An ongoing listing of literature-related events in Australia. Feel free to contact me with additions and corrections.
Watch for: previously held or pending, with dates or information to be confirmed for current year (TBC).
2021
Reach out (events lists):
- BUSH POETRY: The Australian Bush Poets Association maintains a list of events for bush poets, at times run in conjunction with other festivals.
- ROMANCE: Australian Romance Readers has a finger on the pulse of romance-related book events.
- MELBOURNE: Melbourne, as a City of Literature, has a calendar of events including workshops, launches and presentations.
- MELBOURNE: The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne has a busy program of author talks and panels year round.
Writers looking to hone their craft and connect with their peers, reach out to local groups. For example, some of my local:
- BENDIGO, Vic: Bendigo Writers Council has monthly author talks
- GEELONG, Vic: Geelong Writers and Scribes Writers are active groups
- BALLARAT, Vic: Ballarat Writers holds monthly meetings
If an internet search isn’t helpful, try your state or district writers centre for contacts and support. Industry body the Australian Association of Authors also may offer professional advice and connections.
WRITERS CENTRES (your first port of call for inquiries literary):
- ACT WC
- NSW WC
- Hunter WC, NSW
- Outback WC, Orana, NSW
- New England WC, Armidale, NSW
- Varuna (Blue Mountains, NSW)
- NT WC
- QLD WC
- SA WC
- TAS WC
- VIC Writers
- WA WC
- Katharine Susannah Prichard WC, Perth, WA
- Rockingham WC, Rockingham, WA
2021 EVENTS ARE BEING HELD UNDER THE CLOUD OF ONGOING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND DETAILS MAY CHANGE SUDDENLY.
Various events rather than a single one
Monthly: Melbourne Jewish Book Week, St Kilda, VIC. Jewish literature.
Talk series: Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival, Sydney, NSW. Gen. lit, by women.
Monthly talks: Disrupted Festival of Ideas, Perth, WA. Presenters include journalists and writers.
March to July: Maleny Celebration of Books, Maleny, QLD. Gen. lit.
Monthly ONLINE: Coal Creek Literary Festival, Korumburra, VIC. Gen. lit.
January
Jan 31 ONLINE: Mass Con, Adelaide, SA. Speculative fiction, pop culture.
February
Feb 5-28: Perth Festival, Perth, WA. Includes gen. lit.
Feb 8-10 ONLINE: ALIA Information Online conference, Sydney, NSW. Libraries.
Feb 13-21: Orange Banjo Paterson Festival, Orange, NSW. Bush poetry, Banjo.
Feb 20 ONLINE: Festival of the Photocopier and Zine Fair, Melbourne, VIC. Zines
Feb 25-27 + Mar 1-5 ONLINE : Voices on the Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD. Schools (YA, children’s) focus.
Feb 27: GenreCon, Brisbane, QLD. Romance, crime, speculative fiction, industry. (Biennial)
Feb 27 – Mar 4 (ONLINE COMPONENT): Adelaide Writers Week, Adelaide, SA. Gen. lit. stream.
March
Mar 5-7: Stories of Influence, Lake Tyers, VIC. Gen. lit.
Mar 6-7: Oz Comic-Con, Sydney, NSW. Pop culture.
Mar 11-13: Noosa Alive, Noosa, QLD. Gen lit stream.
POSTPONED TO 2022: Kids & YA Festival, Sydney, NSW. Kids, YA.
Mar 13-14: Oz Comic-Con, Brisbane, QLD. Pop culture.
Mar 13-20: Somerset Storyfest (was Somerset Celebration of Literature), Gold Coast, QLD. Children’s, YA, gen lit.
Mar 19: Read To Me Day, international. Share the love.
Mar 19-28: Tasmanian Poetry Festival, Launceston, TAS. Poetry.
Mar 24-26: Emergence creative festival, Margaret River, WA. Multi-media, cross-disciplinary. (Biennial)
Mar 25-28: Oracles of the Bush, Tenterfield, NSW. Bush poetry.
Mar 26-28: Melbourne Art Book Fair, Melbourne, VIC. Art/illustrated books.
Watch for:
Bookfest: Goulburn Reader Writer Festival, Goulburn, NSW. Gen. lit.
Canberra Womens Writers Festival, Canberra, ACT. Women, gen. lit.
April
Apr 8-11: Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, Corryong, VIC. Bush poetry.
