Boswell Book Festival 2025 full programme of events

Held every year at Dumfries House in honour of local writer James Boswell, the event draws in reading enthusiasts from across the country and beyond.

Now in its 15th year, it will be returning in 2025 from May 9-11.

Another full line-up of inspirational speakers will share personal stories and experiences over the course of the event.

Huge crowds are drawn in every year. (Image: Boswell book Festival) Headline acts include actor and writer, Rupert Everett with his brilliant new stories drawing on his fascinating career; the UK’s no 1 best-selling poet, Pam Ayres on her life through poems; the legendary dancer Wayne Sleep, who took to the stage with Princess Diana; best-selling chronicler of Prime Ministers, Anthony Seldon; broadcasting legend, John Suchet, on his quest for Beethoven; and the journalist Nick Wallis whose book 'The Great Post Office Scandal' was behind the hit ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Joining him on stage will be Robert ‘Rab’ Thompson – a postmaster from Alloa wrongly convicted of theft in 2006.

The sweep of history also touches this year’s festival with biographies of two Scottish Queens: Mary Tudor, who became Queen of Scotland, and her successor, Mary Stuart.

The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Days will also be commemorated and bringing historical events right up-to-date, the award-winning journalist, John Sweeney, will be talking about his book Murder in the Gulag on the death of Soviet dissident leader, Alexei Navalny.

Other writers tell of how one event has changed their lives, including Chloe Dalton, Juano Diaz and Gelong Thubten.

Dom Joly, Bendor Grosvenor and Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell will over a variety of topics for book-goers to enjoy.

The festival’s Ayrshire roots is reflected in novelist Andrew O’Hagan’s keynote address on the great tradition of home-grown satire from Burns to Billy Connolly.

Tickets for this year's festival are on sale from 9am on Thursday, March 20 and can be found on the Boswell book Festival website.

This year's festival takes place from May 9-11. (Image: Boswell book Festival) Festival director, Caroline Knox, said: “Powerful personal testimonies abound in this year’s programme opening our eyes to new worlds even on our own doorstep.

"With well over 40 events, plus workshops, across four venues it is no exaggeration to say that “All Human Life is Here” – and that’s not to forget our hugely popular children’s festival programme at the Dumfries House Engineering  Centre."

The festival also has a host of events for kids, including sessions with Vivian French and Kate Leiper.

The outdoor programme includes forest bathing sessions and woodland walks with Allison Galbraith, while Ayrshire’s Alan Dapré introduces his heart-warming tale ‘My Dog Max’.