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Books events in Edinburgh

Scroll down to view the upcoming Books events taking place throughout Edinburgh or use the filters to narrow down the results.

Events in Edinburgh

Discover the Joy of Reading in Japanese – Join Our Book Club!

1st March 2025 - 20th December 2025

Are you passionate about Japanese but find it difficult to enjoy the learning process? Then join our Japanese Book Club, led by Edinburgh-based native tutor Hitomi Kobayashi-Prior!

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Palace Page Turners

Selected dates between 7th March 2025 - 5th December 2025

Many authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!

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Nurture Through Nature with Children’s Books

1st May 2025 - 7th September 2025

Delve into the Museum of Childhood’s book collection and explore the links between wellbeing and nature introduced to us through books from an early age.

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An Evening with Kate Foster

28th May 2025

Waterstones Edinburgh West End is thrilled to welcome bestselling author Kate Foster on 28th May, to celebrate the publication of her masterfully gripping new novel, The Mourning Necklace!

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Meet the author Anne Delaflotte Mehdevi

3rd June 2025

Meet French writer Anne Delaflotte Mehdevi when she comes to the Institut français d'Ecosse on Tuesday 3rd June.

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Pride & Prejudice - Queer Book Fair at The Georgian House

6th June 2025

Join us at The Georgian House this Pride Month as we celebrate the opening of Below Stairs Books, our new secondhand bookshop, with a special Queer Book Fair on Friday 6th June!

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An Evening with Sarah Pinborough

10th June 2025

Join award-winning author of New York Times bestselling breakout novel (and hit Netflix show) Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough at Waterstones Edinburgh West End on 10th June!

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An Evening with Linwood Barclay

12th June 2025

Waterstones Edinburgh West End is delighted to be welcoming international bestselling crime and thriller author, Linwood Barclay, to the shop on Thursday 18th June!

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Tim Key: L.A. Baby! Book Tour

17th June 2025

TIM KEY embarks on a low-grade book tour to celebrate the publication of his latest anthology of poems: L.A. Baby! Catch him at Monkey Barrel Comedy on Tuesday 17th June!

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Chiara Valerio on The Little I Knew

19th June 2025

Join Chiara Valerio at Topping & Company Booksellers on 19th June to celebrate the English language publication of her bestselling novel 'The Little I Knew'.

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A Ceilidh for David

21st June 2025

Join us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Saturday 21st June for a special midsummer night to celebrate David Campbell - an outstanding figure in Scottish and international storytelling.

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A Tea Party with Anna James

29th June 2025

Join bestselling author, Anna James on Sunday 29th June at 2pm, as we celebrate the publication of her enchanting reimagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice With a Why.

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An Evening with V.E. Schwab

30th June 2025

Join The Portobello Bookshop in welcoming V.E. Schwab to the Traverse Theatre to celebrate the launch of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.

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William Dalrymple - How Ancient India Transformed the World

8th July 2025

Don't miss this chance to hear William Dalrymple tell the story of how India became the great intellectual and philosophical superpower of ancient Asia.

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Fringe by the Sea

1st August 2025 - 10th August 2025

Fringe by the Sea, a 10-day multi arts festival in North Berwick, is back for 2025 from 1st-10th August.

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Edinburgh International Book Festival

9th August 2025 - 24th August 2025

The 2025 Edinburgh International Book Festival returns from Saturday 9th to Sunday 24th August.

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The Underground Lectures: No Sex Please, We’re Professionals: Career Depictions in Spicy Novels

13th August 2025

In this lively and revealing discussion on 13th August, let us dissect how accurately professions are portrayed in romance and erotica .

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Meet the author Laurent Binet

19th August 2025

Meet multi-award-winning French writer Laurent Binet at the Institut francais d'Ecosse on 19th August for a talk on his books! 

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An Evening with Ocean Vuong - The Emperor of Gladness

8th September 2025

The Portobello Bookshop team are hosting an event with Ocean Vuong at the Assembly Rooms on Monday 8th September, for an evening of conversation about his second novel.

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Jean-Yves Laurichesse: Writing between memory and fiction

14th October 2025

Join us for an evening of readings and conversation with Jean-Yves Laurichesse at the Institut francais d'Ecosse on Tuesday 14th October!

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DOMINATION: The Fall and Rise of an Empire with Alice Roberts

10th November 2025

Join Professor Alice Roberts as she takes us on an investigative journey to establish who spread Christianity, how and why; the story of the fall of an Empire – and the rise of another!

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Sponsored Links

Franciscan Publishing Company
MNB
Napier Uni
Breakthrough T1D
Escape The Past
Wonder & Co
Cancer Research UK

Books Events in East Renfrewshire

Here's a selection of Books Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On East Renfrewshire:

An Evening With Liam McIlvanney

An Evening With Liam McIlvanney

15th July 2025

Waterstones Newton Mearns are thrilled to be joined by Liam McIlvanney on Tuesday 15th July in The Primavera Bistro to celebrate the release of his newest book, The Good Father.

