On the final day of its annual extravaganza, the Borders Book Festival has announced record-breaking initial figures. With sellout sessions on Thursday, Friday and a huge attendance on Saturday, ticket sales soared by a stunning 11% on 2024, which was itself a record-breaking year.
Stars glittered in Harmony Garden in Melrose as crowds flocked to see Michael Palin, Gordon Buchanan, Jeremy Hunt, Andrew Marr, Gavin Esler, Larry Lamb, Jim Swire, Alison Steadman, Ian Rankin and a host of other authors.
The sun split the skies on Thursday and Friday and even the occasional bout of refreshing weather on Saturday dampened no one as festival-goers enjoyed the unique atmosphere of the Food Village in the Orchard under a vast Clear Span marquee, newly erected this year.
Festival Directors Alistair Moffat – who was this week awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours — and Paula Ogilvie are delighted by the news of record-breaking attendance, saying:
“With more superb sessions still to come on Sunday, we might even nudge that 11% figure upwards. The atmosphere in the marquees at the sold-out sessions was magical, as audiences laughed, asked excellent questions and enjoyed listening to our superb authors.”
The 2026 Borders Book Festival will run from 11th to 14th June and hoteliers in the central Borders are reporting that their guests are already rebooking rooms en masse.
“We can’t wait for the next one”, said Paula Ogilvie, “but maybe after a bit of a breather and even a break!”
