THE Borders Book Festival will be ‘back with a bang’ says Festival Director, Alistair Moffat who can’t wait to bring the popular event back home to Melrose.

The programme was announced last week as organisers prepare to welcome back on stage big names in books; stars of stage and screen and leading figures from the world of politics and current affairs.

Returning to its usual home at Harmony Garden, Melrose, in the Scottish Borders, for the first time since 2019, the four-day book extravaganza runs from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th June.

He said: “We’re raring to get the stage set and the show on the road to welcome our audience back to Harmony Garden after three long years.

“We’re back with a bang! This year’s programme will delight the crowds with what everyone has come to expect of the Borders Book Festival: lively debate, a broadening of minds, insightfulness -- and, of course, a good dose of fun and laughter along the way. And boy, do we need it!

“We’re grateful to our Principal Sponsor Baillie Gifford, Key Sponsor McInroy & Wood, Family Book Festival sponsor Saltire Roofing and Building, and supporters Creative Scotland, VisitScotland and Scottish Borders Council, who’ve stood by us through this difficult period. 

“It seems more fitting than ever to be back for four days of fun and celebration of the written word in what is Scotland’s Year of Stories.  And I’m sure this year’s festival will mean we’ll have even more stories of our own to tell for years to come!”

Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “Our Year of Stories celebrations have highlighted the rich diversity of voices we have in Scotland and the infinite ways there are of telling stories across genres and art forms. The Borders Book Festival explores many of these, from historical and crime fiction to politics and comedy, in this inspirational and entertaining programme.”

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland said: “Book lovers will be delighted to see the Borders Book Festival return to its home at Harmony Garden, Melrose. This offers the opportunity for those local to the area to engage with literature in a live setting, while also drawing people from across the country. This is a broad and diverse programme of writers that offers something for everyone, in many cases touching upon the big issues facing the world today.”

Tickets now available at www.bordersbookfestival.org  or by calling 0131 290 2112.