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East Renfrewshire Bookbug Sessions

East Renfrewshire Bookbug Sessions

13th January 2025 - 20th December 2025

Free, fun and fantastic! East Renfrewshire Libraries run several interactive song, rhyme and story Bookbug sessions!

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Waterstones Presents Skandar Q&A Event with A.F. Steadman

Waterstones Presents Skandar Q&A Event with A.F. Steadman

30th August 2025

Waterstones Newton Mearns presents a Q&A event with internationally bestselling author A.F. Steadman to celebrate the release of the fifth and final book in the blockbuster Skandar series!

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Books Events in Fife

Books Events in Glasgow

Here's a selection of Books Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:

Great Big Green Week Celebrations at The Mitchell Library with Cara Rooney

Great Big Green Week Celebrations at The Mitchell Library with Cara Rooney

14th June 2025

Join illustrator and plaything maker, Cara Rooney, for a themed creative session inspired by her book, A Little World of Ants, as part of the Great Big Green Week Celebrations at The Mitchell Library!

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DOMINATION: The Fall and Rise of an Empire with Alice Roberts

DOMINATION: The Fall and Rise of an Empire with Alice Roberts

14th November 2025

Join Professor Alice Roberts as she takes us on an investigative journey to establish who spread Christianity, how and why; the story of the fall of an Empire – and the rise of another!

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Hollie McNish

Hollie McNish

19th October 2025

With fans ranging from Emma Watson, Pink and Benjamin Zephaniah, Ted Hughes Award winner Hollie McNish is a poet whose readings are not to be missed!

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Books Events in Lanarkshire

Here's a selection of Books Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Lanarkshire:

Leadhills Miners Library

Leadhills Miners Library

Selected dates between 3rd May 2025 - 28th September 2025

Leadhills Miners Library is the oldest subscription library in the British Isles and is now a museum of literature and village life, open weekends May to September!

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Books Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

Here's a selection of Books Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Renfrewshire:

The Witch & the Snitch Book Launch

The Witch & the Snitch Book Launch

Selected dates between 10th June 2025 - 14th June 2025

Join J.L Givens at Paisley Central Library for the launch of The Witch & the Snitch, an illustrated book based on the Paisley Witch Trials!

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Renfrewshire Bookbug Sessions

Renfrewshire Bookbug Sessions

Selected dates between 6th January 2025 - 20th December 2025

Free, fun and fantastic! Renfrewshire Libraries run several interactive song, rhyme and story Bookbug sessions throughout the week!

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Film & Comic Con Glasgow

Film & Comic Con Glasgow

16th August 2025 - 17th August 2025

The Film & Comic Con Glasgow returns to Braehead Arena on the weekend of the 16th & 17th August bringing you the best in autograph sessions, photo shoots and panels with your favourite celebrities!

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Books Events in Stirling

Here's a selection of Books Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:

Liam McIlvanney in Conversation

Liam McIlvanney in Conversation

29th July 2025

Join award winning author Liam McIlvanney, who will be discussing his brand new thriller, The Good Father, in conversation with fellow crime writer Craig Robert!

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Events in Other Areas

A Blether O Books: Scotland Through Literature

A Blether O Books: Scotland Through Literature

1st November 2025 - 2nd November 2025

Join the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum this November as they welcome a selection of authors in this celebration of Scottish literature!

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Sponsored Links

St Mary's Music School
St Mary's Music School
Kevin Quantum
Fayre Play
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon
Hostelworld

Sponsored Links

Franciscan Publishing Company
MNB
Napier Uni
Breakthrough T1D
Escape The Past
Wonder & Co
Cancer Research UK
St Mary's Music School
St Mary's Music School
Kevin Quantum
Fayre Play
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon
Hostelworld

Popular Events

Monty Franklin - Is That Your Mate
After sell out shows across Australia, America and Europe in 2024, Monty Franklin returns in 2025 with a brand new show, ‘Is That Your Mate’. Catch him at the Stand Edinburgh on 14th September!
Daddy Long Legs
Daddy Long Legs, New York City's most diabolical rhythm and blues street gang, return to Edinburgh on Tuesday 9th September at Cabaret Voltaire!
Campfire Country Music Festival
Get ready for a boot-stompin' good time at this year's Campfire Country Music Festival on Friday 23rd May at the Royal Highland Centre!
Letters From Exes
From emails and WhatsApps to handwritten notes, join Not Cricket Productions in exploring the bizarre, heartfelt and hilarious letters of lost love at The Royal Scots Club!
New Town Ghost Walk
Join North Edinburgh Nightmares on a journey across Edinburgh's haunted New Town on Saturday 24th May!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall