Professor Dawkins is due to present his new essay collection, Science in the Soul, during the five-day festival, which will be held from 27 September to 1 October.
First catapulted to fame thanks to his 1976 masterpiece on evolution, The Selfish Gene, he has since written a string of best-selling books, including The God Delusion.
Other big names appearing at the festival include mystery writer Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency crime fiction series, which has sold more than 20 million copies.
Meanwhile, Stef Penney will talk about her new book, Under a Pole Star, a feminist novel about whaling, exploring and falling in love.
Inspiring women in British history will be the subject of a presentation by radio presenter Dame Jenni Murray during the festival.
A household name for 30 years as the voice of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Dame Jenni will appear at the Opera House to talk about her new book, The History of Britain in 21 Women.
The festival will also feature award-winning novelist John Boyne, author of Holocaust novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, who will be talking about his new book, The Heart’s Invisible Furies.
