Book-lovers travel from across country to celebrate Everyday Heroes and Everlasting Icons with major names in Scottish writing

This year’s Paisley Book Festival was a best-seller, organisers say.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, broadcaster Sally Magnusson and the queen of Scottish crime-writing, Val McDermid, were among the big-name writers who attracted the biggest number of attendees yet to book into the town.

Families enjoyed a fantastic fun day, schoolchildren were inspired to love reading and an exciting platform was given to emerging talent as part of a packed programme at the weekend with more than 2,200 tickets sold.

Events were inspired by football, global adventures, spectacular Scottish women and attendees even witnessed the courtly medieval Scottish tradition of Flyting - a poetry rap battle in all but name.

Centred around the theme Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons, the three-day event - from Friday until Sunday - welcomed leading writers, thinkers and creatives to explore who their role models are and what makes a hero.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Chair of festival organisers OneRen, said: “To have achieved our biggest audiences yet across the weekend is another fantastic chapter in the increasingly successful story of Paisley Book Festival.

“Over the past seven years, the festival really has put Paisley and Renfrewshire on the literary map, attracting major names and strong audiences locally and nationally.

“The festival is another fantastic way in which to discover the town, support local businesses and be inspired by not only some of Scotland’s best-known writers, but some of the most exciting new talent emerging regionally and nationally. 

“Special thanks go to the writers, performers, audiences and Creative Scotland for their support.”

Events were held in Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Central Library.

Festival highlights included celebrated crime writers Christopher Brookmyre and Doug Johnstone celebrating their collective 50 years of publishing in a special anniversary event hosted by fellow author and ‘Fun-Loving Crime Writers’ bandmate Val McDermid , who also had her own event discussing the latest installment of her Karen Pirie series.

Johnstone said: “The theme of the Paisley Book Festival this year was incredibly pertinent, because, while book festivals offer folks an opportunity to meet and engage with authors they admire and enjoy, it is equally a joy for us as authors to meet other writers, to hear from people who have been impacted by our stories and to hear their insights on your work.

“Book Festivals are vital because they give opportunities to new writers and help people discover voices they may not come across. Crucially, they are all about connection - there is no divide between readers and writers. It becomes a shared community space.

“They are a focal point for bringing people together, and we need to cherish that.” 

Paisley favourite and best-selling author of The Young Team, Graeme Armstrong, introduced Raveheart, his hilarious and poignant new novel inspired by Scotland’s rave scene on the Saturday, the same day as a sell-out live session of The Book Club Scotland was staged.

As part of the festival’s Reclaiming History’s Heroines strand, authority, journalist and broadcaster Sally Magnusson celebrated her latest novel, The Shapeshifter’s Daughter to acclaim.

Highlights from Sunday included a special session by Lochwinnoch Writers Group celebrating the work of Betty McKellar, the 96-year-old ‘Bard of Lochwinnoch’.

Former First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon brought the festival to a close as she shared stories from her memoir Frankly as she was joined in conversation by award-winning author and University of Glasgow Professor Louise Welsh.

During the session she shared stories from her life in public office, little over a week following the Scottish Parliament election and the end of her 27 years as an MSP after she did not seek reelection.

The festival’s celebrated schools programme, meanwhile, took award-winning writers and poets directly to pupils from P3 to S3, with events hosted at Paisley Town Hall alongside sessions being delivered in 21 schools and public libraries across the area to invited school groups.

A family fun events included Travis musician Dougie Payne sharing his debut picture book, Poochie Pete And His Very Big Feet. 

Paisley Book Festival 2026 was supported by Creative Scotland. Many of the events were charged on a pay-what-you-can basis.