With the 2024 theme being Imagine Something Different: 

We welcome five writers from Ireland’s world-renowned literary scene, for our Ireland in Focus series, which is set to explore the rich tapestry of Irish history, culture, and landscape. Hosted by Jan Carson, this series includes Martin Doyle, Books Editor of the Irish Times. He will discuss his powerful new publication, Dirty Linen – The Troubles in My Home Place.

We host The Beautiful Game – a fun series of events merging the worlds of football and literature, involving those who’ve played and managed the game; those who’ve stood on the sidelines and been inspired by it; and celebrate the rise in visibility of women’s football. For this series, we welcome national football hero and football media pundit, Pat Nevin, who will talk about his latest book, Football and How to Survive It. 

A new addition to the programme is Andrew O’Hagan on Sunday 28 April. Following on from his hugely successful novel and BBC drama Mayflies, he will introduce his new novel, Caledonian Road.

Other festival highlights include:

  • Broadcaster and journalist, Sally Magnusson – she will chat about her new novel, Music in The Dark, with fellow journalist Maggie Ritchie.
  • Historical fiction writers Sara Sheridan and Lesley McDowell will be in discussion about how they transform the people and places we know (or think we know) into fiction.
  • Join Sara for a relaxed session on Friday 25 April where you can ask the question you have always wanted to ask of one of Scotland’s top writers.
  • Poet, Andrew McMillan, discusses his first novel Pity with Rebecca Smith, author of Rural: The Lives of the Working Class Countryside.
  • Join us for a conversation with TikTok sensation and Scots language champion Len Pennie about her debut poetry collection Poyums with Glasgow-based writer, director and performer, Sarah Grant. This event focuses on stereotypes, marginalised identities and the importance of visibility and imagining something different from the mainstream.
  • We’re delighted to welcome I Am Loud to the festival! Come along and watch poets take to the stage to compete in the Loud Poets West Regional Slam Heat, hosted by Kevin Mclean
  • We welcome back playwright, poet and Paisley Book Festival’s first Writer-in-Residence, Imogen Stirling who will present a new fusion of poetry, theatre and live drum and bass with producer and multi-instrumentalist, Susan Bear. 

The majority of tickets are on a Pay What You Can basis, enabling you to attend as many events as possible.

For all of the above and more check out the full programme here.