Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events.

hyndland bookshop inside

Books, talks and poetry events. Glasgow has everything on offer for lovers of literature, including major book festivals, book launches, poetry slams and spoken word open mics.

Plenty to choose from with events showcasing new talent as well as acclaimed writers and poets.

Events and New Books To Watch Out For

Govanhill Book Festival 2026

govanhill book festival 2026

7 – 8 August, 2026 Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church, 170 Queen’s Dr, Glasgow G42 8QZ Govanhill Book Festival is back with a packed programme of poetry, kids story-telling, fiction and politics. Buy tickets Programme Friday 7th, August 7 p.m. Jeremy Corbyn in conversation with Josie Long. They’ll be talking about Jeremy’s latest book The […]

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Pints of Knowledge, Glasgow. ‘Big Songs Small Rooms’

big songs small rooms

Sunday 23 August, 2026.2 p.m. – 3.45 p.m. “Big Songs in Small Rooms: Why Glasgow’s Small Music Venues Matter More Than Ever” From Taylor Swift and Harry Styles to the Oasis reunion, demand for live music has never been higher. Yet while stadium shows generate headlines and millions of pounds, the grassroots venues where artists […]

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Saturday, August 1, 2026 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events, Music

Book Launch: A Thing So Delicate: The Hidden Voices of Scotland’s Mass Concrete Viaducts. By Moira McPartlin and Colin Baird

a thing so delicate

27 August, 2026, 6.30 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Alchemy Experiment, 127 Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8TS ‘A thing so delicate that the fairies might have built it’  (Journalist, JJ Bell, said of the Glenfinnan Viaduct) A chance encounter on the way to the pub led to an unexpected adventure for author, Moira McPartlin and […]

Read the full article: Book Launch: A Thing So Delicate: The Hidden Voices of Scotland’s Mass Concrete Viaducts. By Moira McPartlin and Colin Baird

The Bookmonger – Nicola Meighan presents An Evening with Damian Barr

Friday, 25 September, 2026, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Event by Damian Barr and Nicola Meighan 1599 at The Royal College, 232 -242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5RJ Launch event for Damian Barr’s paperback in Scotland. Come along for an evening of reading and thinking and laughing and joy. FANCY NIGHT! Oh this is going to be […]

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Spiral Scratch – Kevin Gilday New Material plus Open Mic

Spiral Scratch

Thursday 6 August, 2026 7.30 p.m. Event by Kevin P. Gilday and Kevin Gilday The Glad Cafe 1006A Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 2HG A night of new material from award-winning poet and performer, Kevin P. Gilday. Expect poetry, comedy, monologue and music from a range of projects in progress – many of which will be being performed for […]

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Ann MacKinnon, Scottish Writers Centre

ann mackinnon swc

Tuesday 25 August, 2026, 7.30 p.m. Event by Scottish Writers’ Centre 266 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP Want to be in the audience? Please book a ticket! Ann MacKinnon – The Great Tapestry of Scotland Ann MacKinnon presents The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Poetry and Pictures. She talks us through the making of the tapestry […]

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tell it slant at Locavore

express yourself

Friday 31 July 2026 @ 7 p.m. Express Yourself – Tell it Slant at Locavore, 349 Victoria Rd, Glasgow G42 7SA This special edition of Express yourself will be a fundraiser for tell it slant, with £5 entry (including corkage for BYOB) for those not signed up to the open mic. Please message Carla Woodburn […]

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Scottish Writers Centre Speakeasy The Griffin

Hand on the baton, Scottish Writers Centre

Tuesday 28 July, 2026 7.30 p.m. Scottish Writers’ Centre, Speakeasy Special at The Griffin! If you’d like to read please let us know and fill out the form below. The Griffin *Function Suite*, 266 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JP Free Event! Come along, share your writing and join SWC Speakeasy Spectacular at The Griffin’s wonderful […]

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Watershed Festival at The Briggait

watershed

24, 25, 26 July and 31 July, 1 & 2 August, 2026 The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow, G1 5HZ Part of the Festival 2026 Commonwealth Games programme and the Merchant City Festival. Watershed is two weekends of river rights events, talks, workshops, poetry, song, storytelling and more! Brought to you by the Who Owns the Clyde […]

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Heritage Talks at WestFest: Broomhill

heritage talks

25th June, 2026 at 7 p.m. Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AW Historian GORDON URQUHART will discuss the development of the often-overlooked neighbourhoods of Broomhill and Balshagray, from ancient estates to the early Victorian villas of local shipbuilders, and from Edwardian tenements to the devastation wrought by postwar expressway and tunnel works. START 7PM | […]

