Date Published: 24th August 2026

Alexander McCall Smith’s annual event at Edinburgh International Book Festival sold out very fast this year. The main theatre space was packed and folk were watching online all over the world. And what an hour! Laughter, readings, a visit to Mma Ramotswe, a catch up on Bertie and the Scotland Street neighbours, a glimpse of a stand alone novel coming this winter and a moving reading of poetry. The event celebrated publication this month of The Prime of Bertie Pollock – new in the Scotland Street novels, The Big Cats Dance Party – new in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series published officially in September but available at the festival, The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion – in the Isabel Dalhousie series, published earlier this year, and a third collection of Alexander’s much loved poetry.

From the Georgian splendour of Edinburgh’s New Town to the sunlit plains of Botswana, Alexander McCall Smith conjures incomparable worlds of warmth, humour, and humanity. This year, The Prime of Bertie Pollock brings fresh adventures to 44 Scotland Street, while The Big Cats Dance Party reunites us with the incomparable Mma Ramotswe. Join the knight of Scottish letters for a conversation full of generous-spirited storytelling. Chaired by Zinnie Harris. 

From the Edinburgh International Book Festival programme 2026

Audience members tuning in to the Positive Distractions podcast

Audience members also asked questions about the new podcast, Alexander McCall Smith’s Positive Distractions. Episodes from the podcast drop weekly with Alexander reading a new short story in each. The podcast is proving very popular amongst readers and was The Guardian Podcast of the Week in July. Find out how to listen, here.

Take a look

Images below from Edinburgh International Book Festival show the theatre, Alexander on stage interviewed by Zinnie Harris, the ‘new books’ section in the festival bookshop, and the full tables of books for signing.

Zinnie Harris Fringe First

Alexander was in conversation this year with the extraordinary playwright Zinnie Harris. He had worked with Zinnie recently on the creative and uplifting Lyceum at home project. This time, Zinnie was in the chair and asking Alexander questions about his career, The conversation ranged across his books, working with musicians, writing for theatre and screen and much more. But what we could not know when the programme was announced was that Zinnie herself would be an award winner that week. Her play, Supposing, won a coveted Fringe First award. Alexander was delighted to be able to congratulate her in person as they shared the stage.