Glasgow’s book festival, Aye Write, is making a comeback just in time for the festive season. The 20th anniversary edition is set to take place in November, a whole six months later than usual. This delay was due to a funding decision that caused a bit of a hiccup in the plans.
After a hiatus of two and a half years, the festival is finally returning in full swing. However, there’s a bit of a snag in getting the lineup sorted out. They still need to appoint a programmer to lead the organization of the event, which was shelved amidst controversy last year.
Glasgow Life, the trust funded by the council that runs many of the city’s major events, has assured that this year’s Aye Write will deliver the vibrant and high-quality program that audiences have come to expect. Last year, the festival was abruptly canceled just two months before it was supposed to happen because Creative Scotland rejected a funding bid.
Despite the setback, a few “pop-up events” featuring well-known writers managed to go ahead under the Aye Write banner between April and August. The festival has not received dedicated funding from the city council or Glasgow Life in recent years, and it was even left out of the official program for Glasgow’s “850th anniversary” in 2025.
Initially, Aye Write was supposed to come back in May after securing £87,500 in annual funding for the next three years from Creative Scotland. However, due to budget uncertainties, the comeback had to be postponed indefinitely. This delay was exacerbated by Creative Scotland having to push back funding decisions, leaving Glasgow Life scrambling to find the best time to reschedule the event to avoid clashes with other major happenings in the city.
Aye Write has primarily been held at the Mitchell Library and Royal Concert Hall, both managed by Glasgow Life. Other venues like the Old Fruitmarket, Drygate Brewery, Tramway, Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow Film Theatre, City Halls, and Glasgow University have also hosted events. Over the years, the festival has welcomed notable Scottish authors such as Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, and many more.
Special guests have included singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, cyclist Graeme Obree, comedians Frankie Boyle and Ruby Wax, as well as broadcasters Robert Peston, Andrew Marr, and Archie Macpherson. Bob McDevitt, a prominent book festival programmer, has been at the helm of recent editions of Aye Write, but his involvement in the upcoming event remains uncertain.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Life mentioned that the details for this year’s festival should be ironed out by the end of the month. Despite ongoing planning, specific information on the format is still pending. However, the commitment to delivering a lively and high-quality program remains steadfast. The festival programming is spearheaded by Glasgow Life’s libraries team with the support of a dedicated festival programmer.
Billy Garrett, director of culture, tourism, and events at Glasgow Life, expressed excitement about Aye Write’s return in November 2025. The festival holds a special place in the hearts of Glasgow residents and the literary community in Scotland. As plans are being finalized, more information and dates for this year’s festival will be announced in the near future.