Apr 10-11: Supanova, Melbourne, VIC. Pop culture.
Apr 16-18: Jane Austen Festival Australia, Canberra, ACT. All things Jane.
Apr 17-18: Supanova, Gold Coast, QLD. Pop culture.
Apr 23-24: Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Program, Newcastle NSW. Emerging.
Apr 23 – May 8: Shakespeare on the River, Stratford, VIC. Things Shakespeare.
Apr 26 – May 2: Sydney Writers Festival, Sydney, NSW. Gen. lit.
Apr 28: Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA), Sydney, NSW. Industry.
Apr 30 – May 2 (ONSITE STREAMING): SWF Live and Local, Huonville, TAS. Gen. lit.
Watch for:
Australian Storytellers Festival, Fremantle, WA. Kids, YA focus.
Ipswich Poetry Feast Poets Breakfast, Ipswich, QLD. School focus.
May
May 1-2: Boonah Writers Festival, Boonah, QLD. Gen. lit.
May 1-2: Clunes Booktown Festival, Clunes, VIC. Gen. lit.
May 3-9: Scribblers, Claremont, WA. YA, children’s.
May 7-9 (inc. ONLINE): Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane, QLD. Gen. lit.
May 7-9: Bendigo Writers Festival, Bendigo, VIC. Gen. lit.
May 8: Love YA, Brisbane, QLD. YA. Part of Brisbane Writers Festival. YA
May 14-16: Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival, Penola and Coonawarra, SA. Gen. lit. stream.
May 14-16: Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, WA. Gen. lit.
May 14-16: HeadLand Writers Festival, Tathra, NSW. Gen. lit.
May 14-30 (weekends): Queenscliffe Literary Festival, Queenscliff, Point Londsdale, VIC. Gen. lit.
May 17-23: Library and Information Week, national. Libraries.
May 19: National Simultaneous Storytime, national. Encouraging reading.
May 22-23: Jugiong Writers Festival, Jugiong, NSW. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
May 28-29: Readers and Writers Esperance Finale Weekend, Esperance, WA. Gen. lit.
Watch for:
Bayside Readers and Writers Festival, Highett, VIC. Gen. lit.
June
Jun 4-6: Denmark Festival of Voice, Denmark, WA. Includes poetry, spoken word, readings, talks.
Jun 5: Creative Kids Tales Writers Festival, Gymea, NSW. Childrens.
NEW DATE Jun 5-7: Swancon, Perth, WA. Spec fic.
Jun 11-13: Capricorn Coast Writers Festival, Yeppoon, QLD. Gen. lit.
Jun 11-14: Bellingen Writers Festival, Bellingen, NSW. Australian general lit.
Jun 11-14: Words on the Waves, Central Coast, NSW. General lit.
Jun 12 (ONLINE), 14: Australian Fairy Tale Society Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW. Fairy tales.
Jun 16-23: Winterwords, Beechworth, VIC. Gen. lit.
Jun 16-26 ONLINE: Emerging Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Gen. lit.
Jun 17-26 ONLINE: Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival, various locations within Brimbank city, VIC. Gen. lit.
Jun 18-20: StoryFest, Milton region, NSW. Gen. lit.
CANCELLED Jun 18-20: Williamstown Literary Festival, Williamstown, VIC. General lit.
Jun 18 – Jul 4: FAWQ Readers and Writers Festival, Moreton Bay region, QLD. Gen. lit.
Jun 19-20: Supanova, Sydney, NSW. Pop culture.
Jun 19 – Jul 4 (online): Glen Eira Storytelling Festival, Glen Eira, VIC. Series of events. Gen. lit.
Jun 20-22 (plus ONLINE): Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) Conference and Trade Exhibition, Melbourne, VIC. Industry.
Jun 22-24: Outback Writers Festival, Winton, QLD. Gen. lit.
Jun 25-27: A Literary Weekend at Blarney Books, Port Fairy, VIC. Gen. lit.
Jun 26-27: Oz Comic-Con, Adelaide, SA. Pop culture.
Jun 28-30 ONLINE: IPEd national editors conference. Editing, industry. (Biennial)
Watch for:
Continuum, Melbourne, VIC. Spec fic, pop culture.
Henry Lawson Heritage Festival, Gulgong, NSW. Bush poetry and all things Henry.
WordFest, Melbourne, VIC. Author talk series. Gen. lit.
