Richard Osman, Lucy Foley and Lee Child will be among the authors taking part in a “sensational” crime writing festival in September, organisers have announced.
Writer Denise Mina, guest programmer for the Bloody Scotland festival, has unveiled the programme for the event which takes place in Stirling later this year.
Other authors appearing include Liz Nugent, Sarah Pinborough, Gregg Hurwitz and Robert Bryndza, as well as Irish crime writer Andrea Mara and one of China’s bestselling writers Cai Jun.
Scottish writers on the line-up include Harriet Tyce, Chris Brookmyre, Alex Gray, Lin Anderson, Louise Welsh and Graeme Macrae Burnet.
Denise Mina said: “If Bloody Scotland 2026 is even half as much fun as I had helping to put this festival together then it’s going to be bloody brilliant. See you there!”
Broadcasters Robert Peston, Olly Smith and Jeremy Vine will also be taking part in the festival, as will Irish comedian and Father Ted actor, Ardal O’Hanlon.
There will also be a range of non-fiction events including How to Clean A Crime Scene with Ben Giles and A History Of Modern Britain In Twenty Murders with Professor David Wilson.
Festival director Bob McDevitt said: “Working with Denise on the programme this year has been an absolute joy, and I’m now really looking forward to what promises to be a sensational weekend of non-stop bookish delights.”
The festival also features fringe events such as a play titled You The Jury starring real-life lawyers and forensic experts in Stirling Sheriff Court, an event with the creator and stars of Netflix show Dept Q.
Other fringe events include a screening of the film The Maltese Falcon introduced by Julie M Rivett who is one of the grandchildren of Dashiell Hammett, the author of the book it was based on.
This year the festival includes a partnership with Helsinki Noir for the first time, and will welcome Finnish authors to Stirling and send Scottish authors back to Helsinki for a Bloody Scotland panel in 2027.
Alan Bett, head of literature and publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “Bloody Scotland has pulled together an exceptional programme for 2026, combining the stars of Scottish crime writing with luminaries from across the globe.
“It will be exciting for fans of crime fiction to see names like Lee Child being brought to Stirling, sitting alongside Louise Welsh, Graeme Macrae Burnet and more emergent authors such as Callum McSorley.
“Just as important is the work the festival does to launch and develop new Scottish writers, from pitching unpublished work to agents, then sharing a stage with established names, to hopefully having their own events in future.
“Altogether, this is fantastic offering for Scotland’s readers and writers.”
The 2026 festival runs from Friday September 18 until Sunday September 20.
Stirling Council leader Susan McGill said: “Bloody Scotland is a jewel in the crown of Stirling’s cultural offerings which attracts visitors from around the globe, and we’re once again looking forward to being joined by bookworms and crime fiction aficionados for this annual celebration of mystery, murder and mischief.”
More information can be found at bloodyscotland.com
