Shetland Noir, the islands’ renowned crime fiction festival, will return from 11th to 14th June 2026.
The 2026 festival will welcome six headline authors. The first to be announced is Lee Child, one of the world’s leading thriller writers. His Jack Reacher novels are global bestsellers, with one sold somewhere in the world approximately every nine seconds.
The remaining five headliners will be announced in the run-up to the festival. Previous guests have included major names such as Val McDermid, Richard Osman, Denise Mina, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Elly Griffiths and Stuart MacBride.
The event celebrates Shetland’s significant role in international crime fiction, with Ann Cleeves OBE, award-winning author and creator of the Shetland series, once again acting as patron.
Joining her to curate the 2026 programme is Marsali Taylor, Shetland’s own acclaimed crime writer. Together they promise a compelling and memorable weekend for fans of the genre.
Shetland has inspired a wide range of crime fiction, thanks to its dramatic landscapes, close-knit communities and sense of isolation. While the islands enjoy one of the lowest crime rates in the UK, this contrast has sparked the imagination of authors and readers alike. Beyond Ann Cleeves’ well-known Shetland series, which inspired the BBC television adaptation filmed in the islands, writers continue to set novels here across multiple genres, drawn by Shetland’s atmosphere and character.
What sets Shetland Noir apart is its welcoming and intimate atmosphere. The festival includes author panels, practical workshops and book signings. Attendees can engage directly with leading voices in the literary world in a relaxed and inspiring setting. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a lifelong reader, the festival provides a rare opportunity to share stories, ask questions and gain insight into the creative process.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 13th June 2025. You can find out more and buy tickets from Shetland Arts.
To celebrate the books, the series and the much-loved characters, we've pulled together self-guided tours and videos of some of the show's locations, we hear from author Ann Cleeves on what first motivated her to write about Shetland.