This August, Edinburgh will host not only the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival but also the Edinburgh International Book Festival. For three weeks, the city will come alive with an exciting lineup of talks, workshops, and performances for literary lovers. We’ve curated a highlights guide featuring some of the Women’s Prize’s celebrated authors and judges.
Saturday 9th August
6.00pm-7.30pm, Opening Gala: Repair
Celebrate the opening of this year’s Festival in this special Gala event, with a wide range of writers including Jenni Fagan whose memoir Ootlin was longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
6.45pm-7.45pm, Rowe Irvin, Florence Knapp & Roisín O’Donnell: Places of Refuge
Listen to these three debut novelists discuss the question of human capability, including Roisín O’Donnell whose novel Nesting was longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Sunday 10th August
3.15pm-4.15pm, Nell Zink & Nicola Barker: Our Big, Strange World
Join Nell and Nicola (whose novel H(A)PPY was longlisted for the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction), as they discuss the power of comedic novels.
5.45pm-6.45pm, Should Rivers Be Afforded Personhood?
Around the world, a growing movement seeks to protect rivers by declaring them living beings entitled to fundamental rights. Louise Welsh (longlisted for the 2003 Women’s Prize for Fiction) brought this campaign to Scotland and will be taking part in this panel with Robert Macfarlane & Monica Feria-Tinta.
7.30pm-8.30pm, Rachel Kushner: Profound & Wickedly Entertaining
Rachel Kushner, longlisted for the 2014 Women’s Prize for Fiction with The Flamethrowers, joins Francisco Garcia to discuss reinventing her espionage novel, her obsession with Neanderthal genetics and the shortcomings of modern man.
Monday 11th August
11.30am-12.30pm, Leila Aboulela & Karen Campbell: Watch Me Begin Again
Leila Aboulela, thrice longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, joins Karen Campbell to explore what happens when we are forced to rebuild our lives, to celebrate the Festival’s theme of Repair.
3.45pm-4.45pm, Rachel Kushner & James Rebanks: These Days
Rachel Kushner, longlisted for the 2014 Women’s Prize for Fiction with The Flamethrowers, joins James Rebanks to discuss being inspired by their unconventional origin and the challenges and revelations of writing about contemporary society in the context of what’s gone before, in both the US and the UK.
Tuesday 12th August
4.45pm-5.45pm, Nussaibah Younis & Leor Zmigrod: The Science (and Art) of Radicalisation
Nussaibah Younis, shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction with Fundamentally, and Leor Zmigrod come together to try to answer the question – What goes on in a fundamentalist’s head?
Wednesday 13th August
10.15am-11.15am, Mona Arshi, Jackie Kay & Karen McCarthy Woolf: Nature Matters
Jackie Kay, longlisted for the 1999 Women’s Prize for Fiction, has contributed to Nature Matters, an anthology drawing together nearly 80 different poets on themes encompassing climate crisis, protest, indigenous wisdom and alternative history.
11.00am-12.00pm, A L Kennedy: Small Kind Details</a
Shortlisted author and judge of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, A L Kennedy joins Zoe Venditozzi to discuss the real heart of her new novel, Alive in the Merciful Country.
1.30am-12.30pm, Sarah Moss: Exits and Entrances
Hear Sarah Moss unpack with Eleanor Catton the themes of migration, belonging, new beginnings, and the idea of home. Moss was longlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction and Catton has been longlisted twice, with The Rehearsal in 2010 and The Luminaries in 2014.
12:15pm-1:15pm, Nussaibah Younis: Fundamentally Funny
Nussaibah Younis talks with Anahit Behrooz about navigating cultural divides and the intricacies of interweaving whip-smart humour and international crisis. Younis was shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction with her debut novel, Fundamentally.
12:45pm-1.45pm, Paula Hawkins: An Unexpected Visitor
Paula Hawkins & Val McDermid, former judges of the 2020 & 1997 Women’s Prize for Fiction respectively, discuss Hawkins’ new page-turning thriller The Blue Hour.
3.00pm-4.00pm, Anita Anand & William Dalrymple: Looting, Repatriation, and All Things Empire
Join former trustee and judge of the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction Anita Anand and William Dalrymple, as they explore the fascinating stories of the items looted during the British Empire.
