Skip to content

Book festival founder to step down after his 'dream became reality'

News imageRyan Rutherford A man with receded grey hair and a beard and glasses stands among white flowering branches. He is wearing a blue gilet over a light blue shirtRyan Rutherford
Alistair Moffat set up the Borders Book Festival in Melrose more than 20 years ago

The man who saw his "dream become reality" by setting up a book festival in southern Scotland more than 20 years ago is to step down as its director.

Alistair Moffat established the Borders Book Festival in 2004 to bring together "some of the best and brightest voices" from around the world in Melrose.

However, he has decided to leave the helm after the latest edition in June this year.

Co-director Paula Ogilvie - who joined in the early days of the festival - will continue to lead the event with support from guest programmers.

News imageLloyd Smith Photography An aerial view of the Borders Book Festival with food trucks, marquees and people milling about. It is surrounded by trees with Melrose Abbey in the background and hills in the distanceLloyd Smith Photography
The Borders Book Festival enjoys a scenic location in Melrose

"Paula has been with me throughout the decades, and she knows the Borders Book Festival inside out," said Moffat.

"More than that, it's in her blood, just as it is in mine.

"I'm excited to watch from the sidelines as the book festival goes from strength to strength under her guiding hand.

"I'm also delighted at the prospect of enjoying a day off on my birthday in June 2027, for the first time in more than 20 years."

News imageLloyd Smith Photography Two people stand side by side leaning on a metal marquee pole. A woman on the left has long brown hair and is wearing a grey denim shirt over a grey T-Shirt and has a couple of lanyards around her neck. To the right is a man with receded grey hair and a beard who is wearing a dark blue suit jacket with a pink shirt underneath. There are red deckchairs on the lawn behind them.Lloyd Smith Photography
Paula Ogilvie will take over the lead of the event from Alistair Moffat

Moffat's final event of his last Borders Book Festival will see him reminisce with Rory Bremner about their 40 years of friendship.

Ogilvie will take full control of programming from next year.

"Having been a joint director of Borders Book Festival for so many years, I like to think I know my way around the place - and the role - pretty well," she said.

"We'll all miss Alistair, of course, but I'm delighted to be continuing what we've created, knowing, perhaps more than anybody else, what potential the book festival has to keep growing, evolving, inspiring and entertaining.

"Once the 2026 festival is behind us, it'll be all systems go for 2027."