Scottish Books Events: May 2026
Two big book festivals hit Scotland this month, while a bunch of launches and readings happen in bookshops across the country
Paisley Book Festival returns to the titular town from 15-17 May with a packed programme of bookish events revolving around the theme Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons. Big names like Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon appear, Scottish-Bulgarian author Kapka Kassabova discusses her latest eco non-fiction book Borrowed Land, Graeme Armstrong talks about his latest book Raveheart, and Katalina Watt and Angie Spoto explore the Gothic potential of maritime adventures, amongst others. For a more grassroots vibe, head to Glasgow Zine Festival, where DIY culture is the name of the game. There's events on Palestinian solidarity, a zine fair, and a workshop on making a zine for your best friend run by The Skinny's Books Editor (hi) and Theatre Editor.
Over at Lighthouse Bookshop, there's the last couple of events for First Date, Edinburgh's romance festival: a panel with Kai Spellmeier and Gayathiri Kamalakanthan (6 May), and a late night book market (7 May). They're also launching Few and Far Between with Jan Carson (20 May) and Elle Machray's queer feminist Dickens reimaging Havisham (27 May). And at Portobello Bookshop, Hannah Lavery launches Everything Everyday: A Year of Empty Promises on 7 May and Ella Risbridger launches her latest highly-anticipated cookbook The Kitchen Book on 22 May.