This year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival is set to take place from August 10-25 at its new home in the Edinburgh Futures Institute, near The Meadows.
Book lovers will flock to over 500 events, with this year’s theme being ‘Future Tense’, exporing “how future-oriented thinking, learning across generations and disciplines, and approaching change with curiosity, compassion, and imagination, could help us untangle the huge systematic challenges we currently face, both as individuals and as a society”.
Many of the world’s biggest authors will be attending the festival, including the likes of Marian Keyes, Robert Harris, Salman Rushdie, David Nicholls, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.
But there will also be plenty of big names who are better known for their work in the worlds of comedy, acting, music and politics.
Here are 11 of the most famous faces appearing at the festival in 2024.
1. Alan Cumming & Forbes Masson
Scottish star Alan Cumming will be joining his old comedy partner Forbes Masson on stage to mark the release of their new book 'Victor and Barry’s Kelvinside Compendium'. They'll be chatting to Jackie Kay at the McEwan Hall at 7.20pm on Saturday, August 10. | Contributed
2. James O'Brien
James O'Brien is one of the leading broadcasters in Britain, with his lunchtime show on LBC attracting around 1.4 million every week. He'll be at the McEwan Hall at 1.30pm on Monday, August 12, talking about his book 'How They Broke Britain', described as a "forensic takedown of the key figures responsible for the UK’s current mess". | Contributed
3. Andy Burnham
One of the UK's most popular politicians, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will be joining Liverpool City Region Mayor to "propose an ambitious ten-point plan to rewire and reimagine the UK beyond Westminster, putting equality at the fore". They'll be chatting to former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale at Venue T on Monday, August 12. | Getty Images
4. Lorraine Kellyetty Images)
You get two famous faces for the price of one as crime author Ian Rankin interviews television favourite Lorraine Kelly at Venue T on Friday, August 16, at 6.45pm. Lorraine will be talking about her debut novel, The Island Swimmer, "a tale of facing the past, self-discovery, and the healing power of the sea". | Getty Images