Winter Words Festival 2026
The beloved literary festival returns for its 22nd year, featuring authors, poets, broadcasters and chefs for a celebration of Scotland’s rich artistic, literary, historical and cultural life.
Running from 12-15 February 2026 and curated by the Theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Cumming, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will host an extraordinary four-day programme of interesting events, entertaining performances, delicious literary lunches with award-winning chefs, and stimulating conversations, throughout the weekend.
From Heather to Himalayas: Walking in the footsteps of Scotland's plant hunters
Caroline Bavey in conversation with Alan Cumming
Poetry Reading with Stewart Sanderson and Taylor Strickland
Keeping Left in Difficult Times
with Pauline Bryan and Coll McCail
Rough with the Smooth
Rehearsed reading with Shomit Dutta and Alan Cumming
Everything (Everyday): A Year of Empty Promises
with Hannah Lavery
Night Train to Odesa
Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War. With Jen Stout
The Alan Cumming Paper Dress-Up Doll Challenge
The Climate Crisis: ‘Love, Anger & Betrayal’
with Jonathon Porritt and Eilidh McFadden
The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father's Search for Justice
Jim Swire in conversation with Stephen Jardine
Our Game, Our Club: The Fans’ Guide to Community
with Paul Goodwin
The Shapeshifter’s Daughter
Sally Magnusson in conversation with Magnus Linklater
My Grandparents Were Dinosaurs
with Anne and Steve Brusatte
Climbing Days by Dorothy Pilley
Dan Richards In conversation with Jo Sharp
Harvie’s Dyke: The People, their Liberty and the Clyde
with Professor Chris Whatley FRSE
Tom Lewis Literary Lunch with Alan Cumming
Another Time, Another Place
Rehearsed reading with Anne Downie
Hawthorn: A Scottish Ghost Story
In conversation with Elaine Thomson
Ken Currie: Paintings and Writings
In conversation with Dr Tom Normand
Alistair Moffat
To See Ourselves: A Personal History of Scotland Since 1950
Become part of the magic!
Get priority booking on your favourite seats, discounts on must-see shows, and be the first to know of events and news from the Theatre, from just £40 a year.
Make the most of your weekend
Festival Pass
Make it a whole weekend for less with our Festival Pass giving you discounts on 2 or more Winter Words Festival events (excludes headliner events. Some other events excluded, please check when booking)
Ticket Info
Find out more information about booking tickets, as well as group bookings and early bird discounts!
Plan your Visit
Take a look around to find directions, information about our venue and tips on how to make the most of your time at Winter Words Festival.