The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival starts tomorrow, bringing to Harrogate a host of the genre’s best-selling authors and future literary stars.

TV celebrities Richard Osman and Julian Clary will be among 120 crime authors appearing at a series of events during the four-day festival. Now in its 21st year and curated this year by festival chair and bestselling crime novelist Ruth Ware, it is one of the largest celebrations of crime fiction in the world.

Around 18,000 people from the Harrogate area and across the UK are expected to attend. Some events and tickets have sold out but site passes and tickets for specific events on all days are still available.

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award will be announced on the first day, along with the inaugural McDermid Debut Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award.

Here’s a round-up of some of the highlights.

Just announced

Additional events to the festival’s main programme have been revealed this week.

On Friday, Julian Clary will be discussing his new mystery novel Curtain Call to Murder, while Saturday will see Richard Osman unveil an exciting new crime writing author for 2025, and there’ll also be a lunch with the ‘Queen of Crime’ Lynda La Plante.

Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20.

Free event: The Big Read

Grab your free ticket and copy of Ajay Chowdhury’s The Detective and head along to The Big Read. This free reading group, said to be the North’s biggest book club, will be led by the restival’s reader-in-residence, author Luca Veste.

The Big Read is on Saturday, July 20, at 12.30pm. Free copies of The Detective are available from the Harrogate International Festivals office at 32 Cheltenham Parade, as well as at the event.

Late Night Quiz

One of the most anticipated events of the festival, this fun and hotly-contested quiz sees teams of authors and readers go head-to-head to demonstrate their superior knowledge of crime fiction.

Quizmaster is veteran festival guest and acclaimed crime writer Mark Billingham, joined this year by journalist and TV presenter Steph McGovern.

The Late Night Quiz is on Saturday, July 20, at 10.15pm. Tickets cost £15.

Crime confessions

Well-known authors fess up about their most dreadful secrets - but can you forgive them?

The panel features Mark Billingham, Gytha Lodge, Elly Griffiths, Richard Osman and Luca Veste.

Confessions of a Crime Writer is on Friday, July 19, at 10pm.

Creative crime writing

Aspiring authors can hone their crime writing skills and learn from some of the genre’s bestselling authors in an immersive day of workshops.

Creative Thursday: Crime Fiction Writing Workshops is on Thursday, July 18.

In conversation

Crime writing’s biggest names talk about their novels and inspiration.

Richard Osman will be discussing his hugely popular Thursday Murder Club novels, soon to be adapted to film, as well as his new series We Solve Murders.

Festival favourite Elly Griffiths will be talking about her new stand-alone mystery The Last Word, while Peter James will celebrate his milestone 20th Roy Grace book One Of Us Is Dead in conversation with TV presenter Louise Minchin.

Other star authors in conversation include Red Hot Chilli Writers and podcasters Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee, former clinical psychologist and professional musician Chris Carter, ‘Queen of the Big Reveal’ Dorothy Koomson and internationally bestselling authors Shari Lapena and Liz Nugent.

Running throughout the festival.

Panel discussions

From AI and technology’s impact on criminal investigations, to espionage, neurodivergent sleuths, horrid historical murder and courtroom wrangles, gain fascinating insights into all things crime as authors debate a range of topics.

Running throughout the festival.

Author dinner and Whodunnit

One of two author dinners has already sold out, so book your ticket now if you fancy rubbing shoulders with some of the genre’s best authors to solve a murder mystery with a twist.

The author dinner takes place on Saturday, July 20, at 6.15pm.