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Heritage Talks Kelvin Hall at WestFest

heritage talks

25 June, 2026 at 7 p.m., Kelvin Hall Heritage Talks at WestFest: Broomhill   Sunday 14 June, 2026 Event by WestFest and Kelvin Hall Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AW Historian and author GORDON URQUHART leads a historical ramble in the ancient and evolving village of Partick, discussing the old milling and industrial sites on the Kelvin and […]

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Treasures of the Vikings, Govan Book Festival

treasures of the vikings govan book festival

Saturday 13 June, 2026, 4.30 p.m.  The Govan Stones Project 866 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 3DL Govan Book Festival  with Dr Tom Horne about his new book, Treasures of the Vikings! Expect a relaxed and illustrated interview-style chat, followed by a Q&A and book signing. FREE, unticketed – Just turn up!

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Heritage Talks: Living With Rain in Glasgow – Dr Andrew Hoolachan

living with rain glasgow

Wednesday, 17 June, 2026 at 6 p.m. ByThe National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall 1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AW Join Dr Andrew Hoolachan for a talk on rethinking Glasgow’s relationship with rain. Dr Hoolachan will discuss how we can design urban spaces that not only manage rainfall but embrace it, creating a city […]

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Open Mic at Avant Garde with Lesley O’Brien

jim lesley kate graha

Tuesday 9th June, 2026 Lots of fabulous musicians shall be creating magical music at Avant Garde, Glasgow.34-44 King St, Glasgow G1 5QT Lesley O’Brien, will be hosting an Open Mic along with one of the Kittlin‘s + her other band, The House Band, including the wonderful Jim Byrne, Kate Kramer & Graham McIntosh. Bring your […]

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Storytelling For Adults, Alexandria

a dynasty and dragons

Doreen Hopwood Tuesday 26th May, 2026 – 11 a.m. The importance of myth, legend and folklore in heritage should not be overlooked. Doreen Hopwood will be explaining why oral tradition plays a strong role in our lives. She will also be introducing us to the second book ‘The Dragon Prince of Beithir’ in her trilogy […]

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Community Connections Talk: Wumming’s Work

wummings work

Monday 22 June, 2026, 6 p.m. – 7.30 p.m. Maryhill Burgh Halls, 24 Gairbraid Avenue Glasgow G20 8YE Come to learn stories of the some of the many women who shaped Scotland. Come to Maryhill Burgh Halls for the second talk in the new monthly series Connected Community. Join Karen as she explores the women […]

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Scottish Writers Centre, May Speakeasy The Griffin

Scottish Writer Centre Speakeasy

Tuesday 26th May, 2025 – 7.30 pm The Griffin *Function Suite*, 266 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JP Free Event! Come along, share your writing at SWC Speakeasy Spectacular at The Griffin’s wonderful Function Suite! Everyone welcome – members, friends and first timers to come along and share their work and encourage all writing forms, voices […]

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Heritage Festival West Dunbartonshire- Speakeasy

the clydesider

Monday 18 May, 2026 7 p.m. Fountain Tavern, 9 Bank St, Alexandria G83 0NG Part of Clydesider Heritage Festival 1 – 31 May Free No Need To Book Speakeasy Programme Balloch Boatyard in Summer – Muriel Sharples – read by Mary Irvine. “Sadly Nae Mer” – a woman’s story about working in the Dumbarton distillery […]

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Mirrorball Showcase May 2026

mirrorball showcase

14 May, 2026, 7 p.m. Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, 153-157 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3EW + online The next (and final for 25/26) Mirrorball Showcase is on Thursday, 14th May! The headline poet is Isabelle Baafi, reading with Helena Fornells Nadal, Elizabeth Rimmer, Charlie Gracie, Donal McLauchlin, and Mairi Murphy. Thank you to everyone who came […]

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Connected Community Talk: Stolen Stories

Connected community

Monday May 11th, 2026 – 6 p.m. Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust 24 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow G20 8YE Tales of Heritage Crime and Returns Across Scotland. Come to Maryhill Burgh Halls for the first talk in a new monthly series Connected Community. Exploring heritage crime through Scottish stories, from the Stone of Destiny to other interesting cases […]

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Old Kilpatrick Graveyard, Walk and Talk

