'Reimagined' Aye Write festival not returning until 2027

Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival will not return to the city until 2027, and will run for half the time.

Next year’s festival will run for five days in March, in what organisers describe as a ‘reimagined celebration of all things literacy’.

It comes after the 2024 instalment was cancelled after Creative Scotland turned down its bid for funding.

Last year, Glasgow Life was awarded £262,500 from Creative Scotland’s 2025-28 Multi-Year Fund for the delivery of the 2025, 2026 and 2027 Aye Write festivals.

The organisation now refer to the funding covering 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28, rather than calendar years.

The new edition will return to its traditional springtime slot, having previously been held in November last year.

Children’s book festival Wee Write will also run alongside the event.

Ahead of the return of the main festival in March, organisers have announced Aye Write Presents will bring four headline events to Glasgow between September and November 2026.

They include talks from former first minister Humza Yousaf, Laura Kuenssberg and Val McDermid.

Humza Yousaf will discuss his book Under Fire Crown Copyright

Yousaf will discuss his book Under Fire: My Family’s Escape from Gaza and The Cost of Leadership, at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

It details his month-long fight to get his in-laws out of Gaza.

Kuenssberg will discuss her book Pay Attention, at the University of Glasgow’s Debates Chamber.

Val McDermid will be joined by Jo Sharp, Geographer Royal for Scotland, to discuss their short novel This Doors of the Seas at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Bob McDevitt, Aye Write Festival Programmer, said: “There’s a great mix of politics, personal memoir and thrilling fiction, with each of our four unique events offering audiences the chance to hear directly from the people behind the books.

Organisers say the programme for the festival will include dozens of panel discussions, celebrating some of the public’s favourite books of recent years.

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life and Convenor for Culture, Sport and International Relations for Glasgow City Council, said: “Aye Write holds a special place in Glasgow’s cultural life and I’m delighted to see the festival enter its next chapter.

“Returning to its traditional springtime slot in 2027, the festival will offer a fresh, experience-led programme while continuing to champion great writing and opportunities for people across Glasgow and beyond to engage with books and storytelling.

Creative writing classes will also be a feature, with events celebrating people with additional learning needs will also be developed.

While open mic nights and themed showcases will give self-published and unpublished authors opportunities to share their work.