weekend dedicated to stories

At a time when people’s attention is pulled in countless directions, festivals like this offer something increasingly valuable: the chance to slow down, listen and engage with ideas.

Whether you’re interested in politics, history, food, fiction, poetry, comics or family events, Dundee Book Festival 2026 promises a packed weekend of discussion, creativity and inspiration.

For book lovers and casual readers alike, it may just be one of the city’s most exciting cultural weekends of the year.

The Dundee Book Festival takes place from 19-21 June 2026. You can book your tickets here.