2021 EVENTS ARE BEING HELD UNDER THE CLOUD OF ONGOING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND DETAILS MAY CHANGE SUDDENLY.
July
Jul weekends ONLINE: Children’s and Young Adult Writers and Illustrators (CYA) Conference, Brisbane. Children’s and YA.
Jul 2-3: Perth Comic Arts Festival, Perth, WA. Comics.
Jul 3-4: Oz Comic-Con, Melbourne, VIC. Pop culture.
Jul 10: Rockingham Writers Convention, Rockingham, WA. Industry.
Jul 10-11, (NEW DATE) Aug 21-22: Woodend Winter Arts Festival, Woodend, VIC. General lit.
Jul 14-16: Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, Mackay, QLD. Children, YA, schools.
Jul 16-18 (ONLINE ONLY): Mildura Writers Festival, Mildura, VIC. General lit.
Jul 16-18: Yarra Valley Writers Festival, Healesville, Vic. Gen. lit.
Jul 20-24 (ONLINE): Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL) Conference, online. Oz lit, academic.
CANCELLED Jul 23-25: Burdekin Readers and Writers Festival, Ayr, QLD. Gen. lit.
Jul 289 – Aug 2 ONLINE: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference, Sydney, NSW. Children’s. (Biennial)
POSTPONED TBC Jul 30-31: Shoalhaven Readers & Writers Festival, Nowra, NSW. Children’s.
Jul 30 – Aug 1: Corrugated Lines, Broome, WA. Gen. lit.
POSTPONED TBC Jul 31: Orange Readers and Writers Festival, Orange, NSW. Gen. lit.
Jul 31 – Aug 1 (ONLINE): KidLitVic, Melbourne, VIC. Kids and YA, industry.
Watch for:
Rare Book Week, Melbourne, VIC. Gen lit. Includes Rare Book Fair
Telling Tales in Balingup, Balingup, WA. School kids 4-14.
Melbourne Spoken Word and Poetry Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Spoken word, poetry, slam.
Phillip Island Festival of Stories, Phillip Island, VIC. Gen. lit.
August
Aug 1-31: Poetry Month, national. Poetry.
POSTPONED TO 2022 Aug 1-8: StoryArts Festival Ipswich, Ipswich, QLD. Children’s.
CANCELLED Aug 6-8: Byron Bay Writers Festival, Byron Bay, NSW. Gen. lit.
CHECK WITH ORGANISERS Aug 7-15: Words in Winter Central Goldfields, Maryborough et al, VIC. Gen. lit.
POSTPONED TO 2022 Aug 13-15: Cairns Tropical Writers Festival, Cairns, QLD. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
POSTPONED TBC Aug 18-22: Canberra Writers Festival, Canberra, ACT. General lit.
Aug 20-22 (inc ONLINE): Kimberley Writers Festival, Kununurra, WA. General lit.
CANCELLED Aug 21-22: Mudgee Readers’ Festival, Mudgee, NSW. General lit.
Aug 21 (ONLINE): Writers Unleashed (Sutherland Shire Writers Festival), Gymea, NSW. Gen. lit.
Aug 21-22 (ONLINE): Festival of the Photocopier, Melbourne, VIC. Zines
CANCELLED Aug 21-22: Woodend Winter Arts Festival, Woodend, VIC. General lit.
Aug 21-27: Book Week, national school-based events hosted by Children’s Book Council of Australia.
CANCELLED (some events continuing) Aug 26-29: NT Writers Festival, Alice Springs, NT. Gen lit.
CANCELLED Aug 28: CapriCon, Rockhampton, QLD. Steampunk, pop culture.
Aug 28: Salisbury Writers’ Festival, Salisbury, SA. General lit.
Aug 30 – Sep 4: Indigenous Literacy Week, nationwide. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander focus.
Watch for:
Armadale Writers Festival, Armadale, WA. General lit.
September
CANCELLED (ONLINE CONTINUES) Sep 3-12: Melbourne Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC. General lit.
Sep 4-26: Huon Valley Stories, Huonville, TAS. Gen. lit.
Sep 8-12 (inc. ONLINE): Write Around the Murray, Albury, NSW. Gen. lit.
Sep 10-11: Logan Writers Festival, Loganlea, QLD. Gen. lit.
Sep 10-12 ONLINE: Dubbo Writers Festival, Dubbo, NSW. Gen. lit, genre.
Sep 10-19: Perth Poetry Festival, Perth, WA. Poetry.
