Wigtown Book Festival
26 September - 5 October 2025
A ten-day literary celebration in Scotland's National Book Town
Our flagship event, Wigtown Book Festival welcomes international audiences and a prestigious cast of authors each year.
Founded in 1999, the 10-day festival is now one of the UK's best-loved literary events with over 200 events, including music, theatre, food and visual arts.
Every Autumn Wigtown, a town with a population of little over 1000, welcomes 13,000 visitors to the Book Festival
Opening Night
We begin each festival with a bagpipe procession through the town followed by fireworks and a hog roast.
Children and Young People
The Big Wig Programme
A festival within a festival, catering for pre-schoolers, primary students, pre-teens and their families.
We host authors events, workshops and activities for children, making Wigtown Book Festival a fun-packed family getaway.
Wigtown YA
Our programme for teenagers and young adults.
Engage with the latest Teen and Young Adult literature
with author events and workshop.
Explore relevant topics through our thought-provoking panel discussions, opening conversations between the authors telling our collective stories.
Festival Ceilidh
Each year we celebrate with a Ceilidh - no previous experience required!
About us
Support Us
Wigtown has managed to create a real ‘boutique’ feel to its festival. It’s refreshingly unstressed, set in stunning landscapes and with an enviably broad and sophisticated programme.
Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday