15 must-see Edinburgh International Book Festival shows for solicitors in 2026 including Baroness Hale, Nicola Sturgeon and John Grisham

The full slate of speakers for the 2026 Edinburgh International Book Festival has been unveiled under the theme of 'changing your mind' and there are a host of essential events for legal practitioners.

I've scoured the programme which this year includes almost 600 writers from 41 countries who will gather in Edinburgh between August 15-30 for a celebration of literature.

There are huge name speakers who will be of interest not just to lawyers but festival goers of all stripes, including John Grisham and Nicola Sturgeon.

And legal heavyweights including Baroness Hale are on hand to offer their unique perspective.

Organisers have said that the 'changing your mind' theme is driven by the intensity of our polarised times — audiences will be invited to stay open and curious.

Jenny Niven, director of the festival, added: "Changing your mind is a lifelong process of staying open to new ideas. By bringing amazing speakers and curious audiences together, around knowledge and perspectives that help us challenge our assumptions and see the world differently, we hope the Festival programme this year will help us gain a deeper understanding of both ourselves and each other.”

Check out the Journal's recommendations below.

Tickets went on sale to Book Festival Members from Wednesday 17 June.

Public on sale opens at 10.00 (BST) on Thursday 25 June.

The Front List: Special Edition – John Grisham

Tue 25 Aug 2026 | 19:00 - 20:00

McEwan Hall

From the brochure: The original legal thriller sensation, John Grisham has written 52 consecutive number one bestsellers, which have sold 500 million copies in more than 45 languages around the world – and he's still on top form with his latest novel (and first murder mystery), The Widow. Chances are you’ll find a copy of The Client,The Rainmaker, or A Time To Kill on your own bookshelf – or you'll have caught one of his blockbuster film adaptations starring Tom Cruise (The Firm) or Julia Roberts (The Pelican Brief). As a prominent advocate for criminal justice reform, Grisham is an active supporter of organisations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. In today’s rare and special event, Grisham speaks to award-winning crime writer Ian Rankin about his incredible career, the state of the US criminal justice system, and the relationship between the high-stakes fiction and stark reality of the law. Find out more.

Gordon Brown: The Future Starts with Us

Fri 28 Aug 2026 | 11:45 - 12:45

Venue T

From the brochure: In an age of global instability and civic decline, what’s gone wrong and what can ordinary people do to bring positive change to the world? As former British Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a current United Nations special envoy, World Health Organisation ambassador, and special envoy on global finance to the current UK government, Gordon Brown is well-placed to answer these questions in his new book, The Future Starts with Us. Hear his reflections today in conversation with Lyse Doucet. Find out more.

When Rights Collide

Sun 16 Aug 2026 | 17:15 - 18:15

Courtyard Theatre

From the brochure: How can we use the law as a framework to protect the rights of all? Today’s event, featuring a panel of legal experts, explores the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the legal definition of a woman and what it means in practice. Can previous cases where rights have appeared to be in competition help illuminate a pathway forward? We invite audience members for a good faith discussion on this contested and challenging topic, with the aim of achieving better understanding and more empathy. With Baroness Brenda Hale, Karon Monaghan KC, and Keio Yoshida. Find out more.

Brenda Hale: With the Law on Our Side

Mon 17 Aug 2026 | 12:45 - 13:45

Venue T

From the brochure: Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond was the first woman to serve as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. With decades of experience as a judge and an intimate knowledge of British law, her new book, With the Law on Our Side – longlisted for 2026’s Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction – uses true stories to explore the complexities of real court decisions. Join Lady Hale to learn how the law works, why we should care about it, and how it can be used to protect all of our rights. Chaired by Claire Mitchell. Find out more.

Jeremy Hunt: Can We Be Great Again?

Wed 19 Aug 2026 | 15:00 - 16:00

Venue T

From the brochure: A major figure in the previous Conservative UK Government, Jeremy Hunt has served as Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, and led the Culture and (controversial) Health briefs. His Can We Be Great Again? is a timely read in a world of shifting geopolitical faultlines. Rebutting the idea that the UK is in inevitable decline on the international stage, join Hunt as he sets out a new take on how our influence can be used to positively affect global democracy, migration, trade, and climate. Chaired by Peter MacMahon. Find out more.

Jeremy Hunt & John Kampfner: Great vs Better

Thu 20 Aug 2026 | 17:00 - 18:00

Venue T

From the brochure: What does Britain have to offer on the world stage in the 21st century? Are we leaders, or is there much to learn? And in seeking to fix Britain’s challenges, should we look close to home, or further afield? Join former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, author of Can We Be Great Again? Why a Dangerous World Needs Britain and journalist John Kampfner, author of Braver New World: The Countries Daring to Do Things Others Won’t for a thought-provoking discussion, chaired by Liz Lloyd, on the state of our nation, and others who do things differently. Find out more.

