Book Fringe 2026: From the Centre to the Margins

What is Book Fringe?

The Book Fringe is our accessible, bookshop run, alternative August literary festival! Bringing in bookshops across the city to deliver a programme of events that highlight each bookshop’s personality.

Entirely run and curated by indie bookshops, Book Fringe offers readers the opportunity to meet world-class writers in the intimate and lively settings of local bookshops.

Led by Lighthouse, Book Fringe has been running for over a decade, each year reinventing itself just a wee bit while continuing to celebrate accessibility, community and creativity as only indie bookshops can!

The 2026 festival, themed ‘From the Center to the Margins’ spans the city with events at Lighthouse in the Old Town, Argonaut in Leith and Greenhouse Books & Records in Bruntsfield.

Click HERE for the full Book Fringe offering across the 3 shops or browse ours below.

All Lighthouse events will take place at 12pm (noon) and entry to ALL Lighthouse events is free: no tickets, no ticket booking needed (unless you want event reminders or to chip in for the shop), just show up to discover some great authors.

Events are first come first seated, so try to come a bit early to guarantee a spot (and have a browse!)

For accessibility queries, you can read our access policy here.