Attending Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate: The beginner’s guide

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is perhaps the most exciting event in the calendar for any crime/thriller fiction fan, and of course for authors themselves. If you’ve never been before, though, it can be a bit daunting to consider attending. Especially if you’re new to literature events in general. I was completely new to it last year, and so I’ve put together this guide that should hopefully help you get a better idea of what to expect.

My first time at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate – or Harrogate Crime Festival, as I’ll sometimes refer to it as – because let’s face it, it’s a bit of a mouthful – was rather special. Luckily, I had many friends attending, some of whom were festival stalwarts, so were great at helping me know what to expect. If you’re not so lucky, the thought of going can be overwhelming – especially when you take a look at the programme and consider everything that happens over the course of the four days of the festival.

When is Harrogate Crime Festival?

The festival is held every year in July at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate. In 2026, it’s running between Thursday 23rd July and Sunday 26th July.

When do tickets go on sale?

If you’re a Friends of the Festival Member, you can buy weekend rover tickets for Harrogate Crime Festival now. (Anyone can become a Friends of the Festival member: it costs £30 for the year, and also gives you perks like priority seating in events.) These will go on general sale on 21st April.

For individual event tickets and site passes, you’ll have to wait until Friday 15th May to purchase these. If you’re a Friends of the Festival member, you can buy your tickets on 13th May.

All tickets can be purchased directly from the official festival website.

Is Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival for me?

This is the first question that many people will ask themselves, especially if they’ve never been to Harrogate Crime Festival before. I’ll make this really easy: it’s for everyone. There’s no air of snobbery or exclusivity at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. This really is an inclusive festival that attracts people of all walks of life. From teenagers to people over 80, you’ll find so many different types of guests, and that’s part of the reason why this festival has such a lovely atmosphere.

If you enjoy reading crime/thriller fiction, you’ll fit in at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, it’s as simple as that.

What is there to do at Harrogate Crime Festival?

There’s a lot going on at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, so you’ll never be short of things to do. The main events fill up most of the schedule, but even if you aren’t attending a talk, you’ll be kept occupied on the festival grounds. A large tent makes up the hub of the festival, and it’s here where you’ll find the bar, lots of people milling around, and places to sit. Known affectionately as the ‘beer tent’, there’s seating areas outside here too, and you can also make use of the lounge and bar inside the Old Swan Hotel, where the festival takes place.

During Friday and Saturday, many publishers will set up pop-up events, where they may be giving away proofs, publicising upcoming books and more. These are free to join in with, typically, although may have queues, so keep an eye out for them happening. A full schedule of these is usually released a few weeks before the festival, so keep an eye out.

There’s a bookshop on site, too, powered by Waterstones, where’ll you find a collection of books by authors attending the event alongside other popular crime fiction titles. A couple of food trucks round things off, so you can always grab something to eat if you’re hungry. Don’t forget, the festival is only a few minutes’ walk away from the centre of Harrogate, so you’ve got lots of cafes, restaurants and bars at your fingertips. You can come and go from the festival grounds as often as you wish.

Do I need to attend all events at Harrogate Crime Festival?

Absolutely not! You can buy a weekend rover ticket, which gives you access to every event, but with a jam-packed schedule running from 9am to 10pm, even the most hardcore festival-goer will struggle to sit through everything!

Make sure you take a look at the schedule and pick out the events that interest you most. Individual tickets can be bought for each talk, and by buying one event ticket, you’ll get a site pass for that day, meaning you can enjoy the rest of the festival happenings at no extra cost.

Can I attend Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival just for one day?

Absolutely. You can attend any part of Harrogate Crime Festival that you like. Many people choose to stay in Harrogate for the duration of the festival, between Thursday and Sunday, but others will come for just one day. Friday and Saturday are the main festival days, with the biggest schedules and events happening on site. Thursday night is just the awards ceremony, and there are only three panels on Sunday morning.

What does an event look like?

Events take place in the main tent, which is a short walk up a slope from the beer tent and festival grounds. Most events last around an hour, during which time you’ll be sat in your seat listening to a panel of authors chat on-stage. The tent is large, so you’ll want to arrive approximately 10 minutes before the start time to ensure you can get a seat that’s not right at the back.

After each event, there’ll be a signing from the authors, which happens in a room next to the bookshop back in the hotel. These get pretty busy, and you could be queuing for 30+ minutes. If you’re really keen to get a signature, it’s worth leaving the event 5 or so minutes before the end to join the queue. But remember, you’ll see a lot of authors milling around in the festival grounds, and most will be more than happy to chat and sign things for you.

New for 2026, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has introduced bite-sized events that last just 30 minutes. These have a cheaper ticket price, but will presumably operate in the same way as a standard event.

Can I attend alone?

Lots of people attend Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival by themselves, and it’s a perfectly valid option. You’ll likely meet like-minded people if you’re wanting to find people to chat with and spend time with. But if you’re a lone eagle and want to spend time by yourself, you’ll easily find a quiet corner in the hotel lounge or a deckchair in the sun to chill out in.

It’s a very friendly festival, though, so people will be more than happy to talk to you. Authors and readers will be rubbing shoulders all weekend, so it won’t be long before you find yourself deep in conversation about your favourite books.

What should I bring?

• All-weather clothing: Make sure you’re equipped for all weathers. Harrogate Crime Festival might happen in July, but this is still England, and we can expect everything from torrential downpours to 35-degree blistering sunshine. Removable layers and waterproofs are a must, especially since you will have to be outside quite a lot (even if just walking from one tent to another). Comfortable shoes are a must, too.
• Snacks and a drink: There are food trucks on site, but if you like to graze throughout the day, it makes much more sense to pack your own snacks. There are shops in Harrogate, but nothing immediately close to site.
• A big bag (or a trolley): You’ll likely acquire quite a few books while at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, whether you buy them from the shop or get proofs from publishers. You may also be bringing several of your own from home to get signed, and books can get heavy. Make sure you’ve got a sturdy bag – many guests opt for trolleys, which may not look all that fashionable but by the end of the weekend you’ll be incredibly jealous of each and every one of them.
• A spare tote: Along with your bag, it might be a good idea to bring a spare tote, just in case you need even more space.
• A handheld fan: The events tent gets very warm, so you’ll benefit from a fan. Lots of people have portable battery-powered fans, but a good old-fashioned flappy one works just as well.
• Wasp repellent: Last year, there were a lot of wasps around the beer tent area. Understandable, given it’s July and, well, beer. I’ll certainly be trying some repellent this year, in the hopes that it works.

What’s on at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2026?

The full brochure for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2026 can be found here.

Where else can I find festival information?

There’s an official Facebook group for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. You’ll find lots of people who attend here, either for their first time or frequent attendees. It’s a safe space to ask questions, find out what’s happening, and gather information from like-minded people.

It’s worth checking the official Harrogate International Festivals website too, where all official announcements for the festival will be placed.