
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties
Similar events
View all →About This Event
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties will be held at the Assembly Rooms on November 13, 2026. This literary event features David Byrne, an influential artist whose work has spanned several decades; ticket prices require checking the website.
David Byrne is one of the most original and influential artists of the last half century. Since co-founding Talking Heads in 1975, his work has spanned music (including his 2025 album Who Is The Sky?), film, theatre (American Utopia, Here Lies Love), photography and visual art, establishing him as one of the most curious and inventive cultural thinkers of our time. This November, he comes to the UK for a strictly limited run of five events, presenting a brand-new solo talk inspired by his forthcoming book, Sleeping Beauties. We like to believe that the best ideas inevitably and immediately rise to the top. Yet many of history's most transformative discoveries, inventions and works of art were overlooked in their own time. From the discovery of continental drift and dark matter to the works of Bach, Vermeer and Melville, countless breakthroughs lie dormant for years before the world finally recognises their significance. In this fascinating new talk, Byrne explores why some ideas flourish almost instantly while others remain hidden in plain sight. He celebrates the visionaries who were ahead of their time and the creations that went on to change the world. Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear one of today's most original creative minds live on stage, reflecting on creativity, innovation, recognition and the remarkable journeys of ideas that almost disappeared from history – but ended up shaping it. David Byrne’s fees for this event will be donated to Rocksteady Foundation You can buy a hardback copy of David Byrne's new book, Sleeping Beauties, with your ticket at a discounted price of £24.20 (RRP £26). Books can be collected at the event.
Description supplied by the event organiser.
Staying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of Assembly Rooms.
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
Similar Events in Edinburgh
View all →
From £5An evening with Bill Paterson - Edinburgh West End
Thu, 1 Oct 2026
Waterstones
From £12Dougie Strang on The Bone Cave: a Journey Through Myth and Memory
Sat, 3 Oct 2026
Scottish Storytelling Centre
From £12Jim Crumley on The Last Wolf
Sat, 3 Oct 2026
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Free – £5.04Waiting on a Friend, with Natalie Adler and Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin
Tue, 6 Oct 2026
Lighthouse - Edinburgh’s Radical Bookshop

Egypt Cookbook Launch and Mezze Spread at The Cookbook Shop
Thu, 8 Oct 2026
The Cookbook Shop
From £5An Evening with Joanne Harris- Edinburgh West End
Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Waterstones
More at Assembly Rooms
View all →Frequently asked questions
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties takes place on Friday, 13 November 2026 at 19:30.
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties is held at Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh (54 George Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 2LR).
Yes — hotels within walking distance of Assembly Rooms can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.
Tickets for An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties can be booked via cultureedinburgh.com using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.

An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties
Editorial Summary
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties will be held at the Assembly Rooms on November 13, 2026. This literary event features David Byrne, an influential artist whose work has spanned several decades; ticket prices require checking the website.
This summary was automatically generated from event data sourced from official ticketing providers.
Organiser’s full description
David Byrne is one of the most original and influential artists of the last half century. Since co-founding Talking Heads in 1975, his work has spanned music (including his 2025 album Who Is The Sky?), film, theatre (American Utopia, Here Lies Love), photography and visual art, establishing him as one of the most curious and inventive cultural thinkers of our time. This November, he comes to the UK for a strictly limited run of five events, presenting a brand-new solo talk inspired by his forthcoming book, Sleeping Beauties. We like to believe that the best ideas inevitably and immediately rise to the top. Yet many of history's most transformative discoveries, inventions and works of art were overlooked in their own time. From the discovery of continental drift and dark matter to the works of Bach, Vermeer and Melville, countless breakthroughs lie dormant for years before the world finally recognises their significance. In this fascinating new talk, Byrne explores why some ideas flourish almost instantly while others remain hidden in plain sight. He celebrates the visionaries who were ahead of their time and the creations that went on to change the world. Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear one of today's most original creative minds live on stage, reflecting on creativity, innovation, recognition and the remarkable journeys of ideas that almost disappeared from history – but ended up shaping it. David Byrne’s fees for this event will be donated to Rocksteady Foundation You can buy a hardback copy of David Byrne's new book, Sleeping Beauties, with your ticket at a discounted price of £24.20 (RRP £26). Books can be collected at the event.
Description supplied by the event organiser.
❓ Frequently asked questions
When is An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties?
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties takes place on Friday, 13 November 2026 at 19:30.
Where is An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties taking place?
An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties is held at Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh (54 George Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 2LR).
Is there anywhere to stay near An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties?
Yes — hotels within walking distance of Assembly Rooms can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.
How do I get tickets for An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties?
Tickets for An Evening With David Byrne: Sleeping Beauties can be booked via cultureedinburgh.com using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.
🏨 Staying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of Assembly Rooms
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
Price
Check website
Date
Time
More in Edinburgh
EventsList curates 178,000+ events across the UK. Tickets purchased via the venue or authorised sellers only.
More Events at Assembly Rooms
View all →
Thomas Green - Brainstorm
📍 Assembly Rooms
FREEEdinburgh Careers Fair
📍 Assembly Rooms

Jeremy Bowen: Truth Under Fire
📍 Assembly Rooms

John Barrowman: My Life In Musicals
📍 Assembly Rooms

Alexei Sayle: How I’ve Tried to Change the World
📍 Assembly Rooms

Ian Rankin: The Heights
📍 Assembly Rooms
Similar Events in Edinburgh
View all →
An evening with Bill Paterson - Edinburgh West End
📍 Waterstones
£5.00 - £13.00
SOLD OUTDougie Strang on The Bone Cave: a Journey Through Myth and Memory
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre
Sold out at source
SOLD OUTJim Crumley on The Last Wolf
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre
Sold out at source

Waiting on a Friend, with Natalie Adler and Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin
📍 Lighthouse - Edinburgh’s Radical Bookshop
Free - £5.04

Egypt Cookbook Launch and Mezze Spread at The Cookbook Shop
📍 The Cookbook Shop

An Evening with Joanne Harris- Edinburgh West End
📍 Waterstones
£5.00 - £25.00
More things to do in Edinburgh
- Romantasy BookCon Edinburgh 2027· Thursday, 15 July 2027
- An Evening with Michael Portillo· Thursday, 5 November 2026
- Edinburgh Book Bonanza· Saturday, 17 October 2026
- The Worst Poets Club: with Hollie McNish, Donna Ashworth, Nikita Gill and Len Pennie· Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Words Of The Wild Book Festival - Nature Writing Workshop With Stephen Rutt· Saturday, 3 October 2026
- Scots Music Group Ceilidh· Saturday, 31 October 2026
- The Worst Poets Club· Sunday, 18 October 2026
- ACOTAR Book 6 Midnight release- Edinburgh West End· Tuesday, 27 October 2026
- An Evening with Annabel Campbell- Edinburgh West End· Friday, 16 October 2026
- The Star of the Room: Flash Fiction and Prose Poetry· Friday, 13 November 2026
- An Evening with Surgeons Hall· Friday, 13 November 2026
- Push The Boat Out· Thursday, 12 November 2026
- Tabitha Webb in conversation with Donna Ashworth - Edinburgh West End· Tuesday, 17 November 2026
- Book Launch: Barking Mad To Calm And Quiet By Julie Cluley· Wednesday, 18 November 2026


