The Alasdair Gray Archive (AGA) proudly presents, in partnership with Canongate, Gray Day 2026, the sixth annual celebration honouring the life and work of the acclaimed Scottish polymath Alasdair Gray that will take place on Wednesday 25 February, 7–10pm at Òran Mór, Glasgow. Curated by AGA Custodian Sorcha Dallas, this special evening marks 45 years since the publication of Lanark, one of the most influential works of modern Scottish literature.
The event will be hosted by multi-award-winning comedian and writer Josie Long, and will feature original presentations by Rachelle Atalla and Alan Bissett, alongside the screening of five newly commissioned animations created by emerging animators Ann Dinh, Ollie Pearse, Yu Sun, Tintin Lindkvist Nielsen, and Miranda Peyton-Jones. The animations draw on excerpts from the newly recorded Lanark audiobook, narrated by Alan Cumming.
Josie Long is a celebrated English comedian, writer, and filmmaker, known for her distinctive blend of whimsy and political engagement. A prominent figure in UK comedy, she brings warmth, intelligence, and curiosity to her role as host for the evening.
Rachelle Atalla will read from her newly commissioned short story Comfort break, which explores the subterranean layers of Glasgow through Lanark and the city’s sanitation scheme. The commission was delivered in partnership with Creative Writing at the University of Strathclyde. Atalla is a Scottish-Egyptian novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter based in Glasgow. Her work has been widely published and she is a recipient of the Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Award.
Alan Bissett will perform a newly written piece inspired by the meeting of Alasdair Gray and fellow Glasgow icon Billy Connolly at the 1981 launch of Lanark. The work is based on a photograph held in The Alasdair Gray Archive and was commissioned by AGA and the Glasgow International Comedy Festival in 2025. Bissett is a playwright, novelist, and performer whose work includes the acclaimed Moira Trilogy (2009–2024). He will also perform When Billy Met Alasdair at the Citizens Theatre in March 2026 as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Sorcha Dallas, custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive, says:
Lanark didn’t just change Scottish literature – it redefined what a city, a novel, and an artist could be. Forty-five years on, Gray Day channels that radical energy by championing new work and new voices. This year’s programme brings writers, comedians, animators, and audiences together in a way that reflects Gray’s generous, collaborative vision, and celebrates Lanark as a living work that continues to evolve and inspire new ways of thinking about Scotland and its stories.
The evening will also showcase five brand-new animated works, commissioned by AGA and Canongate through a competitive open call for emerging practitioners. These films respond creatively to excerpts from the new Lanark audiobook, narrated by actor, director, producer, writer, and presenter Alan Cumming.
On recording the audiobook, Alan Cumming, says:
I was truly honoured, but also daunted, to record the audiobook of Lanark. What an incredible, immersive, and overwhelming experience it was. Spending so long in Alasdair Gray’s extraordinary mind was a joy and I’m thrilled that the audiobook will be launched at Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Winter Words Festival just ahead of Gray Day 2026.
To further mark the occasion, Glasgow City primary schools are invited to enter a creative competition for P7 pupils on the theme ‘A Reimagined Glasgow.’ The Alasdair Gray Archive are offering free resource packs and encouraging schools across the city to take part. Prizes include £50 for the winning school, art materials, free workshop opportunities, and a public display of winning entries at The Alasdair Gray Archive. Multiple entries per school are welcome. Find out more at thealasdairgrayarchive.org.