Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival returns in July 2026! The world’s longest-running and most prestigious celebration of crime writing, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is the epicentre of the crime fiction community.

From bestselling authors to emerging voices, the Festival is dedicated to nurturing fresh talent, providing a platform for new writers to shine. It’s where the biggest news in crime fiction breaks, offering readers the chance to get the scoop on new writers before anyone else.

Proud of its Yorkshire roots, the Festival is a place of connection, inspiration, and discovery, where readers can hang out with their heroes, get an exclusive insight into the Next Big Thing and rub shoulders with the UK’s leading agents, editors and publishers, as well as with fellow crime fiction fans who share a passion for the genre.

Grab a pint of Yorkshire’s finest ale and join in the drama at Agatha Christie’s old haunt, the Old Swan Hotel, for a celebration of the genre unlike any other. It would be a murderous misdemeanour to miss it!