Page-Turning Destinations: The Ultimate Guide to Global Crime-Writing Festivals

From Richard Osman’s retired amateur sleuths solving cosy crimes every Thursday, to Freida McFadden’s murderous housemaids and Harlan Coben’s twisty thrillers, the crime genre remains a global favourite among readers. Because reading and writing are inherently solitary pursuits, a thriving international industry has emerged to stage live events for fans. This year, Agatha Christie—the world’s best-selling crime writer, outsold only by the Bible and William Shakespeare—is a major unifying theme. Marking 50 years since her death, numerous panels are celebrating her illustrious career. With dozens of crime-writing festivals held worldwide, here is a guide to some of the finest gatherings.

International Agatha Christie Festival
Agatha Christie’s birthplace of Torquay hosts an annual festival celebrating the Queen of Crime. Representing the golden age of crime writing in the 1930s—including tales inspired by Middle Eastern journeys—her iconic creations like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are widely honoured. For dedicated fans, the annual gathering in Torquay, south-west England, is essential. This year’s programme celebrates the centenary of the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, one of her most popular novels. (September 12–20, 2026, Torquay, UK)

Bloody Scotland
Stirling, the home of Scottish hero William Wallace, welcomes leading crime writers and fans from around the globe. Since starting in 2012, it has attracted legendary Tartan Noir scribes. Sir Ian Rankin, creator of the best-selling Rebus detective series, served as guest programmer last year, followed this year by Denise Mina. The line-up includes Richard Osman, Lee Child, Ardal O'Hanlon, Tana French, and Val McDermid. (September 18-20, 2026, Stirling, Scotland)

Getafe Negro
Bringing crime fiction, film, and popular culture to the Madrid region each autumn, this 12-day celebration blends the genre with academia and cinema. It highlights the Spanish novela negra tradition, which grew in the 1970s as Spain emerged from the Franco dictatorship, using crime fiction to critique a changing society. This year features a special focus on American writer Stephen King. (October 14-15, 2026, Getafe/Madrid, Spain)

Bouchercon: World Mystery Convention
Established in 1970 in honour of American crime writer and critic Anthony Boucher, this is one of the largest global crime-fiction gatherings. The 2026 guest of honour is Kathy Reichs, a forensic anthropologist-turned-author whose Temperance Brennan novels inspired the Bones TV series. Attendees can also explore the Rockies and Canadian settings, or catch a production of Little Shop of Horrors at Theatre Calgary. (October 21-25, 2026, Calgary, Canada)

Iceland Noir
Despite having around 400,000 residents, Iceland offers an atmospheric setting thanks to long winter darkness and alien landscapes. Mostly conducted in English, this intimate event has previously hosted Dan Brown and George R.R. Martin. While the full 2026 line-up is pending, a full day will be dedicated to Agatha Christie. (November 11-14, 2026, Reykjavik, Iceland)

Venice Noir
Described by fan Sir Ian Rankin as “the most beautiful book festival in the world,” this newer addition to the calendar explores everything from spy fiction to Italian giallo. Highlights include discussions on Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, modern spy fiction, and the history of giallo. Featured authors include Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, and Clare Mackintosh. (November 12-15, 2026, Venice, Italy)

Singapore Writers Festival
Active for 40 years, this festival has drawn global figures like Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, and Neil Gaiman across multiple languages. Under this year’s theme, "Hidden in Plain Sight," events cover crime fiction, investigative journalism, and concealment. Attendees can also experience the interactive outdoor detective game Singapore Murder Mystery 2: Crime on Date Night at the Old Hill Street Police Station. (November 13-22, 2026, Singapore)

BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Sydney hosts one of the premier dedicated crime festivals outside Europe and North America, with past guests including Lynda La Plante, Ann Cleeves, and Lee Child. Known for quirky elements like themed city walking tours, it has previously challenged participants to solve a simulated murder scene by examining evidence and interviewing witnesses. (November 20-21, 2026, Sydney, Australia)

Krimimessen
Staged inside Fængslet—a former prison in Horsens—Denmark’s Krimimessen attracts around 100 authors and 7,000 participants. Celebrating its 25th anniversary next year, past guests include Colin Dexter, Don Winslow, and Lisa Jewell. Panels often feature experts discussing DNA, forensic genealogy, and arson. (March 13-14, 2027, Horsens, Denmark)

ThrillerFest XXII
A major global conference held in New York, ThrillerFest features CraftFest, Masterclass, and PitchFest, where aspiring authors pitch ideas to over 60 literary agents and editors. A-list authors for 2027 include Michael Connelly and Mark Greaney. A highlight is a full day of events hosted by the FBI covering bombing forensics, cybercrime, and real murder investigations. (April 27-May 1, 2027, New York, US)

Other Festivals to Consider
The calendar extends further with St Hilda’s Crime Fiction Weekend in Oxford, Lisle Noir in France, Toulouse Polars du Sud, Murder One in Dublin, and the Nederlands Thrillerfestival. Future 2027 events include SleuthFest in Florida, the Emirates airline Festival of Literature in Dubai, Capital Crime in London, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, and Bute Noir in Scotland. From cosy mysteries to hard-boiled detective stories, there is a festival for every reader.