PRESS RELEASE

Ian Rankin, Nicola Sturgeon, Val McDermid, and Alan Cumming to appear at Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Winter Words Festival 2026

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is thrilled to reveal the exciting lineup for the 2026 Winter Words Festival, 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.   

The Winter Words Festival 2026 programme of authors includes conversations with best-selling Scottish authors Ian Rankin (creator of the  iconic Inspector Rebus series) and Amy Liptrot (The Outrun); former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon talking to award-winning Crime writer Val McDermid about her captivating new memoir Frankly;  broadcaster and journalist and author Sally Magnusson will be talking to journalist Magnus Linklater about her new novel The Shapeshifter’s Daughter and actor Alan Cumming (who will also be swapping the stage for the DJ Booth on the Saturday night) will be in conversation about his extraordinary career across stage, screen, and page with the current Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen.  

The Festival also includes conversations with the journalist Jen Stout about her experience reporting from Russo-Ukrainian war; British environmentalist and writer Jonathon Porritt on his new book Love, Anger & Betrayal and about the recent Climate Conference in Brazil; photographer David Eustace, who will reflect on his remarkable life with Stephen Jardine; Biographer Jennifer Morag Henderson explores the life of the celebrated novelist and playwright Josephine Tey; Pauline Bryan and Coll McCail  talk about how politics has changed in Scotland and across Britain over the last half-century and how to keep the flame of socialism alight in these challenging times; award winning author and historian Alistair Moffat talks about his latest book To see Ourselves: A Personal History of Scotland Since 1950 ; and Dr Jim Swire, who will be talk to Stephen Jardine about his new book Lockerbie: A Father’s Search For Justice which tells the story of the journey as his initial grief and loss becomes a campaign to uncover the truth behind not only a personal tragedy but one of the modern world’s most shocking events. 

Other authors at the festival will include Professor Chris Whatley (FRSE) who will be talking about his book Harvie’s Dyke: The People, their Liberty and the Clyde which tells the story of the riot and campaign by Glasgow’s people against a tyrannical, upstart landowner who blocked a favourite walkway along the river Clyde; Co-founder of the Scottish Football Supporters Association Paul Goodwin who will talk about his book  Our Game, Our Club, which explores fan ownership, club takeovers, and the future of Scottish football; journalist and author Dan Richards will be talking to Jo Sharp about the life of his great great aunt, the pioneering mountaineer of the early 20th century, Dorothy Pilley; renowned Scottish painter Ken Currie will be in conversation with art historian Dr Tom Normand as they explore four decades of Currie’s extraordinary career; and  the Theatre’s own Landscape and Garden Manager, Caroline Bavey, will be talking to Alan Cumming about her new book which explorers the rich history and beauty of Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Explorers Garden.  

The genres of the supernatural will also be discussed as Elaine Thomson explores the art of writing supernatural fiction set in Scotland and how her latest novel Hawthorn: A Scottish Ghost Story, draws on the winter darkness and remote settings to craft chilling tales that linger long after the final page, and Heather Parry will be talking about her haunting new novel, Carrion Crow. 

For Poetry fans there will be a chance to hear from Poet and playwright Hannah Lavery who will be talking about and previewing her new collection of poems Everything [Everyday]: Year of Empty Promises, as well as the two award-winning Scotland based poets Stewart Sanderson and Taylor Strickland performing together from their new collections.  

Along with this impressive programme of writers, Winter Words Festival 2026 includes several special events. For food lovers, there are opportunities to enjoy a literary lunch with Café Canna owner Gareth Cole; acclaimed Scottish chef behind Inver restaurant on Loch Fyne, Pam Brunton; as well Perthshire philosopher chef Tom Lewis.  

Other events during the festival will include rehearsed readings by Shomit Dutta and Alan Cumming of Dutta’s new play Rough with the Smooth which tells the story of an encounter by Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman; a new stage adaptation by Anne Downie of the 1958 film Another Time, Another Place; and House of Lies by the Scottish playwright George Byatt, which will be directed by his son Andrew Byatt. As well as readings there will be interactive workshops with author Anne Brusatte and palaeontologist Steve Brusatte, who will tell the story of how birds evolved from ferocious meat-eating dinosaurs millions of years ago and with author, community textile artist, banner maker and textile curator Claire Hunter.  

Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Cumming said:  

 “This year’s Winter Words is beyond eclectic, and like all good literature explores the now and celebrates the then.   

 We feature literary titans like Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman, and Scottish masters like Alasdair Gray and George Byatt. We have talks and play readings and poetry and even a crafting workshop!  We cover politics and the environment and mountaineering and gardens and football and photography and painting and food, with appearances by Ian Rankin, Nicola Sturgeon, Hannah Lavery, Heather Parry, Val McDermid, Alastair Moffat, Sally Magnusson and Jonathon Porritt, and that Alan Cumming will be DJing a great big dance party again!  There is truly something for everyone, and it’s all happening here!”  

Winter Words Festival 2026 is supported by Pine Trees Hotel  

The Winter Words Festival 2026 runs from 12-15 February 2026. Members priority booking is currently now on sale. Tickets will be on general sale from Tuesday 16 December. For tickets and further information call the Box Office team on 01796 484626 or visit pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com  

  -Ends-   

For all press interviews, images and tickets please contact:

Duncan Clarke PR on 07880893750 or email duncanclarkepr@gmail.com

NOTES TO EDITORS   

Ticket and box office details  

Ticket prices:  From £13 per event 

Enjoy 20% off when you book two or more events or 25% off for members (excludes headliner events, Literary Lunches, DJ Set, The Alan Cumming Paper Dress-Up Doll Challenge and My Grandparents were Dinosaurs). 

Tickets are now on sale to priority members (standard discounts apply) and on general sale Tuesday 16 December.  

Box Office and group bookings: 01796 484626  
Email: boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com   

Website: www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com   

Address: Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port-Na-Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR   

Pitlochry Festival Theatre. A Theatre for Everyone. A Theatre for a Lifetime.    

Since 1951, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been the artistic heart and soul of Highland Perthshire. Attracting over 100,000 visitors every year, we’re more than simply a place to come and see a show – we’re Scotland’s leading producer of musical theatre and the country’s only rurally–located, major arts organisation.  Our vision is to improve lives by sharing Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry. Our aim is to create life–enhancing experiences in our Theatre and its glorious eleven–acre campus that encompasses the magical Explorers Garden. In everything we do, we are committed to nurturing an exciting creative and cultural future for Scotland.    

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a charity supported by funding from Creative Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council. It is also grateful to the many individual donors, trusts and foundations who continue to support the Theatre in its vision.    

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a registered Scottish Charity. No SC013055    

Pitlochry Festival Theatre gratefully acknowledges support from:    

Winter Words Festival 2026 supported by Pine Trees Hotel