YOUR FESTIVAL GUIDE QUICK LINKS
Join us in June
Welcome to the 20th Borders Book Festival! What better way to celebrate a big birthday than with a bumper line-up of events?
We have highlights aplenty, from Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart and a slew of other wonderful novelists including Val McDermid, Robert Harris and Sally Magnusson.
There’s sporting interest with Judy Murray, Martin O’Neill and Pat Nevin, foot-tapping music from Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society), the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers and spellbinding storytelling from Mara Menzies.
We’ll be joined by a host of big names to enrich our cultural get-together, exploring themes within politics, philosophy, social injustice and current affairs with Philippe Sands, Professor John Curtice, Andy Burnham, Helena Kennedy and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Alter egos have a special place in our festival weekend as we are joined by Mabel, Olive and Monkey, ably assisted by Andrew Cotter on the one hand and Nina Conti (kind of literally) on the other. We also look forward to welcoming Jon Culshaw, Shaparak Khorsandi, a trio of Great British Bake Off winners and the high priestess of choreography, Arlene Phillips.
There’s a riot of imagination in the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme, featuring former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child and Martin Brown, illustrator of the global bestselling Horrible Histories series.
…and so much more!
We can’t wait to see you for four magical days in Melrose.
Our festival dates are 15-18 June 2023. Sign up to our enewsletter for all the latest news.
Love Non-fiction?
Baillie Gifford is a long-term supporter of the festival and other literary events around the UK.
Trust magazine is full of insightful articles exploring the ideas transforming how we live and work.
Find out about the sources of disruption in our fast-changing world from features about pioneering companies and conversations with visionary authors. You can also access regular book-related giveaways and hear from the winners of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.
Available to read online.
Honouring the achievements of the founding father of the historical novel, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world. The winner receives £25,000 and shortlisted authors each receive £1,500. Since it was founded fourteen years ago by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the prize has awarded nearly £300,000 to authors and brought over 150 great novels to wider public attention.
Not only is the prize money significant, the exposure and renown for winners and those shortlisted are also of great benefit.
This year’s shortlist of seven: Lucy Caldwell These Days, Adrian Duncan The Geometer Lobachevsky, Robert Harris Act of Oblivion, Elizabeth Lowry The Chosen, Fiona McFarlane The Sun Walks Down, Simon Mawer Ancestry, Devika Ponnambalam I Am Not Your Eve.
The Duke of Buccleuch will announce the name of the winner live on stage at the festival on Thursday 15th June at 5.30pm.
Family Fun
Sat 17 & Sun 18 June
The Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme is packed with fun-filled events for all ages. Join us for an unforgettable weekend!
Donations
Help keep Borders Book Festival alive!
Please help us to continue to deliver the festival in future years by making a donation, however big or small. Borders Book Festival is a charity, and every penny received will go towards helping us to build a sense of community, and to create unforgettable experiences that will stay with us long after the festival is over.
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