This July will mark the twentieth anniversary of arguably the most famous crime writers festival in the UK. The Theakston Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival will run from 23 to 26 July in the grand old Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate.
2026 Theakston Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival
This Harrogate crime festival 2025 festival, sponsored by the Theakston’s brewery, is curated by Mick Herron. This year’s leading UK crime festival is fronted by David Baldacci, Nadine Matheson, Gillian McAllister, Steve Cavanagh and Alice Feeney . As the organisers say, it would be a crime to miss it.
You can download the Harrogate crime festival 2026 brochure here.
To get a greater taste into what to expect at the festival read our article by author Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise on Theakston’s crime festival.
Where Is the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival?
The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate is the venue for the 2026 festival. This grand hotel was where Agatha Christie stayed during her famous disappearance in 1926, making it the perfect setting for a sleuth convention.
Tickets for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
Details of how to get your tickets for the Harrogate crime festival 2026, can be found here.
Things To Do in Harrogate and Beyond
Harrogate is a beautiful town, which was a spa town throughout the Georgian and Victorian period. A beautiful place to come and relax in, it also makes a great base for exploring either of the two nearby national parks, the Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors. Other nearby attractions include Fountains Abbey and Ripon Cathedral. You can follow Mark Bibby Jackson as he goes solo on a Yorkshire walk from Harrogate.
All photos taken by Mark Bibby Jackson.
