Crime Fiction Festivals

Bookish celebrations of crime fiction, true crime and mystery novels from around the English-speaking world

Alibis in the Archive

An annual celebration of all things crime hosted in the Gladstone’s Library in North Wales! Hosted in collaboration with the Crime Writers Association and featuring some of the best crime writers in the business, Alibis in the Archive is your chance to spend a weekend considering the best crime wr...

When: June

    Where: Hawarden, Wales UK

Ashland Mystery Festival

Join cozy mystery author Ellie Alexander and her mystery writing friends for a weekend of full bookish fun with plenty of twists and turns. From panels and workshops to an interactive mystery with clues located all around town, this festival is designed to put you in the hot seat. You'll have y...

When: October

    Where: Ashland, OR US

BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival

The BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival is an annual event that explores what crime can tell us about human beings today and in the past. Speakers include writers, reporters and film-makers, and professionals from the justice system such as detectives, judges and psychologists. ...

When: September

    Where: Sydney, NSW AU

Barcelona Crime Novel Festival (BCNegra)

Barcelona, Spain is host to BCNegra, the city’s crime noir festival. This in-person festival hosts authors from the national and international literary scene. The event includes round tables, theatre and literary routes, cinema, music, and a poetry slam. The Pepe Carvalho Award is also presented d...

When: February

    Where: Barcelona, ES

Bloody Scotland

Priding ourselves as the literary festival where you can let down your hair and enjoy a drink at the bar with your favourite crime writer, we strive to put on entertaining as well as informative events during a weekend in September, covering a range of criminal subjects from fictional forensics, psy...

When: September

    Where: Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Bouchercon World Mystery Convention

The World Mystery Convention is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization which holds an annual convention in honor of Anthony Boucher, the distinguished mystery fiction critic, editor and author. Bouchercon is our annual world mystery convention where every year readers, writers, publishers, edito...

When: August

    Where: Nashville, TN US

Capital Crime

Our fresh and innovative festival programme features leading crime and thriller creatives. Capital Crime welcomes some of the world’s favourite authors and filmmakers to London. We bring the best of everything crime and thriller to fans. ...

When: July

    Where: London, England UK

Chiltern Kills

Chiltern Kills is a crime writing festival taking place in Gerrards Cross, south Bucks. Enjoy author-led karaoke as well as a play performed by crime writers. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Centrepoint charity benefitting homeless youth. ...

When: October

    Where: Gerrards Cross, England UK

Crimefest

CRIMEFEST is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. Drawing top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world, it gives all delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly, informal and i...

When: May

    Where: Bristol, England UK

Cromarty Crime & Thrillers Weekend

Join us in the picturesque coastal village of Cromarty for talks, book signings, Q&A sessions, writing workshops, movie night and a spectacular Gala Night entertainment all organised by the Cromarty Arts Trust. ...

When: May

    Where: Cromarty, Ross-shire, Scotland UK

Granite Noir

Granite Noir is inspired by the incredible popularity of crime fiction in all its forms, by the fantastic contribution that Scottish writers make, by our love affair with Nordic Noir, on the page and on screen, and most of all inspired by Aberdeen, which is the perfect backdrop for the festival – ...

When: February

    Where: Aberdeen, Scotland UK

Iceland Noir

Over the course of our festival weekend, it will be our absolute pleasure to play host to some of the biggest names in the international crime fiction community....

When: November

    Where: Reykjavik, IS

International Agatha Christie Festival

Celebrate Agatha Christie in the place of her birth on the English Riviera. Step into the area’s outstanding literary and geological heritage. The Festival is a fantastic opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Agatha Christie both from a personal and literary perspective with events spanni...

When: September

    Where: Devon, England UK

Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference

The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference is a four-day event bringing together some of the world’s best authors, aspiring writers, agents, editors, and other industry professionals. ...

When: August

    Where: Franklin, TN US

Left Coast Crime

Left Coast Crime is a convention of fans and authors who gather during the first quarter of the calendar year in Western North America (as defined by the Mountain Time Zone and all time zones westward to Hawaii) to celebrate crime fiction. Happens annually in different cities....

When: March

    Where: Denver, CO US

Malice Domestic

Established in 1989, Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention that takes place each year in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Malice celebrates the Traditional Mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explici...

When: April

    Where: Bethseda, MD US

Motive Crime and Mystery Festival

Canada’s newest and largest Crime & Mystery Festival. From dark family secrets, to true crime, to paranormal plotlines, MOTIVE’s in-person events spotlight many of the year’s most anticipated crime and mystery releases, followed by book signings. ...

When: June

    Where: Toronto, ON CA

Murder One

Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival held in November every year with feature events across the summer. ...

When: October

    Where: Dublin, IE

Noirwich Crime Writing Festival

Noirwich is about the reading and the writing of crime fiction. We explore how the genre works and where it is going, thanks to our unique connection with the University of East Anglia’s creative writing department. Our crime writing workshops provide attendees with the opportunity to enhance thei...

When: September

    Where: Norwich, England UK

Slaughter in Southwold

A weekend of talking with best-selling crime novelists is organised by Southwold Library with support from the Friends of Southwold Library and the Crime Writers' Association....

When: June

    Where: Southwold, England UK

Sleuthfest

Sleuthfest is all about writing workshops, social events, and pitch sessions for mystery, suspense, and thriller writers. Sessions will be held on the craft of writing, marketing and promoting your work, and practicing your pitch with experienced authors....

When: September

    Where: St. Petersburg, FL US

Spike Island Literary Festival

Discover the inspirations behind your favorite authors in engaging panel discussions and experience the magic of pop-up readings by world-class writers in unique locations. Plus, don't miss the chance to meet a renowned literary agent and take the first steps towards publishing your own masterp...

When: August

    Where: Cobh, Cork IE

Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival

Whether you are an avid or casual reader, aspiring writer or published author, you will find something entertaining and intriguing at the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival, a FREE day-long event that showcases 50+ best-selling mystery, suspense/thriller, horror, paranormal, science fiction, historica...

When: March

    Where: Suffolk, VA US

Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival

Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival (TARWF) is Australia’s southern-most literary festival, a celebration of books, writing and community in the glorious Huon Valley, Tasmania. ...

When: November

    Where: Huon Valley, TAS AU

The Body in the Library Crime Book Festival

The Body in the Library is a crime-themed book festival featuring special events with bestselling crime and thriller novelists, a creative writing workshop and a fun murder-mystery event perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves....

When: September

    Where: Bury St Edmunds, England UK

Theakston Old Peculier Crime writing Festival

The world class, award winning Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, now in its 15th year, celebrates the very best in crime fiction at the magnificent Old Swan Hotel each July. The Festival is a firm date in the literary calendar and has achieved international acclaim for the programming, ...

When: July

    Where: Harrogate, England UK