4.30pm-6.00pm, Discover Jackie Kay’s Archives at the National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland recently acquired the archive of beloved poet, playwright, novelist and longlisted author of the 1999 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Jackie Kay. Join Kay and two curators to discuss the joys and challenges of curation.
6.00pm-7.00pm, Writing Social and Political Satire: A Workshop with Nussaibah Younis
Bring your novel ideas to this workshop with Nussaibah Younis and explore the possibilities for improving their satirical power. Younis will use her insights to offer practical creative advice. Younis was shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction with her debut novel, Fundamentally.
Thursday 14th August
1.30pm-3.30pm, Plot as Repair: A Workshop with Eleanor Catton
Come along to this workshop run by Eleanor Catton where under her guidance you can consider the breaches of trust and expectation that are integral to plots of every kind. Catton has been longlisted twice for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, with The Rehearsal in 2010 and The Luminaries in 2014.
5.00pm-6.00pm, Denise Mina: Bloody Murder
Judge of the 2014 Women’s Prize for Fiction Denise Mina returns to the festival with her 20th novel, The Good Liar, to discuss morals and murder with her signature verve and wit.
8.00pm-9.00pm, Torrey Peters Presents…
Torrey Peters, longlisted for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction with Detransition Baby, has co-curated performances from some of the most exciting trans writers and artists around.
Friday 15th August
12.00pm-1.00pm, Shani Akilah & Jeda Pearl: Celebrating Andrea Levy
Join writers Shani Akilah & Jeda Pearl as they celebrate the enduring legacy of Andrea Levy and honour her contribution to British Literature. Levy won the 2004 Women’s Prize for Fiction with Small Island and has been longlisted twice.
1.30pm-2.30pm, The Front List: Maggie O’Farrell
Join Maggie O’Farrell, winner of the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, to celebrate her 25th anniversary as a beloved writer.
3.00pm-4.00pm, Close Read: The Long Song by Andrea Levy
Join Désha Osborne as she guides you through Andrea Levy’s final novel, The Long Song. Think of it as a blend of friendly book club vibes with insightful study notes. Levy won the 2004 Women’s Prize for Fiction with Small Island and has been longlisted twice.
3.15pm-4.15pm, Tessa Hadley, The Cusp of Something
Listen to Tessa Hadley, two-time longlisted author of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, reflect on the way short-lived encounters can shock and release us into a new phase of life – how do we become who we are?
Saturday 16th August
5.45pm-6.45pm, Torrey Peters: Dancing with Gender
Torrey Peters, longlisted for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction, discusses her vivid celebration of queer and trans lives across place and time with Harry Josephine Giles.
8.00pm-9.00pm, Lamorana Ash & Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin: Millennial Saints
Discoveries alumna Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin joins Lamorna Ash in a thought-provoking discussion on being and belonging in our modern world.
Sunday 17th August
3.15pm-4.15pm, Ali Smith: Brave New Worlds
Ali Smith, winner of the 2015 Women’s Prize for Fiction, returns to the festival to discuss her latest novel Gliff.
6.45pm-7.45pm, Bella Mackie: Killing Your Darling Family
Bestselling author and former judge for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Bella Mackie chats to Nyla Ahmad about the fun of writing characters readers love to hate.
Monday 18th August
12.15pm-1.15pm, Kate Foster: Echoes of Edinburgh’s Past
Be whisked back to 1720s Edinburgh via Kate Foster, shortlisted for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction, and her superlative storytelling.
8.15pm-9.15pm, Arifa Akbar & Dan Richards: Because the Night Belongs to Us
Former judge for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Arifa Akbar, discusses her upcoming memoir, Wolf Moon, with Dan Richards as they uncover the hidden working, creative, and personal lives which carry on while the world sleeps.
Tuesday 19th August
1.30pm-2.30pm, The Front List: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Winner of the 2007 Women’s Prize for Fiction and longlisted for the 2025 Prize with her latest novel Dream Count, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers an insight into her transcendent, powerful work, and how the choices we make – or which are made for us – can cast a longer shadow than we might ever expect.
8.15pm-9.15pm, Emma Healey & Charlotte Runcie: The Sweet Taste of Revenge
Join Emma Healey, longlisted for the 2015 Women’s Prize for Fiction with Elizabeth is Missing, discuss obsession, toxic -love and power dynamics, themes that are at the heart of their novels.
