Be part of Coastal Crime
Coastal Crime is about more than one day of crime fiction. From our annual festival in Southampton to year-round author events, there are lots of ways to become part of what we’re building.
Whether you’d like to volunteer at the festival, take part in an event, work with us as a partner or sponsor, or support Coastal Crime as a Festival Friend, we’d love to hear from you.
Explore the different ways to get involved below.
Volunteer with Coastal Crime
Help us bring the festival to life.
Our volunteers play an important role in making Coastal Crime a welcoming, well-run event for readers, authors and guests.
We’re looking for friendly and enthusiastic people to help with Coastal Crime 2027 in Southampton, with opportunities including front of house, author care, book sales and signings, technical support, event set-up and general festival assistance.
You don’t need previous festival experience, and registering your interest doesn’t commit you to a particular role or shift.
Registration is currently open for Coastal Crime 2027.
Take Part in Coastal Crime Presents
Join one of our year-round crime-fiction events.
Coastal Crime Presents brings authors and readers together beyond the main festival through smaller events across Hampshire and Dorset, alongside online conversations and interviews.
We’re interested in hearing from crime writers, interviewers, moderators and hosts who would like to be considered for future events.
Our programme is curated around particular authors, themes and conversations, so registering your interest doesn’t guarantee an invitation, but it helps us discover people who could be a great fit for future Coastal Crime Presents events.
Take Part in Coastal Crime Festival 2028
Interested in joining us on the Coastal Crime stage?
The programme for Coastal Crime 2027 is now complete, but we’re already beginning to look ahead to our next festival.
We’re currently working on plans for Coastal Crime Festival 2028 and will open expressions of interest once the festival date has been confirmed.
In the meantime, authors, publishers and publicists can join our 2028 Speaker Interest List to be notified as soon as the Expression of Interest form goes live.
Joining the list is not an application to appear at the festival and does not guarantee a place in the programme. Once the call for speakers opens, you’ll be sent details of how to put yourself, or an author you represent, forward for consideration.
Partner with Coastal Crime
Work with us to support crime fiction in the South.
We’re keen to develop relationships with businesses, publishers and organisations that share our enthusiasm for books, culture and bringing people together.
Partnership opportunities can range from festival and event sponsorship to individual programme elements, hospitality, promotional partnerships and in-kind support.
We’d be happy to discuss opportunities that work for both Coastal Crime and your organisation.
Become a Festival Friend
Support Coastal Crime and become part of our community.
Our Festival Friends help support the continued development of Coastal Crime while enjoying a closer connection with the festival.
Becoming a Festival Friend is a simple way to support what we’re building and help us continue bringing readers, writers and publishing professionals together in Southampton.