I know, I know…I’m late to the party again but better late than never! Catching up with Harrogate International Festivals announcements about the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and honestly… I’m counting down the days. If you thought 2025 was big, 2026 is shaping up to be absolutely massive.
Lisa Jewell Named 2026 Festival Programming Chair
First up, the incomparable Lisa Jewell, queen of the psychological thriller and author of page-turning sensations Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, None of This Is True, and Don’t Let Him In …has been named Programming Chair for the 2026 Festival! Whaaaat!?
With more than ten million books sold, international acclaim, and multiple adaptations under her belt, Lisa Jewell is stepping into the role with a vision that blends her magazine-lover sensibility with her signature deep-dive approach to real-life themes. She promises a programme shaped around the issues that influence how crime writers work, think, and tell their stories.
Jewell calls chairing the festival “an honour beyond my wildest imaginings,” and says she’s thrilled to bring her dream line-up to life on Harrogate’s legendary July stage.
The First Wave of Headliners (and YES, they’re huge)
Jewell’s initial 2026 Headliners set the bar sky-high:
David Baldacci returns after 15 years to showcase his new spy series featuring undercover agent Walter Nash.
Nadine Matheson & Gillian McAllister dig into their newest high-concept thrillers and the legal insights that shape their writing.
Steve Cavanagh brings Two Kinds of Stranger, the latest in the electric Eddie Flynn series.
Alice Feeney returns to twist our brains (again!) with My Husband’s Wife, a psychological thriller full of love, lies, and revenge.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger…
FULL 2026 SPECIAL GUEST LINE-UP ANNOUNCED
Harrogate International Festivals has now revealed the full roster of Special Guest headliners and it reads like a who’s who of global crime fiction!
Ann Cleeves & Brenda Blethyn — an exclusive Vera behind-the-scenes event PLUS a brand-new Vera Stanhope novel!
Anthony Horowitz — back in Harrogate with another showstopper after the hit BBC adaptations of Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders.
Holly Jackson — Festival debut! Introducing Not Quite Dead Yet, her next unputdownable thriller.
Lisa Jewell in conversation with Lee Child — YES, you read that right. The queen of psych thrillers meets the creator of Jack Reacher.
Chris Whitaker & Chris Brookmyre — two genre-bending favourites returning with new work, with Brookmyre celebrating 30 years in print.
LJ Ross & Jane Harper — both bestselling powerhouses bringing highly anticipated new novels.
Lisa Jewell said she had a “golden wish-list” for her dream festival line-up and somehow, she’s made it happen. Her promise? A mix of beloved favourites, exciting newcomers, and a few surprises. Harrogate 2026 is going to be packed with conversations crime readers will be talking about for years.
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, now in its 23rd year, remains the beating heart of the global crime fiction community. Readers, authors, and industry superstars gather at the iconic Old Swan Hotel for four days of panels, interviews, workshops, and unforgettable moments (yes, the same hotel where Agatha Christie once vanished!).
2026 also marks 60 years of Harrogate International Festivals, and they’re celebrating in style with more headline names than ever before.
🎟️ Tickets & Packages
Weekend Break Packages are on sale now, with Rover and individual event tickets launching in Spring 2026.
