Sam Heughan Joins Major Scottish Book Festival Lineup This Autumn

The Outlander actor Sam Heughan has been announced as a headline speaker for the Wigtown Book Festival, which runs across 10 days in Scotland's national book town. Ticket sales are now open for the event, which features hundreds of literary, theatrical, and cultural events. The festival will take place between 25 September and 4 October in Dumfries and Galloway.

Festival Programme Expands with Major Names

Heughan appears alongside a broad roster of entertainment and media figures, including broadcaster Sophie Raworth, comedian Lucy Porter, and wildlife photographer Gordon Buchanan. The festival has grown substantially since its founding, according to programme curator Lee Randall, who designed this year's schedule to showcase "a richly-varied menu" of literary experiences.

Actor Bill Paterson is returning to Wigtown for the first time in nearly two decades. Paterson originally attended the festival in the early 2000s and is now presenting an updated reissue of his memoir Tales from the Back Green, which recounts childhood memories from 1950s Glasgow. His appearance marks a significant reunion with the event after a 20-year absence.

Diverse Programming Across Multiple Genres

The festival encompasses Scottish debut fiction, poetry in both Scots and Gaelic, crime novels, and romance fiction. Screenwriter Neil Forsyth, creator of the television series Bob Servant, and Chris Chibnall, who created Broadchurch, will discuss his latest crime novel. Additional speakers include former politician Vince Cable, who will address the economic rise of China and India, and journalist Sarah Churchwell, who will examine America's 250th anniversary.

Regional programming reflects Wigtown's literary heritage and the broader Dumfries and Galloway area. The festival will include guided walks combining local history with visits to independent bookshops, nature walks paired with poetry, and dedicated events exploring the region's notable women and natural landscape. The schedule also honours writer Alastair Reid, a prominent Wigtownshire author.

Awards and Additional Events

Alongside author talks and panel discussions, the festival will present the Wigtown Poetry Prize awards and announce the winner of the Anne Brown Essay Prize. Festival leadership emphasised the balance between established names and emerging voices, with Isla Rosser-Owen, chief executive of the Wigtown Festival Company, describing the programme as featuring "household names alongside up-and-coming debut novelists."