Boswell Book Festival

Join a host of big-name authors and personalities, celebrating life stories, as the Boswell Book Festival returns to Dumfries House, Ayrshire for 2026.

About Boswell Book Festival

	8th May 2026 to 10th May 2026
	See event website for details
	Dumfries House Dumfries House , Cumnock KA18 2NJ
	See event website for details
	Visit the event website here
	Facebook information can be found here
	Follow boswellbookfestival on Instagram

Listed Under Books Events / Days Out Events / Family and Kids Events / Talks and Lectures Events / Workshops Events

The Boswell Book Festival, the World's only festival of biography and memoir, returns to Dumfries House in May 2026.

Inspired by the great Ayrshire Biographer, James Boswell, at the heart of the festival is a programme of stories taken from the inspirational lives of people past and present. There is something for all interests, with big name authors and celebrities in attendance, and topics of discussion from history and music to animals and sport, and just about everything in between! With a bookshop, festival cafes, book signings, house tours and workshops, this is also a special opportunity to engage with authors and ideas in a unique setting.

Run alongside our main festival, the Boswell Children’s Festival offers a lively weekend of family friendly events and activities. Led by well-loved storytellers and illustrators, it is guaranteed to appeal to young readers of all ages.

The Boswell Book Festival is set in and around the spectacular house and 2,000 acre grounds of Dumfries House Estate, East Ayrshire; an outstanding location ensuring an unforgettable day out.

Tickets and the full programme launch in mid-March – join our mailing list to be sure of getting the latest updates.

Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On East Renfrewshire, click here to find out more!

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in East Renfrewshire? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!

Similar events you might like...

Alex Gray Book Signing

10th March 2026

The Avenue Shopping Centre, Newton Mearns

Join the team at Waterstones Newton Mearns on Tuesday 10th March as they welcome bestselling crime novelist Alex Gray to discuss and sign copies of Blood on old Stones!