Sep 14: Australian Reading Hour, national. Reading promotion.
POSTPONED TO 2022 Sep 24-26: Newcastle Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW. General lit.
POSTPONED TBC Sep 24-26 Words in Winter Daylesford, Daylesford and surrounding towns, VIC. Series of general lit events.
Sep 24 – Oct 10: York Festival, York, WA. includes gen. lit. stream
Sep 25 – Oct 2 (ONLINE): Australian Muslim Writers Festival, online. Gen. lit.
Sep 30 – Oct 3: Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival, Geraldton, WA. General lit.
Sep 30 – Oct 3 (inc. ONLINE): National Young Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW. Focus on writers 18-35.
Sep 30 – Oct 17 (inc. ONLINE, CHECK FOR EVENTS): Melbourne Fringe, Melbourne, VIC. Lit performance element.
Watch for:
Blak & Bright: The Victorian Indigenous Literary Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Indigenous.
October
NEW DATES Oct 2-3: Supanova, Perth, WA. Pop culture.
CANCELLED Oct 2-4: Conflux, Canberra, ACT. Spec fic.
CANCELLED Oct 2-4: Write On Festival (formerly Flash Fiction Fun Weekend), Canberra, ACT. Industry.
Oct 8-10 (MOVED ONLINE ): Omega Writers Conference, Kingscliff, NSW. Christian.
Oct 8-10 (inc. ONLINE): Ubud Writersa and Readers Festival Perth, Perth, WA. Gen. lit.
Oct 8-10: Hobart Writers Festival, Hobart, TAS. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
Oct 9: National Bookshop Day. Events around the country to encourage book buying.
CANCELLED Oct 9: Giiyong Festival, Jigamy, NSW. Indigenous.
Oct 14-18 (MOVED ONLINE): Poetry on the Move, Canberra, ACT. Poetry.
17 October: Writers Group Convention, Brisbane, QLD. Writing.
NEW DATES Oct 22-23: Book Links StoryArts Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD. Children’s, industry.
CANCELLED Oct 22-24: Blue Mountains Writers Festival, Katoomba, NSW. Gen. lit.
Oct 22-24 (ONLINE): Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) Conference, Parramatta, NSW. Historical fiction. (Biennial)
Oct 27-29: Once Upon a Festival, Adelaide, SA. School based, children’s, YA.
Oct 29-30: Celebrate Reading National Conference, Fremantle, WA. Kids.
Oct 30 (ONLINE): Boundless, Bankstown, NSW. Focus on Indigenous, culturally diverse. (Biennial)
Watch for:
Heroines Book Month, Thirroul and district, NSW. Spec fic, historical..
Odyssey Literary Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Genre, industry.
Stories of Influence, Lake Tyers, VIC. Gen. lit.
Digital Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Gen. lit.
November
Nov 1-7: Story Week, online. Gen. lit.
Nov 5-7: Australian Short Story Festival, Adelaide, SA. Short stories.
Nov 5-7: In Other Words, Adelaide, SA. Gen. lit. Aus-Asia focus.
Nov 5-7 (27-28 Nov – ONLINE): Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival, Huonville, TAS. Crime, mystery.
Nov 6-7: Supanova, Brisbane, QLD. Pop culture.
Nov 8-28: Design Canberra – National Design Writing Conference, Canberra, ACT. Design + writing.
CANCELLED Nov 19-21: Word for Word: National Non-Fiction Festival, Geelong, VIC. Creative non-fiction, non-fic.
Nov 25-27 (ONLINE): Independent Publishing Conference, Melbourne, VIC. Indie publishing, inc. academic and student streams.
Nov 26: Australasian Association of Writing Programs one-day symposium, ONLINE. Academic.
Watch for:
Goulburn Comic Con, Goulburn, NSW. Comics. (Biennial)
Two Fires Festival, Braidwood, NSW. Inspired by Judith Wright; activism and arts/lit. (Biennial)
Speculate: the Victorian speculative writers festival, Melbourne, VIC. Spec.fic.
National Play Festival, Sydney, NSW. Theatre. (Biennial)
Reading Matters, Melbourne, VIC. YA. (Biennial)
Quantum Words Perth, Perth, WA. Science, creativity. (Biennial)
Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, Sydney, NSW. Jewish.
December
Dec 1-3: Southern Waters: A Creative and Critical Symposium, Adelaide, SA. Academic based.
