We have a number of ticket options available, from spending the whole weekend with us to choosing just to catch your favourite author.

Weekend Break Packages – includes 3 nights accommodation (with breakfast); access to all events on the Theakston Stage; priority booking for additional events, including the Author Dinner, Publisher and Festival Partner events and a goody bag.

Rover Tickets – a guaranteed seat to all events on the Theakston Stage on the day(s) of your choosing. Friday, Saturday and Weekend Rover tickets are available. Also includes access to our bars, signing room and book shops, as well as a goody bag.

Individual Event Tickets – purchase tickets just for the authors of your choice, whilst still being able to soak in the Festival atmosphere, pop along to a book signing and enjoy a pint of Theakston Old Peculier at the bar.

Site Passes – grants you access to the Festival grounds at The Old Swan Hotel, including the bookshop and the bar. Please note: Site passes do not give you access to any events on the Theakston Stage (main tent).

All Weekend Break Packages include either a Classic or Essential Weekend Rover Ticket, which entitles you entry into the Awards & Party, all our Special Guest/ In Conversation and Panel events.

There’s a few events that your Weekend Break Package won’t cover, which can be booked separately:

• Creative Thursday
• Author Dinners on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July
• Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers on Friday 18 July
• Publisher/ Festival Partner events which will be announced as we get closer to the Festival.

Festival tickets can be collected at the on-site Box Office from Thursday 17 July from 3pm. The Box Office is open from 8.30am on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July.

Those attending Creative Thursday will be sent an email with ticket collection instructions nearer to the Festival.

Tickets will be available to purchase from the Festival Box Office at the Old Swan Hotel from Thursday 17 – Sunday 20 July, subject to availability. As many of our events sell out before the Festival, we cannot guarantee that tickets will be available to purchase on the day. Early booking is recommended.

The Box Office cannot refund money or exchange tickets, except in the case of a cancelled performance. We are happy to try to re-sell returned tickets for sold-out performances for a small charge.

If you wish to attend a specific sold-out event, we will run a waiting list until Wednesday 16 July which you can join should any tickets for that event become available for re-sale. Please contact the Box Office on 01423 562 303 to join.

From Thursday 17 July there will only be an onsite waiting list which will open 10 minutes prior to the start of each event as we will be able to assess availability. Any onsite waiting list will supersede any previous waiting list.

Yes, you will be required to a show a ticket for each event to have a booked signed. Due to high demand, there is a limit of 3 books per person. If you do not hold a ticket for the event, you will be able to join the back of the book-signing queue once all ticket-holders have gone through, but we cannot guarantee that the author will have time to see you.

Seating for all events is unreserved. Doors will open approximately 15 minutes before each event. We kindly ask that queue etiquette is observed prior to each event.

As many events will be sold out, we ask you to help us accommodate all ticket holders by making use of every seat in the auditorium and not leaving gaps.

Please note our Friends of the Festival get priority access to the events upon showing their Friends of the Festival membership card.

Find out more about Friends of the Festival here.

The Old Swan Hotel is located on Old Swan Road, Harrogate. For those using SatNav, just enter the postcode HG1 2SR. See the bottom of the page for a Google Map.

Our Box Office will be in a tent just outside the front of the Old Swan Hotel.

If you are using Sat Nav you can use the postcodes below or click on the name of each car park for more information including opening and closing times.

The Old Swan Hotel – HG1 2SR (Drop off only)

Jubilee Car Park – HG1 1DJ  

Victoria Car Park – HG1 5LQ

West Park Car Park – HG1 1HS

Please note that there will be no parking available at the Old Swan Hotel.

For guests staying at the Old Swan Hotel, we recommend using the above car parks, or there is on street parking around the hotel (York Road, Duchy Road). You will need a parking disc and the restrictions are from 8.00am to 8.00pm. You can park there to unload the car, drop your bags at the hotel and then go and park your car in the long stay car parks – restrictions are usually 3 hours.

If you do not have a parking disc, there will be some available to collect at our Festival Box Office.

Please remember to check the closing times of your car park and any on street parking signage as Harrogate International Festivals takes no responsibility for any additional fees incurred.

You don’t need to pick up your welcome pack from the Box Office at the Old Swan Hotel before checking in at your hotel; all you need is your name. However, if you have any concerns, then you can show the Hotel staff your confirmation email which you should have received at the time of booking.

You will also receive a welcome email a couple of weeks prior to the Festival reconfirming all your accommodation details.

The Old Swan Hotel is fully wheelchair accessible. Please call the Festival Office on 01423 562 303 before Friday 4 July to discuss your additional access needs.

Please call our Festival Box Office to discuss your access needs before Friday 4 July.

We are committed to ensuring all customers can enjoy our events equally. To better serve our patrons who have specific access needs we have our Access Scheme. The list is free to join and once you qualify as a member you may be entitled to a complimentary ticket (excluding food) for a Personal Assistant/Carer. Please be advised that we cannot offer retrospective discounts on tickets already purchased.

All main programme events are held on the Theakston Stage at the Old Swan Hotel, except for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers or any Publisher and Festival partner events.

We kindly ask that you leave the Theakston stage area promptly when the event is finished to allow us to set the room for the following event.

Both of the Author Dinners will take place in the Wedgwood Restaurant at the Old Swan Hotel from 6.15pm onwards.

Yes! Waterstones are kindly providing a Festival bookstore at the Old Swan Hotel and they will host book signings after each event. The bookshop will be located in the Garden Room, and signings will take place in the Red Lounge adjacent to the Ballroom.

Please feel free to take pictures but ensure that your photography does not interfere with the experience or enjoyment of fellow audience members.

To maintain a respectful environment, we kindly request that you avoid using flash or disruptive equipment during presentations. If you wish to take photos during an event please do so discreetly and from your seat.

Lunches are included in with Classic Weekend, Friday and Saturday Rover tickets. Lunch will be served in the Wedgwood Restaurant from 12.00pm-2.00pm on Friday 18 July and Saturday 19 July. Please be advised queues are expected so we recommend attending lunch early if you are able.

If you hold a Rover pass, you can also pick up a quick lunch from our on-site Tuck Shop or BBQ, included in your ticket.

Lunch is not included for Essential Rover passes. You can purchase lunch and refreshments on-site from our BBQ or our Tuck Shop.

Yes! Harrogate International Festivals take both card and cash payments at the Box Office. The Old Swan Hotel only takes card payment.

The Jane Gregory bursaries were created to ensure the widest possible access to the annual Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and to develop opportunities for readers and writers of all backgrounds. Focused on the Creative Thursday writing day, which has helped launch successful writers in the genre, these bursaries aim to support aspiring writers.

Each year, four bursaries are offered, including: one full Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival weekend access with accommodation and a travel allowance; one Creative Thursday ticket and one Classic Weekend Rover, which includes a contribution to accommodation; and two tickets to attend Creative Thursday.

Click here for more information

Becoming a Friend of the Festivals is one of the best ways to enjoy all that the Harrogate International Festivals have to offer, from big name stars, to intimate concerts and hidden gems. As a charitable arts organisation, we rely on the generous support of our Friends of the Festival to create the quality and range of work we do. Not only can you support Harrogate International Festivals year-round, but each level of membership unlocks more perks! You can find out more about our Festival Friends and the benefits of membership here.

The Festival Friends’ lounge is located in the Rose Room (exact location may change) at the Old Swan Hotel, with a screen and a live link through to all Special Guest, In Conversation and Panel events. Valid tickets and membership cards must be shown in order to access the lounge.

Friends also have priority entrance to the Theakston Old Peculier Stage (before the crowd) and have priority booking up to a week ahead of tickets going on general sale