Just back from a surprisingly warm and sunny Theakstons Crimewriting festival at Harrogate where we launched the international edition of Venice Noir 2026. Here are some of my co-conspirators after the event — Suzy Lishman, our resident super pathologist who has a fantastic panel on her hands this year; Philip Gwynne Jones, Erin Kelly, historian Catherine Fletcher and fiction expert Tim Rideout.

You can now read the full Venice Noir International programme online here and see our sparkling array of writing and expert talent here.

Four days in the Ateneo Veneto, La Fenice, Sant’Apollonia, the Querini Stampalia and Casanova’s old casino, the Ridotto, next to Harry’s Bar. All locations you can’t normally walk into as a visitor. But with us you’re welcome… and, yes, it’s true. Every panel event is free to attend.

All we ask is that you sign up for our newsletter to hear the latest information, and book your free ticket when registration opens in a little while. The main programme is essentially in place now but we have some extras in the work you will want to know about… so stay tuned.

Many thanks to all those who made this possible, especially Philip and Patsy Irwin, our resident media guru and general grown-up in the room, and the team back in Venice who put all the complex logistics for our fast-growing event together. And our friends at Harrogate who helped us get off the ground in the first place.