On the Easter Ross Peninsula, Highland
Inspiring A Community With Creativity
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2026 Did Not Disappoint
Authors, the Arts and Heritage
Welcome to the St Duthac Book and Arts Festival!
Fàilte gu Fèis Leabhraichean is Ealain Dubhach!
The 2026 Festival was a wonderful mixture of the written word and creativity in and around the Easter Ross Peninsula in fabulous venues and as part of our school programme.
With over 20 events from a mix of local and national authors and artists, we welcomed former presenter Kirsty Wark who donned her fiction hat in conversation with author Kirsty Gunn, to chat about her novels. There was drama when the hugely popular James Naughtie was grounded in Gatwick airport, meaning his event is postponed to a later date.
There was award winning theatre with Inverness born John Doyle, Theatre Director and went on to win Tony Awards for his Broadway Musicals. More theatre from Scott Kyle, who brought his award winning show to pupils at Tain Campus and to the public.
We had politics, history and politics with history with The Rt Hon Henry McLeish, RoB McInroy and Jason Ubych delivered his magic talking about the Picts. We had murder in a distillery with Natalie Jayne Clark and crime in the Court House with Allan Gaw.
The Pro-Loco Arts Competition, which took place in the grounds of Balnagown Castle, and the Primary School Art Competition saw the most entries to date. There was more Artisan Craft Workshops than you could shake a willow stick at on our arts trail across the peninsula! We bookended the Festival with two wonderful concerts from the Blas Festival and James D Ross and Bill Taylor. We were tickled pink with the ABFAB Helen Lederer in conversation with our own Lynsey Gilmour and moved by Asad Qureshis experience as a Prisoner of the Taliban, and then Jenny Q and Myshkin Warbler through words and original music. It truly was an ABFAB six days!
This year, the Festival raised money for the TRACC (Tain Royal Academy Community Complex) Campaign to save the swimming pool and leisure facilities. Thanks to your generous donations over £800 was raised.
Authors & Storytellers
The St Duthac Book and Arts Festival aims to bring together an array of outstanding authors, poets and story tellers to delight the audiences with delights from all genres, from historical fiction and environmentalism to Scottish fantasy and folklore.
Arts Trail
The arts programme includes arts workshops, talks, Pro-Loco Art and School Art competitions.
All this and an array of art venues to visit to be inspired.
Follow the Pictish trail across the peninsula. Soak up the history, take in the spectacular sights of the trails across each of the villages.
Children's Programme
We love to share our love of books with the children in the community which is why we arrange author visits to local schools and bring fun experiences for families to enjoy to the festival. As Dr Seuss says "the more you read, the more you know, the more you know the more places you go".
The Collegiate Church of Tain is dedicated to St. Duthac the Patron Saint of Tain. Built by William, Earl of Ross, over a hundred years later, in 1487 James III had it converted into a Collegiate Church. The Collegiate Church is open daily, and is the perfect location to take in a performance during the St Duthac Book and Arts Festival.
Popping -Up
During the festival week the volunteer committee set up a Pop-Up Bookshop and Gallery in Tain. It gives us a base to share our love of books and the opportunity to support local authors and artists through free pop-up appearances.
Meet The 2026 Team
Our Origin Story
In 2019 an idea by two former teachers for a book festival took root. They formed the St Duthac Book & Arts Festival group with the aim to further promote literature, heritage and the arts in their community. In 2025 we bid a fond farewell to Archie MacArthur and welcomed Barbara Cohen to the team.
Following meetings, programme development, market stalls and fundraising the first St Duthac Book & Arts Festival, based in Tain on the Easter Ross Peninsula, became a reality when we launched the first Book and Arts Festival on the Easter Ross Peninsula in 2021 .
The committee, who are all volunteers with a passion for the arts, each come with individual skills that make the festival such a welcoming event,
Thank you to everyone who has helped the group on the journey so far. Planning for the 2027 event has already begun. We will be reflecting on your feedback to deliver a programme of events and pop up appearances across various venues on the Easter Ross Peninsula that will delight you, the audience.