As the Borders Book Festival closes for another year, its co-Directors, Paula Ogilvie and Alistair Moffat, have announced record-breaking initial figures from the four-day celebration of books and culture in the beautiful Scottish Borders town of Melrose.
Ticket sales once again increased year-on-year, this time up by 8.1% on 2025, and footfall over the four days was up more than 5% on last year at nearly 34,000. It was also a record year for book sales, up by 17% from 2025.
The sun shone from Thursday evening onwards, and crowds flocked to see familiar faces from the big and small screen, stars of radio and current affairs, some of the nation’s most recognisable and respected politicians, including some recently released from the shackles of Government; plus acclaimed historians, naturalists and biographers, celebrated crime writers, comedians guaranteed to make audiences laugh like drains, and well-known faces from the worlds of food and drink to guarantee they went away hungry and thirsty.
On the final day former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was joined on stage by journalist and broadcaster Gavin Esler talking about leadership and the pressures of public life that she has candidly written about in her memoir Frankly.
In front of a largely sympathetic audience, she revealed that she will be writing an additional chapter of the book following the conviction of Peter Murrell and discussed her treatment from the media in relation to whether she had any knowledge of his crime.
She also mentioned that she wants to write a political thriller in the future. Unfortunately due to time constraints and other commitments she was unable to take part in the after speech book signing and selfie oportunities.
Festival-goers were also treated to sunny hours in the Food Village in the Orchard, under the vast Clear Span marquee that made its debut last year.
Festival Director Alistair Moffat, for whom this was his last Festival as co-Director, said: “This year’s Borders Book Festival was a triumph – so many people are telling us it was the best yet – and this is borne out in the figures, which are once again up on 2025’s record-breaking attendances.
“My last year as a director was always going to be an important marker, and we’re so delighted that twenty-three years of hard work, dedication and imagination have brought the Book Festival to this fabulous place, from which Paula can continue with her leadership into 2027 and beyond.”