NEW DATES Dec 2-5: BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Sydney, NSW. Crime.
Dec 3-5: Kwoorabup Writers Festival, Denmark, WA. Gen. lit.
NEW DATE, ONLINE: Australasian Medical Writers Association Annual Conference, Melbourne, VIC. Medical.
NEW DATES Dec 10-12: RWA Conference, Gold Coast, QLD. Romance
NEW DATES Dec 11-12: Supanova, Adelaide, SA. Pop culture.
2022
Feb 18-20: GenreCon, Brisbane, QLD. Spec fic, romance, crime; industry.
Feb 12-20: Orange Banjo Paterson Festival, Orange, NSW. Bush poetry, Banjo.
Mar 5-10: Adelaide Writers Week, Adelaide, SA. Gen. lit.
Mar 11-13: Scone Literary Festival, Scone, NSW. Gen. lit.
Mar 11-14: Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy, VIC. Musician cross-over, songwriters, poets.
Mar 12-19: Somerset Storyfest (was Somerset Celebration of Literature), Gold Coast, QLD. Children’s, YA, gen lit.
Mar 19: Read To Me Day, international. Share the love.
Mar 19-20 (city), 17-27 (regional): Melbourne Art Book Fair, Melbourne et al, VIC. Art/illustrated books.
Apr 1-3: Newcastle Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW. General lit.
Apr 1-3: Supanova, Melbourne, VIC. Pop culture.
Apr 7-10: Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, Corryong, VIC. Bush poetry.
Apr 8-10: Supanova, Gold Coast, QLD. Pop culture.
Apr 28 – May 14: Shakespeare on the River, Stratford, VIC. Things Shakespeare.
Apr 30: Swancon Not-a-con, Perth, WA. Spec fic.
Apr 30 – May 1: Boonah Writers Festival, Boonah, QLD. Gen. lit.
May 3-8: Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane, QLD. Gen. lit.
May 4-8: Scribblers, Claremont, WA. YA, children’s.
May 12-15: Bendigo Writers Festival, Bendigo, VIC. Gen. lit.
May 12-15: Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival, Penola and Coonawarra, SA. Gen. lit. stream.
May 13-15: Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, WA. Gen. lit.
May 16-19: ALIA National Conference, Canberra, ACT. Libraries.
May 20-22: HeadLand Writers Festival, Tathra, NSW. Gen. lit.
May 25: National Simultaneous Storytime, national. Encouraging reading.
Jun 3-5: Denmark Festival of Voice, Denmark, WA. Includes poetry, spoken word, readings, talks.
Jun 10-12 : The Children’s Book Council of Australia National Conference, Canberra, ACT. Kids, YA, industry. (Biennial)
Jun 17-19: Supanova, Sydney, NSW. Pop culture.
Jun 18-19: Williamstown Literary Festival (Willy Lit Fest), Williamstown, VIC. General lit.
Jun 25-26: Supanova, Perth, WA. Pop culture.
Jul 4-8: Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL) Conference, Hobart, TAS. Oz lit, academic.
Jul 13-15: Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, Mackay, QLD. Children, YA, schools.
Jul 14-17: Mildura Writers Festival, Mildura, VIC. General lit.
Aug 1-7: StoryArts Festival Ipswich, Ipswich, QLD. Children’s.
Aug 20-26: Book Week, national school-based events hosted by Children’s Book Council of Australia.
Aug 29 – Sep 2: StoryArts Festival Ipswich, Ipswich, QLD. Children’s.
Oct 21-23: Blue Mountains Writers Festival, Katoomba, NSW. Gen. lit.
Nov 5-6: Mountain Writers Festival, Macedon, VIC. Gen. lit., nature and place focus.
Nov 28-30: Australasian Association of Writing Programs annual conference, Sippy Downs, QLD. Academic.
Watch for:
Tamar Valley Writers Festival, Beaconsfield region, TAS. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
untitled Literary Festival, Stonnington, VIC. Gen. lit.
Red Dirt Poetry Festival, Alice Springs, NT. Poetry, spoken word. (Biennial)
Kids & YA Festival, Sydney, NSW. Kids, YA.
Queensland Poetry Festival, Brisbane, QLD. Poetry, spoken word.
Abbotsleigh Literary Festival, Sydney, NSW. Student focus. (Biennial)
2023
Jun 16-18: StoryFest, Milton region, NSW. Gen. lit.
