The Athens of the North.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Edinburgh, UK — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 10, 2026
Ian Rankin · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Crime writer Ian Rankin reflects on how Edinburgh — its geography, its class divisions, its fog and grimness — has shaped his Rebus novels, and how fiction can illuminate truths ab…
Sally Rooney · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Sally Rooney discusses her latest work, the mechanics of contemporary realism and the representation of friendship and politics in fiction. The session will include an audience Q&A…
Ian Rankin · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Ian Rankin explores the relationship between Edinburgh and contemporary crime fiction, tracing influences from city streets to the novels. He will read from his latest Rebus instal…
Ian Rankin · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 11, 2026
Best-selling Edinburgh crime novelist Ian Rankin reads from his latest novel and discusses the role of city, memory and morality in contemporary crime fiction. The event includes a…
Ian Rankin · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Ian Rankin reads from his new novel and discusses the craft of crime writing with an audience Q&A. Expect insights into Edinburgh as setting and the techniques he uses to build ten…
Margaret Atwood · Edinburgh International Book Festival - Charlotte Square Gardens · August 11, 2026
Margaret Atwood addresses the intersections of fiction, climate imagination and speculative futures in a keynote conversation. Attendees can expect readings and a discussion about …
Ali Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Ali Smith talks about form, language and the ways stories map human time and memory. The event features readings and a conversation with a festival chair.
Zadie Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Zadie Smith explores the intersections of fiction and public commentary, drawing on her novels and essays. She will engage in conversation with a moderator followed by an audience …
Kwame Anthony Appiah and Mary Beard · Edinburgh International Book Festival - Ross Pavilion · August 11, 2026
Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah and classicist Mary Beard discuss cosmopolitanism, public culture and the lessons of the ancient world for modern civic life. The dialogue will bri…
Mary Beard · Edinburgh International Festival · August 11, 2026
Classicist Mary Beard examines how ancient texts and images continue to influence modern theatre and public debate. She argues for the continuing relevance of classical ideas to qu…
Colm Tóibín · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Colm Tóibín reads from his new work and reflects on the craft of writing intimate histories that resonate across generations. The session includes audience Q&A and a short reading …
Neil Gaiman · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Neil Gaiman reads from his latest work and discusses storytelling across mediums. The session will include an audience Q&A and a short signing afterwards.
Margaret Atwood, Douglas Stuart · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 11, 2026
Two acclaimed novelists discuss the art of storytelling, the responsibilities of writers, and the changing landscape of contemporary fiction. The session will feature readings, a m…
Neil Gaiman · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 11, 2026
Beloved storyteller Neil Gaiman talks about myth, memory and creativity, reading excerpts from his recent work and reflecting on storytelling in modern life. The session will inclu…
Ian Rankin · Edinburgh International Book Festival, Potterrow · August 11, 2026
Edinburgh-born crime writer Ian Rankin reads from his forthcoming novel and discusses craft, place, and the enduring appeal of detective fiction. The session concludes with an audi…
Alexander McCall Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 11, 2026
Beloved novelist Alexander McCall Smith shares reflections on storytelling, routine and the small pleasures that sustain a writing life. The audience can expect readings, anecdotes…
Ali Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival, Charlotte Square Gardens · August 11, 2026
Ali Smith explores themes of time, memory and storytelling in her recent novels, drawing on her acclaimed 'Seasonal' series. The event will include readings and a Q&A with the audi…
Zadie Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 12, 2026
Award-winning novelist Zadie Smith discusses her new work and the ethics of representing communities and memory in fiction. The session includes a moderated conversation and audien…
Robert Macfarlane · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Chapel) · August 12, 2026
Award-winning nature writer Robert Macfarlane discusses landscape, language and the environmental challenges facing the Highlands. He reads from his new work and takes audience que…
Neil Gaiman · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 12, 2026
Neil Gaiman reflects on storytelling across media and the enduring power of myth in contemporary fiction. The talk includes a reading and audience Q&A about craft and creative prac…