Shetland Noir

16/06/2026

What a weekend

09/06/2026

🔍 It’s been 3 years since the last time Shetland Noir was held at Mareel, and its return has been eagerly awaited. The festival will once again bring Shetland’s unique voice to the global stage of crime writing, with a programme packed full of author talks, workshops, panel discussions and special events.

This year, 6 headline authors are taking part in the festival: Lee Child, Louise Penny, Vaseem Khan, Professor Lorna Dawson, Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ann Cleeves. They will be joined by a vast lineup of other authors and crime professionals throughout the weekend for a deep dive into everything crime writing.📚

📆 Thursday 11 June - Sunday 14 June

🔗 Read our latest blog post to find out more: https://shetlandarts.org/shetland-noir-returns-this-week/

Creative Scotland

28/05/2026

📣 Workshops are now on sale to Day Card holders!

26/05/2026

📣 Don't forget that trips and workshops go on sale to Noir Card holders this morning at 10am!

If you've got your Noir Card and you'd like to attend any of these events, we'd recommend booking early as spaces are limited.

Workshops:
⭐️ Researching Historical History (Friday 12 June, 3pm - 4:30pm)
⭐️ Unreliable Narrators (Saturday 13 June, 3pm - 4:30pm)
⭐️ Developing a Killer Marketing Strategy (Sunday 14 June, 11:45am - 1:15pm)

Trips:
🎻 Tunes & Stories (Saturday 13 June, 7:30pm - 11pm)
🚌 Shetland Noir Bus Tour (Monday 15 June, 9am - 4pm)

Workshops will go on sale to Day Card holders (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) on Thursday 28 May at 10am. We still have a few cards available for each day, get them before they're gone if you'd like to join us!

👉 Find out more and book: https://tickets.shetlandarts.org/sales/shetland-noir-2026

15/05/2026

The full programme for Shetland Noir 2026 is now live! 📚🔍

From 11th – 14th June 2026, we’re bringing together some of the biggest names in crime writing alongside workshops, panels and special events.

Featuring headline authors Lee Child, Louise Penny, Vaseem Khan, Professor Lorna Dawson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, plus Ann Cleeves OBE returning as Patron and Marsali Taylor co-curating the programme.

👉 Click here to explore the full programme for Shetland Noir 2026 -https://shetlandarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Shetland-Noir-Programme-2026-WEB-2.pdf
We can’t wait to welcome you to Shetland for another unforgettable festival of crime writing.

Lee Child Yrsa Sigurðardóttir Louise Penny Marsali Taylor Ann Cleeves

13/03/2026

🤩 Day Cards and headliner events are on sale now!

Find out more and book on our website: https://tickets.shetlandarts.org/sales/shetland-noir-2026

12/03/2026

📣 Exciting announcement - we have Day Cards and headliner events going on sale tomorrow morning (Friday 13 March) at 10am!

🧐What is a Day Card?
Day Cards include access to events taking place on the selected day - these are available for Friday/Saturday/Sunday of the festival. This includes access to panels and artist talks.

🗣️ "In Conversion With" Headliner events
Our five headliners will talk about their work in front of an audience, accompanied by a fellow guest to let the conversation flow.

⭐️ Lee Child (with Stewart Bain)
⭐️ Ann Cleeves (with Dr Tim Rideout)
⭐️ Vaseem Khan (with Ann Cleeves)
⭐️ Louise Penny (with Alex Gray)
⭐️ Lorna Dawson (with Lin Anderson)
⭐️ Yrsa Sigurdardottir (with Dr Jacky Collins)

The events are open to the general public with seating on the balcony.

‼️ We'd like to remind Noir Card holders (and Day Card holders, if you're planning on purchasing tomorrow) that you do not have to book tickets for the headliner events - access is already included in your card.

03/09/2025

Bookings for 2026 are now open with Northlink Ferries - if you are planning on coming to Shetland Noir by boat, you can now book your tickets.

We are pleased to let you know that you can now make bookings with NorthLink Ferries for sailings in 2026.

For 2026 prices, please visit the '2026 Fares' webpage: https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/book/routes-times-and-prices/2026-fares/

Residents of Orkney and Shetland with a valid Islander ID can access 2026 islander prices here: https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/book/islander-booking/2026-islander-fares/

For timetables, please visit the '2026 Timetables' webpage: https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/book/routes-times-and-prices/2026-timetables/

Dry dock timetables can be found here: https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/book/routes-times-and-prices/2026-dry-dock-timetables/

Bookings can be made by visiting the NorthLink Ferries website https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/ or by calling 0800 111 4422 (free from UK landlines and mobiles) or 01856 885500 (International callers).

We wish you an enjoyable sailing with NorthLink Ferries in 2026.

21/08/2025

📚✨ All our headliners are confirmed for Shetland Noir 2026!

We’re thrilled to welcome five incredible names to this year’s festival:

🔹 Lee Child - creator of Jack Reacher, with over 100 million books sold worldwide.
🔹 Louise Penny - international bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache series.
🔹 Vaseem Khan - award-winning crime writer, bringing stories from India to Bond’s Q.
🔹 Professor Lorna Dawson - world-leading forensic soil scientist and expert witness.
🔹 Yrsa Sigurðardóttir - Iceland’s Queen of Crime, bestselling in 30+ languages.

And this is just the beginning - even more participating authors will be revealed when we launch the full programme in March 2026.

📅 Save the date: 11th-14th of June 2026 and book your Shetland Noir card now!

https://www.shetlandarts.org/festivals/shetland-noir

Lee Child Vaseem Khan Louise Penny Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

21/08/2025

Lots to discuss!

Have you got your tickets to Shetland Noir yet??

Back in Shetland mainland. Got the front seat next to the pilot.