Thursday 21st August
1.45pm-2.45pm, Esther Freud: Excavating the Intimate
Longlisted for the 1998 and 2001 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Esther Freud brings her 10th novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, to the festival in a discussion chaired by Lennie Goodings. Esther recently led the ‘Weaving Stories from Life’ workshop at our Women’s Prize LIVE event, focusing on how to use personal experiences to create engaging fiction.
3.30pm-4.30pm, The Women’s Prize for Fiction at 30
Join the 2025 Chair of Judges for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Kit de Waal, shortlisted author and judge Diana Evans, and two-time longlisted author Laila Lalami as they look back on the prize’s pioneering origins, and consider its lasting legacy with 2017 judge Sam Baker.
4.45pm-5.45pm, Eimear McBride: Ingredients for Intensity
Join Eimear McBride, winner of the 2014 Women’s Prize for Fiction, discuss her latest novel The City Changes Its Faces.
7.15pm-8.15pm, Abigail Bergstrom & Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin: Family Dynasties
Discoveries alumna Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin and Abigail Bergstrom discuss sharp, awkward, and heart-felt familial stories.
8.30pm-9.30pm, Laura Bates: Misogyny Reinvented
2015 Women’s Prize for Fiction judge Laura Bates is joined by Heather Parry to discuss the roles we can all play on these emergent battlegrounds for gender equality.
Friday 22nd August
12.00pm-1.00pm, Alisha Fernandez Miranda, Emma Gannon, Jessica Stanley: Love Undone
Emma Gannon, judge for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction joins Jessica Stanley and Alisha Fernandez Miranda to discuss how their new novels focus on the messy relationship we have with ourselves.
12:15pm-1.15pm, Fresh Words: Women’s Prize Trust Discoveries
Enjoy hearing readings from the new novels by alumna of the Women’s Prize’s Discoveries programme:, Lorna Elcock, Rukky Brume and Rue Baldry.
2.45pm-3.45pm, Diana Evans: Talk to Me
Diana Evans, former shortlisted author and a judge of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction, celebrates the art of the interview with acclaimed journalist and former Women’s Prize judge Sam Baker.
3.15pm-4.15pm, Catherine Chidgey: Conscious Tissue
The twice longlisted author of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Catherine Chidgey discusses her thrilling unnerving dystopian vision, her magpie mind, and living in a world where some lives are valued less than others.
7.30pm-8.30pm, Kit de Waal: When You’re Busy Making Other Plans
Join the 2025 Chair of Judges for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Kit de Waal, in conversation with Damian Barr to discuss her latest novel, The Best of Everything.
8.00pm-9.00pm, Catherine Chidgey & Laila Lalami: Dreaming Dangerously
Catherine Chidgey and Laila Lalami have created two chilling dystopian novels. Lalami’s The Dream Hotel was longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction, which she discusses in this event chaired by Jane Flett.
Saturday 23rd August
2.45pm-3.45pm, Dylan Jones, Miranda Sawyer & Arusa Qureshi: Music Across the Decades
2010 Women’s Prize for Fiction judge Miranda Sawyer joins Dylan Jones and Arusa Qureshi to chat about era-defining artists and songs of the 70, 90s and 2000s, and how we might express what music does to us.
5.00pm-6.00pm, Naga Munchetty: It’s (Not) All In Your Head
Former judge for the 2016 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Naga Munchetty talks with Devi Sridhar about the fundamental flaws in our healthcare system adversely affecting women. Munchetty also hosted an in conversation with Tayari Jones, winner of the 2019 Prize for Fiction at this year’s Women’s Prize LIVE festival.
5.00pm-6.00pm, Lucy Rose & Emma van Straaten: Beneath the Surface
Join Lucy Rose and Emma van Straaten, winner of the inaugural Discoveries Prize in 2021, for a tantalising discussion about obsession, deception and primal emotion.
Sunday 24th August
11.45am-12.45pm, Chloe Dalton: Raising Hare
Shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, Chloe Dalton discusses how care can transcend the boundaries between humans and animals and her magical encounter with the hare all tied into the Festival theme of Repair.