Natasha Walter & Talat Yaqoob: A Feminist Response to Polycrises

Sat 22 Aug 2026 | 13:45 - 14:45

Courtyard Theatre

From the brochure: Writers and activists Natasha Walter and Talat Yaqoob come together for a vital conversation on global feminism. In Feminism for a World on Fire, Walter calls for collective resistance beyond individualism, while Yaqoob’s edited collection, Building a Feminist Nation, explores practical feminist change in times of multiple crises. With women facing rights rollbacks across the world, and their safety and freedoms under attack, Walter and Yaqoob ask: how can feminism respond to a world on fire? Chaired by Adele Patrick. Find out more.

Scottish Parliament Elections: Where to From Here?

Fri 21 Aug 2026 | 17:00 - 18:00

Venue T

From the brochure: The votes are counted, and 2026’s Scottish Parliament election has delivered a winner – but has it delivered a workable government? Will Scotland see stable leadership, or a parliament shaped by deals, compromises, and constant risk of fracture – and what questions does the result pose for Westminster too? Today's panel of experts – including polling specialist Sir John Curtice, journalist David Torrance, and political advisor Liz Lloyd – go beyond the headlines to unpack the result, map the new balance of power, and reflect on this next chapter of Scottish politics. Find out more.

Elizabeth Finkel & Caitjan Gainty: Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Tue 18 Aug 2026 | 15:45 - 16:45

Courtyard Theatre

From the brochure: Journalism to the law, academia to government – the institutions that underpin society rely on an evidence-based, expert-informed approach. Yet in this post-truth age, uninformed opinion can carry the same weight as rigorous research. Today, Devi Sridhar chairs a robust discussion on doubt and certainty with award-winning science journalist Elizabeth Finkel – who, in Prove It, unpacks the key elements of, and necessity for, scientific thinking – and medicine historian Caitjan Gainty – whose Healthy Scepticism illustrates where legitimate doubt has helped healthcare advance. Find out more.

Sanna Marin & Nicola Sturgeon: How to Lead a Country

Tue 18 Aug 2026 | 15:00 - 16:00

Venue T

From the brochure: What does it take to lead a country with both courage and compassion? How do you balance hope with pragmatism; a personal life with a public one? In their memoirs Frankly and Hope in Action, former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin reflect on political careers with refreshing honesty. Don’t miss their extraordinary conversation with Talat Yaqoob about the challenges, rewards, and history-making decisions that defined their leadership. Find out more.

How Can We Build a Feminist Scotland?

Mon 17 Aug 2026 | 12:15 - 13:15

Courtyard Theatre

From the brochure: In Building a Feminist Nation, social justice campaigner Talat Yaqoob, modern historian Helen O’Shea, and Law professor Kim Barker commissioned bold new writing on the intersection of feminism, human rights, advocacy, and policy to prompt vital discussions about Scotland. Esa Aldegheri talks with them and contributors Muminah Koleoso (writing on young women and misogyny) and Catherine Murphy (exploring poverty and the economy), considering the political shifts required to deliver a more equitable, feminist Scotland. Find out more.

Philippe Sands: 10 Years of East West Street

Sat 29 Aug 2026 | 15:15 - 16:15

Venue T

From the brochure: From Gaza to Ukraine to America and beyond, the rule-bound international legal order appears to be collapsing. Yet, as lawyer and author Philippe Sands argued in the Guardian recently, ‘the assault on international rules has been more or less continual since 1945’. 10 years on from East West Street – his landmark, Baillie Gifford Prize-winning family memoir uncovering the origin of the concept of genocide – Sands reflects on the ongoing defence of international law against its enemies. Find out more.

Philippe Sands & Colm Tóibín: Remembering the Dirty War

Sun 30 Aug 2026 | 15:30 - 16:30

Courtyard Theatre

From the brochure: From 1976 until 1983, the Argentine military junta’s Dirty War was a brutal campaign of violence – tens of thousands of citizens ‘disappeared’, murdered by the state. 50 years on, join Brooklyn author Colm Tóibín – whose 1996 novel, The Story of the Night, was inspired by his own experiences in Argentina – and international lawyer and East West Street author Philippe Sands as they consider the long-lasting impact of the war. Find out more.

Tim Wu: The Age of Extraction

Sat 29 Aug 2026 | 15:30 - 16:30

Courtyard Theatre

From the brochure: Professor at Columbia Law School, special assistant to President Biden for technology and competition policy, and inventor of the term ‘net neutrality’ – Tim Wu’s work places him at the cutting edge of legal and ethical questions about the new information age. Joining us with The Age of Extraction, he breaks down the accelerating quest to extract data, attention, and profit from us, as well as how to break the tech monopoly and bring prosperity for all. Find out more.

Mairi Kidd, Marion Gibson & Steven Veerapen: The Witching Hour

Thu 20 Aug 2026 | 12:45 - 13:45

Venue T

From the brochure: At a time when women’s rights are once again at threat across the world, it’s perhaps no wonder that our fascination with the witch-hunts of the 1600s still burns bright. Today, we’re joined by Mairi Kidd (Newes of Witches), Marion Gibson (Witchland), and Steven Veerapen (Witches: A King’s Obsession) – the authors of brilliant new books that touch on themes of paranoia, moral panic, and obsession. What can our witch-hunting past warn us about the world of today? Find out more.