After more than 20 years at the helm of one of the UK’s best-loved book festivals, Alistair Moffat will step down as a Director at the close of the Borders Book Festival in June this year.
When he established the Book Festival back in 2004, it was, in his own words, ‘a punt’.
“It was a way of bringing some of the best and brightest voices from across the UK – indeed from across the world — to the beautiful sanctuary of Melrose in the Scottish Borders at the height of summer. It was my dream, and it became reality.”
Paula Ogilvie joined him shortly afterwards and soon began to develop initiatives for the Book Festival, including schools and community programmes.
Fast forward nearly a quarter of a century, and Borders Book Festival is a beloved stalwart on the literary calendar, with guests over the years having included stars of stage and screen, literary royalty, comedy gold, sporting greats, well-known faces (and voices) from news and current affairs, fashion icons, cookery sensations, and many, many more.
Following Moffat’s departure, co-director Ogilvie — his creative partner throughout — will continue to lead the annual Borders Book Festival, with support from guest programmers.
Ogilvie will take full control of programming from 2027, with the Borders Book Festival team supporting her, many of whom have also played an important role in the annual literary extravaganza since its formative years.
Paula Ogilvie, joint Director of Borders Book Festival, said: “Having been a joint director of Borders Book Festival for so many years, I like to think I know my way around the place – and the role – pretty well.
“ We’ll all miss Alistair, of course, but I’m delighted to be continuing what we’ve created, knowing, perhaps more than anybody else, what potential the Book Festival has to keep growing, evolving, inspiring and entertaining.
“Once the 2026 Festival is behind us, it’ll be All Systems Go for 2027!”
Alistair Moffat added: “Paula has been with me throughout the decades, and she knows the Borders Book Festival inside out. More than that, it’s in her blood, just as it is in mine.
“I’m excited to watch from the sidelines the Book Festival goes from strength to strength under her guiding hand, and I’m also delighted at the prospect of enjoying a day off on my birthday in June 2027, for the first time in more than 20 years”
Moffat’s last event of his last Borders Book Festival will see him reminisce with Rory Bremner about forty years of friendship, including, as you might expect, an awful lot of laughs!
The Borders Book Festival takes place in Harmony Garden, Melrose in the Scottish Borders, from Thursday 11th June to Sunday 14th June 2026.
The full programme is available at www.bordersbookfestival.org from 22nd April. Tickets can be purchased from Citizen Ticket, at www.bordersbookfestival.org or by calling 0131 290 2112.
Alistair Moffat and Rory Bremner will be in conversation on Sunday 14th June, 7.30pm. Tickets available at www.bordersbookfestival.org
