Big Wig Children's Events at WBF 2026
There’s lots of fun in store this autumn thanks to the friendly big blue creature!
There’s lots of fun in store this autumn thanks to the friendly big blue creature which organises the Big Wig Children’s Literature Festival as part of the Wigtown Book Festival.
Taking place from 26 September to 4 October, there’s a packed programme of events, some of them free.
Image credit: Colin Hattersley
Right at the start there’s The Interactive Dragon Adventure, with music and stories from Rachel Huggins.
Then there’s Cluck! The Eggstraordinary Story of Chickens, presented by Evelien De Vlieger and Michele Hutchison which is full of chicken facts and sounds, and the chance to design your own bird.
Dougie Payne (from Travis) joins Rachel Seago for a reading of his book Poochie Pete and His Very Big Feet, about a lonely dog with huge paws.
Wigtown’s own storyteller, and one of Big Wig’s best friends, Renita Boyle has a free (but ticketed) family drop-in called Saltmarsh, Swallows and Geese. It’s a gentle event with multi-sensory stories, poems and songs.
Then we lift off to with two special events by Catherine Heymans where children are challenged to Ask the Astronomer Royal Anything (so long as it’s science).
And there’s Explore and Colour with Bentley where children can hear the true story of a little sausage dog, make a moveable dachshund and sing songs.
There is even a Big Wig Family Fun Day on 4 October where you can dress as a pirate for a swashbuckling afternoon.
You can also buy a special Big Wig day pass which allows the whole family into up to five events.
Visit our website to view all our Big Wig Children's 2026 events (select Children / Big Wig from the category drop down).
Here's a handful of the books by some of our Big Wig children's authors, which can be purchased from our Number Twenty-six bookshop.
