The 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival opened on Saturday under the theme of "Imagine Better" to encourage people to share ideas and envisage a better world.

More than 800 writers, politicians, actors and scientists from 55 countries were expected to gather at the Book Festival with over 700 events to address issues from the EU referendum to the refugee crisis.

"We are living in an age of global uncertainty: a time of mass migration and of shifting power. I believe the world wants to and needs to imagine better," said the Book Festival Director Nick Barley.

Gordon Brown, former British prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer, was scheduled to talk on Scotland, Britain and Europe on the last day of the Book Festival on Aug. 29.

The program also includes hundreds of events for families, created especially for children to enjoy, such as free daily storytelling and craft activities.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival began in 1983 and is now a key event in the August Festival season, celebrated annually in Scotland's capital city. Biennial at first, the Book Festival became a yearly celebration in 1997.