TICKET SALES ARE NOW OPEN
Programmer Lee Randall gives her overview of the 2026 Festival
If I build it, will they come?
This is the question preying on my mind as I write this, as we launch the programme for the 28th Wigtown Book Festival on a suspecting world.
Just as a reader completes a book by diving in, an audience makes a festival come to life by turning out to hear what authors (musicians, filmmakers, artisans, actors, academics. . .) have to say about this beautiful, complicated, imperilled world we are lucky to inhabit.
Scottish debut novelists and poetry events
My patch of territory, the programme for adults, covers a lot of ground this year. If you’ve been before, you will recognise some familiar elements: I remain dedicated to featuring Scottish Debut Novelists, and this year’s crop spans everything from crime to romance to witchy tales with Gothic overtones. There is a range of poetry events, including work written in Scots and Gaelic, from young writers and old. We have hybrid events combining words and music, including one featuring Karine Polwart as part of a panel recounting stories of the Covenanters.
From natural beauty to natural born leaders
And no Wigtown festival would feel right without time dedicated to this special region and its history. From natural beauty to natural born leaders, we have a range of events celebrating all that’s special about Dumfries and Galloway. Plus there are walks featuring notable women from Wigtown’s history, walks showcasing nature alongside poetry, and walks combining local stories with visits to our numerous, distinctive bookshops.
I hope you’ll pour into the Festival Marquee in your droves to give warm welcomes to none other than Outlander star Sam Heughan; national treasure Larry Lamb; wildlife photographer Gordon Buchanan; naturalist and field ecologist Nick Baker; screenwriter extraordinaire (not to mention creator of Bob Servant!) Neil Forsyth; and the creator of Broadchurch, Chris Chibnall, on hand to discuss his latest crime novel. We’re delighted to welcome Sophie Raworth, who’ll explain why her bio now says “newsreader and long distance runner,” while Sally Magnusson returns to our stage in conversation about her latest novel, which I found a profound, moving confrontation with the inevitability of death.
Politically speaking
Politically speaking, I’m excited about a panel event discussing the problem of rural depopulation, and can’t wait to see what Brian Taylor brings us in the shape of a panel asking, Stands Scotland Where It Did? We’re welcoming Rt. Honorable Vince Cable to tell us about the rise and rise of China and India, and Robin Yassin-Kassab, whose subject is the state of play in Syria. The brilliant Sarah Churchwell will also be on hand to discuss America at 250. “It’ll be more of a warning than a celebration, Lee,” she said, accepting my invitation.
Family, love and grief
Family is another theme for 2026. Biological or found, on hand or absent, toxic or loving, one way or another family shapes us all. We’ll hear conversations about the work of motherhood, and one laying bare the history of birth and ongoing frustrations facing midwives. Catherine Simpson talks about being sandwiched — caught between caring for kids as well as aged parents. Meanwhile, love and grief are, unsurprisingly, vital elements of the novels in our family strand. Speaking of love, we’re over the moon to welcome Manni and Reuben Coe to Wigtown, to remind us of the inspiring power of brotherly love. Another clutch of brothers, the Macleans, will blow our minds with the story of their dangerous row across the Pacific to raise money for clean water projects.
New for 2026 - Romantasy
Historical fiction is nicely represented via popular Scottish authors Sara Sheridan and Mairi Kidd, and rising star Richard Strachan. And we’re teaming up with our friends at Edinburgh- based CYMERA festival to bring you a brace of Romantasy authors, talking about one of publishing’s hottest literary phenomenons. Pun very much intended!
Life stories are another feature of this year’s lineup, and I’m especially excited for the chance to fangirl broadcaster and author Matthew Sweet, talking about his biography of Dame Barbara Cartland. James Bailey’s discussing his justifiably-lauded new bio of Muriel Spark, and we’ll discover fresh truths about the last emperor of China, the woman who recruited Philby for Russia, and the world’s first female battlefield surgeon!
Film, yoga, outdoor-inspired nature writing
We’ve teamed up with Matt Kitson for a curated movie strand that includes film screenings as well as Q&As with filmmakers exploring elements of their craft. Along with morning yoga sessions, we’re offering Wigtown’s first ever Literary Boot Camps, led by Ken Ilgunas and taking inspiration (and perspiration) from some of Scotland’s great writers.
If you’re a maker yourself, check out our workshops, which include everything from mastering the art of oral storytelling to outdoor-inspired nature writing, learning how to inhabit fictional characters to truly bring them to life, and a variety of poetry workshops. All our workshops are suited to beginners as well as seasoned practitioners but book early as spaces are limited.
I’ve said too much and not enough. I haven’t mentioned events centring on Ukraine, or our ongoing dedication to telling inspiring stories about the Climate Crisis. I haven’t mentioned...
Ah well.
Dive into what’s on offer and have a good rummage round. As I always say: book in to the events you know you’ll love but take a punt on one or two that might surprise you. It could prove the start of a new passion.
Much missed Alastair Reid
My goal was to create a richly varied menu with much to tempt a variety of interests — and to do justice to much-missed Alastair Reid, whose centenary year we mark in a variety of ways, and whose phrase, “Patina, gloss, and whorl” we’ve taken as this year’s theme.
See you in September!
— Lee Randall, programmer