CRIMEFEST is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. Drawing top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world, it gives all delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly, informal and inclusive atmosphere. The CRIMEFEST programme consists of interviews with its featured and highlighte
d guest authors; over forty panels with more than a hundred participating authors; a gala awards dinner; and one or two surprises. CRIMEFEST was created following the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention. The British hosts were encouraged to continue with a similar annual event and, as a result, the first CRIMEFEST was organised in June 2008. The convention has grown to become not only one of the biggest crime fiction events in Europe, but also one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar. Like Left Coast Crime, CRIMEFEST follows the format of most US conventions where—with exception of the featured and highlighted guest authors—all delegates pay the same registration fee to enjoy the convention.
