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 17, 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…
Neil Gaiman · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Neil Gaiman reflects on mythmaking, popular storytelling, and the craft of writing for multiple audiences. He will read new material and answer audience questions about his writing…
Saskia Sassen · Edinburgh International Book Festival, John Muir Lawns · August 18, 2026
Sociologist Saskia Sassen explores how global economic flows are reshaping urban life and what this means for social inclusion and policy. The talk will be followed by a panel-styl…
Kazuo Ishiguro · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 18, 2026
Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro talks about memory, identity and the craft of narrative in his recent novels. The session will include readings and a moderated conversation about fic…
Naomi Klein; Rebecca Solnit · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 18, 2026
Journalist and activist Naomi Klein joins essayist Rebecca Solnit to debate climate justice, the politics of care, and storytelling as resistance. A moderated discussion will be fo…
Simon Schama · Edinburgh International Festival (Usher Hall) · August 18, 2026
Historian Simon Schama examines the interplay between historical scholarship and theatrical or visual representations of the past. The lecture will combine slide-rich examples with…
Margaret Atwood · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Margaret Atwood discusses dystopia, speculation and the role of literature in imagining political futures. She will be in conversation with a moderator and take questions from the …
Maggie O'Farrell · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Maggie O'Farrell reads from her forthcoming work and reflects on family memory, place and the craft of literary reconstruction. The reading is followed by a conversation with a fes…
Mary Beard · Edinburgh International Book Festival — David Hume Tower Lawn · August 18, 2026
Classicist Mary Beard argues for the continuing relevance of classical texts to modern life and politics. Her talk will be illustrated with examples from literature and the visual …
Mary Beard; Kwame Anthony Appiah; Naomi Klein · Edinburgh International Festival, King's Theatre · August 18, 2026
A cross-disciplinary panel considers the role of the arts in public memory and democratic life, featuring classical historian Mary Beard, philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah and activ…
Margaret Atwood · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Legendary author Margaret Atwood explores the intersections of fiction, climate politics, and activism in her most recent writing. The talk will be followed by moderated questions …
Zadie Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Zadie Smith reads from her recent work and discusses the politics of urban life, race and narrative form. The session ends with audience questions and a book signing.
Anne Applebaum · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anne Applebaum examines recent trends in authoritarian politics and the resilience of democratic institutions. Her talk will be foll…
Naomi Klein · Edinburgh International Book Festival — Charlotte Square Gardens · August 18, 2026
Naomi Klein examines the political economy of climate change and the possibilities for systemic transformation beyond neoliberal austerity. She will argue for collective strategies…
Alexander McCall Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 18, 2026
Alexander McCall Smith reflects on the craft of creating enduring, humane characters and the pleasures of slow, thoughtful storytelling. He will read from recent work and discuss h…
Zadie Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival, Pearson Studio · August 18, 2026
Zadie Smith explores themes of friendship, style and voice in contemporary fiction, reading extracts from her new work and discussing craft. The session includes time for audience …
Ian Rankin · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Charlotte Square Gardens) · August 18, 2026
Ian Rankin reflects on writing crime fiction set in Edinburgh and the relationship between place and narrative in his long-running series. The session includes readings, behind-the…
Ali Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival (Royal Commonwealth Pool) · August 18, 2026
Acclaimed Scottish novelist Ali Smith explores the craft of fiction and how contemporary life shapes novel form. The session includes a short reading and a moderated Q&A.
Zadie Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Novelist Zadie Smith reads from her new collection and explores themes of identity and translation. She will be joined in conversation by a literary critic and take questions from …
Ali Smith · Edinburgh International Book Festival · August 18, 2026
Ali Smith discusses narrative experiments, seasonal structures and the role of fiction in turbulent times. The conversation includes readings from her recent work and reflections o…