BLOODY SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL REVEALS FULL 2026 PROGRAMME

The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival will take place in the historic city of Stirling from 18-20 September.  Big names on the 2026 Bloody Scotland festival programme include Richard Osman, Liz Nugent, Sarah Pinborough, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Steve Cavanagh, Nadine Matheson, Gregg Hurwitz, Robert Bryndza, Janice Hallett, China’s bestselling crime writer, Cai Jun, bestselling Irish crime writer, Andrea Mara and broadcasters Robert Peston, Olly Smith and Jeremy Vine.

Guest programmer, Denise Mina reveals her full list of special guests to include Irish comedian and actor, Ardal O’Hanlon, Australian idol Jane Harper, Jane Casey, Lucy Foley, Tana French, S A Cosby and Lee Child – who sold out within 24 hours of his early bird tickets going on sale. She said:

‘If Bloody Scotland 2026 is even half as much fun as I had helping to put this festival together then it’s going to be bloody brilliant. See you there!’

In addition to Denise, the Scottish lineup includes bestsellers Harriet Tyce, Abir Mukherjee, Chris Brookmyre, Callum McSorley, Alex Gray, Lin Anderson, Alan Parks, Louise Welsh and Graeme Macrae Burnet. The festival also introduces Scottish debut prize shortlisters, Zoë Rankin, Frances Crawford, Kirsty Lockwood, May Rinaldi and Linda Duncan McLaughlin.

There will be some fascinating nonfiction events including Where does free speech end and extremism begin? with Professor Lara Frumkin, How to Clean a Crime Scene with Ben Giles, How to Pitch Your Book with Sheila M Averbuch and A History of Modern Britain in Twenty Murders with Professor David Wilson.

One thing which distinguishes Bloody Scotland from other crime festivals are the fringe events which this year include a Royal Stirling-themed procession led by Denise Mina, a Saturday night game show, Eight Out Of Ten Crime Writers Do Countdown, an event with the creator and stars of huge Netflix hit Dept Q, a play based on Denise Mina’s Rizzio which will take place in the historic setting of the Church of the Holy Rude, an interactive murder mystery experience led by a New York Times bestselling author, a literary take on Desert Island Discs with Desert Island Crooks, a screening of the film The Maltese Falcon introduced by the author’s granddaughter, a play You the Jury starring real-life lawyers and forensic experts in Stirling Sheriff Court, the ever popular True Crime Walking Tour and the annual cabaret night, Karaoke at the Coo.

For the first time the festival includes a partnership with Helsinki Noir, welcoming Finnish authors to Stirling and sending Scottish authors back to Helsinki for a ‘Bloody Scotland’ panel in 2027.

Festival Director, Bob McDevitt said:

‘Working with Denise on the programme this year has been an absolute joy, and I’m now really looking forward to what promises to be a sensational weekend of non-stop bookish delights!’

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland said:

‘Bloody Scotland has pulled together an exceptional programme for 2026, combining the stars of Scottish crime writing with luminaries from across the globe. It will be exciting for fans of crime fiction to see names like Lee Child being brought to Stirling, sitting alongside Louise Welsh, Graeme Macrae Burnet and more emergent authors such as Callum McSorley. Just as important is the work the festival does to launch and develop new Scottish writers, from pitching unpublished work to agents, then sharing a stage with established names, to hopefully having their own events in future. Altogether, this is fantastic offering for Scotland’s readers and writers.’

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Susan McGill said:

‘Bloody Scotland is firmly established as a Stirling institution and this year’s bumper programme shows why it continues to grow in stature as an internationally-renowned festival. We can’t wait to welcome some of the world’s best crime writers to Stirling in addition to celebrating the very best of Scottish writing talent.

‘Bloody Scotland is a jewel in the crown of Stirling’s cultural offerings which attracts visitors from around the globe, and we’re once again looking forward to being joined by bookworms and crime fiction aficionados for this annual celebration of mystery, murder and mischief.’