Coastal Crime

The South’s New Crime Fiction Festival Arrives September 2026

Join readers, writers and industry professionals for a full day celebrating the very best in crime fiction.

Join us on Saturday 26 September 2026 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour, Southampton for a full day of bestselling authors, industry insight, and signings.

Join us in September

25% OFF Early Bird Tickets – Ends 31 March

Your ticket gives you access to both halls.

Join bestselling authors, rising stars, industry professionals and passionate readers for a full day of crime fiction conversations, workshops, interviews and signings.

What’s on at Coastal Crime

One Festival. Two Experiences.

From big-name interviews and reader-focused panels to industry sessions for writers, Coastal Crime offers two distinct programmes under one roof.

Big-name interviews & panels • Industry one-to-ones • Socials & signings

Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or both, Coastal Crime lets you choose how you experience the day.

Your early bird ticket gives you access to both halls.

Explore the full programmes and plan your day.

Agent & Industry 1-to-1 Sessions

Meet agents and publishing professionals for focused, timed one-to-one conversations.

Booking opens soon.

Join the newsletter to get first access before public release.

Coastal Crime is an independent festival.

We’re committed to making the programme accessible to those at an earlier stage of their career or facing financial barriers.

Every contribution directly funds reduced-price festival places.

Festival Bookshop & Author Signings

We’re delighted to welcome The Mysterious Bookcase as the official bookshop for Coastal Crime.

The Westbourne-based independent bookshop will run our on-site festival bookshop within the Festival Hub, stocking books by attending authors. Visitors will be able to purchase books on the day and have them signed by the authors, with signings taking place immediately after sessions.