Old Kilpatrick Parish Church

Saturday 9 May, 2pm – 4pm Old Kilpatrick Bowling Parish Church, Dumbarton Rd, Old Kilpatrick, G60 5JQ Clydesider Heritage Festival 1 – 31 May, 2026 – Events Free – no need to book although donations to Action Old Kilpatrick are welcome – please remember to bring cash. Old Kilpatrick graveyard is the oldest graveyard in […]

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Book Launch: The History of Working-Class Courtship, Marriage and Divorce in Scotland, 1855-1939

working class courtship

By Eleanor Gordon, Jeff Meek and Katie Barclay Thursday 7th May,  2026, 4 pm Eleanor Gordon will be in conversation with Selina Todd and Fiona Skillen  ALL WELCOME The Deepend Bar and Bistro at The Western Baths Club, 12 Cranworth Street, Glasgow G12 8BZ Overview The first book-length study of the history of working-class courtship, […]

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Responding to Alasdair Gray’s ‘Lanark’ University of Glasgow

rachelle atalla

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 6 pm to 7 pm ByThe ARC Part of the Spring Fling 2026: About Time collection Advanced Research Centre,  University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW Rachelle Atalla in conversation with Rodge Glass presented by The Alasdair Gray Archive Presented by The Alasdair Gray Archive, this event celebrates 45 years since […]

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Glasgow: Michael Pedersen in conversation with Fern Brady, Waterstones

nichael pedersen in conversation with fern brady

Wednesday 25 March, 2026, 7 p.m. Waterstones, 153-157 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3EW Michael Pedersen and Fern Brady at Waterstones Sauchiehall Street for the paperback launch of Muckle Flugga.Join Edinburgh’s Makar, Michael Pedersen as he launches the paperback edition of Muckle Flugga in conversation with Fern Brady. SHORTLISTED FOR THE SALTIRES FICTION BOOK OF THE […]

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It’s A Fine Thing To Sing – Songs and Singers of Inishowen Peninsula Documentary

Thursday 26 March, 2026 The Deep End Venue Space – Govanhill Baths Community Trust21 Nithsdale Street, Glasgow G41 2PZ Event by Paula Larkin and Irish History Group Bob Gallagher, Documentary, 60 min, Ireland, 2023 This 60 minute documentary features Ian Lynch (Lankum), Ye Vagabonds and The Henry Girls arranging and singing six songs from Clonmany and Buncrana singers: […]

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Hope – Fundraiser for Scottish Writers Centre

Hope fundraiser poetry flash fiction comp SWC

Hope | SWC Fundraising Competition: Poetry & Flash Fiction ByScottish Writers’ Centre The SWC is hosting their first ever fundraising comp! You are warmly invite you to share your creativity and submit an entry inspired by Hope! Hope | SWC Fundraising Competition: Poetry & Flash Fiction Deadline 28th February 2026. 23.59 p.m. All proceeds will […]

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Pam Hogg: Style, Defiance and the Art of Being Seen

28 March, 2026 – Doors 7.30 p.m. Paisley Art Festival, Paisley Town Hall,  Abbey Cl, Paisley PA1 1JF Born in Paisley, Pam Hogg was one of Britain’s most fearless and original designers, a figure whose work blurred the lines between fashion, performance, music and protest. Refusing convention and self-taught, Pam built a body of work […]

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Mackintosh House, The Hunterian – Guided Tours

the mackintosh house tours

Mackintosh House Guided Tour By The Hunterian, The University of Glasgow Mackintosh House Guided Tour By The Hunterian @ The University of Glasgow The Mackintosh House – Hunterian Art Gallery, 82 Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QQ Step into the home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh and discover the stories behind its iconic design.  Monthly, […]

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An Evening With Jim Carruth, Waterstones Sauchiehall Street

knockan

Thursday 26 February, 2026, 7pm to 9pm Waterstones, 153-157 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EW Celebrate the launch of ‘Knockan’, a moving new novel-in-verse, by Jim Carruth Glasgow Makar. In remote Assynt, where the past is recreated from rock and bone, a crofter and her estranged daughter search for some common ground in their annual week […]

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The Arlington Baths Club – Talk: The Alhambra and Owen Jones

arlington baths club the alhambra

Friday 13 March, 2026 7 p.m. The Arlington Baths Club, 61 Arlington Street, Glasgow G3 6DT An illustrated talk on how Islamic architecture and design inspired the 19th century architecture of the Arlington Baths Club. What inspired the architecture of the Arlington Baths Club? The architect, designer and educator Owen Jones was a hugely influential […]

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arlington baths club the alhambra

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