Book Week Scotland 2025 programme announced

Scotland's national celebration of books, Book Week Scotland, returns from 17th to 23rd November and tickets are on sale now!

Article Source: Scottish Book Trust
Last Updated: 10 October 2025 9:27

The programme for Book Week Scotland 2025 has now been announced, with a whole week of exciting and inclusive events with some of Scotland’s top authors, running from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 November.

Graeme Macrae Burnet, makar Peter Mackay, and New York Times’ best-selling author Amal El-Mohtar will be taking part in a week of events, which all celebrate the theme of friendship.

Book Week Scotland, now in its 14th year, is run by Scottish Book Trust, and is supported by Creative Scotland. The annual celebration of books and reading has an extensive programme of events across Scotland which encourages community involvement, and which covers Scots and Gaelic, arts, poetry, and music.

Scottish Book Trust will also be delivering 70,000 copies of a free book, Scotland’s Stories: Friendship across Scotland. As part of an annual writing opportunity, members of the public have contributed their stories, including commissioned pieces from authors Catherine Simpson and Chitra Ramaswamy.

Book Week Scotland 2025 programme highlights:

• 70,000 free copies of Scotland’s Stories: Friendship will be distributed all over Scotland

• New and exclusive Amal El-Mohtar serialisation: Readers can subscribe to a brand new piece of writing by the Canadian poet and co-author of the New York Times best-selling This is How You Lose the Time War. Sign up for free daily instalments to be delivered directly to your inbox throughout Book Week.

• Pitch It!: Hannah Lavery, Kirsty Logan and Anbara Salaam will be attending local events programmed by winning pitchers. Anbara will be hosted by the Scottish BIPOC writers network, Hannah by Govanhill Baths Community Trust, and Kirsty will be speaking to arts students at Abertay University.

• A special showcase event at Dundee’s Steps Theatre on Monday 17 November to launch the Scriever and Freens tour with the current Scots Scriever, Taylor Dyson. Previous scrievers, Shane Strachan and Susi Briggs, will join Taylor at the showcase, before she takes the tour to other venues across Scotland.

• Graeme Macrae Burnet will be at National Library Scotland for a special event on Thursday 20 November, where he explores the impact that being a reader has had on his life.

• Makar Peter Mackay will be taking part in a Pleasures and Power of Reading event at Summerhall on Sunday 23 November as part of the Push the Boat Out festival.

• Interactive Reading Map: make sure you add what you’re reading during Book Week, and discover what others are reading. We’ll share our findings on what Scotland is reading right now, later in the year.

In schools:

• Universal book gifting for young school children: Every P1, P2, and P3 child in Scotland will receive a specially curated book bag filled with books and activities, thanks to Bookbug (P1) and Read, Write, Count (P2 & P3).

• Authors Live with Frank Cottrell-Boyce: This event will be broadcast live to schools across the UK on Tuesday 26 November, as a follow up to Book Week Scotland. Frank is the multi-award-winning author of numerous beloved children's books, including Millions, The Wonder Brothers, Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth and many more, as well as having an illustrious career as a screenwriter working on both film and TV.

Alan Bett, Head of Literature & Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: ‘Book Week Scotland will once again reach out to engage the people of Scotland in sharing the love and value of books and reading, with an inspiring and inclusive range of literary events taking place across the country. There will be opportunities for people of all ages and interests to enjoy the work of leading writers like best-selling author Amal El-Mohtar and Scots Scriver, Taylor Dyson. In 2025, Book Week Scotland will also shine a special light on the importance of friendship, when reading and books are celebrated online, in libraries, theatres, homes, and hearts.’

Marc Lambert, CEO Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Book Week Scotland 2025 is set to be a bumper programme, and we are excited to announce the range of authors, artists and events we have lined up. This year’s theme of friendship is also apt for a week in which authors come together with the community to share ideas. It also ties in with our connection to our partners, who we are incredibly grateful to for allowing us to make this week happen. This includes Creative Scotland and Scottish Library and Information Council, and the independent bookshops, schools and libraries that are hosting our events. We find friendship in all these places, and we hope new bonds are formed during Book Week Scotland.’

Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library & Information Council, said: ‘Book Week Scotland is a wonderful celebration of the power of stories to bring people together and a highlight in Scotland's Literary Calendar. Our libraries are at the heart of their communities, and this year’s theme of friendship shines a light on the connections that grow when people share books and ideas. We’re proud to support Scottish Book Trust in making this special week happen and look forward to welcoming everyone to join in the celebrations in libraries across the country.’

For more information on events, listings and how to get involved, visit www.scottishbooktrust.com

Follow the conversation with #BookWeekScotland on social media.

Image: Authors Chitra Ramaswamy an Graeme Macrae Burnet at Argonaut Books, Leith Walk, Edinburgh

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