2026 Australian Literary Festival Calendar

An ongoing listing of literature-related events in Australia – offered without endorsement, so please do due diligence. Please note that dates may change; please check with the event. Feel free to contact me with additions and corrections.

2026

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 locals:

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

Also, try your state or district writers centres for contacts and support, and sign up to their newsletters. Industry body the Australian Association of Authors also may offer professional advice and connections.

WRITERS CENTRES (your first port of call for inquiries literary):

Marion, ACT
NSW WC, NSW
Hunter WC, NSW
Outback WC, Orana, 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

January

Jan 18: Big Book Energy Indie Signing Convention, Glenelg, SA. Self-published, indie/small press.

February

Feb 7: Festival of the Photocopier and Zine Fair, Melbourne, VIC. Zines
Feb 13-15: Blussh, Brisbane, QLD. Romance.
Feb 20-22: GenreCon, Brisbane, QLD. Romance, crime, spec fic – industry focus. Includes the Aurealis Awards.
Feb 21-22: Book Fair Australia, Melbourne, VIC. Gen. lit., market
Feb 28 – Mar 5: Adelaide Writers Week, Adelaide, SA. Gen. lit. Part of Adelaide Festival.

March

Mar 6-9: Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy, VIC. Musician cross-over, songwriters, poets.
Mar 19: Read To Me Day, international. Share the love.
Mar 19-22: Manly Writers Festival, Manly, NSW. Gen. lit.
Mar 21: A Romantic Rendezvous, Brisbane, QLD. Romance.
Mar 21-22 : Clunes Booktown Festival, Clunes, VIC. Gen. lit.
Mar 22: A Romantic Rendezvous, Sydney, NSW. Romance.
Mar 27-29: Newcastle Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW. General lit.
Mar 28: A Romantic Rendezvous, Melbourne, VIC. Romance.
Mar 28-29: Oz Comic-Con, Perth, WA. Pop culture.
Mar 29: A Romantic Rendezvous, Perth, WA. Romance.
Mar 30 – Apr 1: Somerset Storyfest, Gold Coast, QLD. Children’s, YA, gen lit.

April

Apr 11-12: Supanova, Gold Coast, QLD. Pop culture.
Apr 16-19: Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, Corryong, VIC. Bush poetry.
Apr 18-19: Supanova, Melbourne, VIC. Pop culture
Apr 23-26: Sorrento Writers Festival, Sorrento, VIC. Gen. lit.

May

May 2-4: Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival, Maleny, Nambour, Mapleton, QLD. Gen. lit.
May 7-10: Melbourne Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Gen. lit.
May 11-14: ALIA National Conference, Sydney, NSW Libraries.
May 15-17: Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, WA. Gen. lit.
May 15-17: Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival, Penola and Coonawarra, SA. Gen. lit. stream.
May 15-17: Melbourne Art Book Fair, Melbourne et al, VIC. Art/illustrated books.
May 18-24: Sydney Writers Festival, Sydney, NSW. Gen. lit.
May 21: Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA), Melbourne, VIC. Industry.
May 23: A Romantic Affair, Adelaide, SA. Romance.
May 27: National Simultaneous Storytime, national. Encouraging reading.
May 27-31: Words on the Waves, Central Coast, NSW. General lit.
May 28-31: NT Writers Festival, Garramilli/Darwin, NT. Gen lit.
May 29 – Jun 1: Swancon, Perth, WA. Spec fic.
May 30: Capricorn Coast Writers Festival, Yeppoon, QLD. Gen. lit.
May 30-31: Oz Comic-Con, Adelaide, SA. Pop culture.

June

Jun 5-6: Bellingen Writers Festival, Bellingen, NSW. Australian general lit.
Jun 5-8: Woodend Winter Arts Festival, Woodend, VIC. General lit.
Jun 6-7: Oz Comic-Con, Melbourne, VIC. Pop culture.
Jun 12-14: Williamstown Literary Festival (Willy Lit Fest), Williamstown, VIC. General lit.
Jun 13-14 (primary festival), 2-3, 5-6 (ancillary): Words Out West: Western Downs Readers and Writers Fest, Dalby & Chinchilla, et al., QLD. Schools, gen. lit.
Jun 15-16: Kyogle Readers and Writers Mini-Festival, Kyogle, NSW. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
Jun 19-21: Supanova, Sydney, NSW. Pop culture.
Jun 20: Falling For Fiction, Twin Waters, QLD. Romance.
Jun 27-28: Supanova, Perth, WA. Pop culture.

July

Jul 4-5 (online), Jul 11-12: Children’s and Young Adult Writers and Illustrators (CYA) Conference, Brisbane. Children’s and YA
Jul 11-12: Telling Tales Balingup, Balingup, WA. School kids 4-14.
Jul 23-24: StoryArts Festival Ipswich, Ipswich, QLD. Children’s. (Biennial)

August

Aug 15-16: Oz Comic-Con, Canberra, ACT. Pop culture.
Aug 21-23: Romance Writers of Australia Conference, Darwin, NT. Romance
Aug 28-30: Dunkeld Writers Festival, Dunkeld, VIC. Gen. lit.
Aug 29: Capricon, Rockhampton, QLD. Steampunk, pop culture.

September

Sep 9-13: Write Around the Murray, Albury, NSW. Gen. lit.
Sep 10-12: BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Online Festival, Sydney, NSW. Crime.
Sep 12-13: Oz Comic-Con, Sydney, NSW. Pop culture.
Sep 19-20: Oz Comic-Con, Brisbane QLD. Pop culture.
Sep 25-27: Northern Beaches Readers Festival, Avalon, NSW. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
Sep 29 – Oct 18: Melbourne Fringe, Melbourne, VIC. Lit performance element.

October

Oct 8-11: Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane, QLD. Gen. lit.
Oct 10-11: Western Port Writes, Somers et al, VIC. Gen lit.
Oct 15-25: Queenscliffe Literary Festival, Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, VIC. Gen. lit.
Oct 16-17: Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival, Belgrave. VIC. Gen. lit.
Oct 23-25: Berry Writers Festival, Berry, NSW. Gen. lit. (Biennial)
Oct 24-25: Sonic Poetry Festival, Melbourne and others, VIC. Poetry, spoken word, performance
Oct 29-30: Once Upon a Festival, Adelaide, SA. School based, children’s, YA
Oct 30 – Nov 1: Supanova, Adelaide, SA. Pop culture.
Oct 30 – Nov 1: Asylumfest, Beechworth, VIC. Horror, dark fantasy.
Oct 30 – Nov 1: Blue Mountains Writers Festival, Katoomba, NSW. Gen. lit.

November

Nov 6-8: Supanova, Brisbane, QLD. Pop culture.

December

Dec 3-5: Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) annual conference, Melbourne, VIC. Academic.
Dec 6-7: Oz Comic-Con Xmas edition, Melbourne, VIC. Pop culture.

Watch for these in 2026 (TBC):
These events have been held within the past two years or are pending, with dates or information to be confirmed for current year.

Speculative Fiction Festival, Sydney, NSW. Spec fic.
Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival, Huonville, TAS. Crime, mystery.
Celebrate Reading National Conference, Fremantle, WA. Kids.
Cairns Tropical Writers Festival, Cairns, QLD. Gen. lit.
Blak & Bright: The Victorian Indigenous Literary Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Indigenous.
Tasmania Reads, Hobart, TAS. Gen. lit., poetry, plays.
Writers at the Woolshed, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Environmental.
Queensland Poetry Festival, Brisbane, QLD. Poetry, spoken word.
Red Dirt Poetry Festival, Alice Springs, NT. Poetry, spoken word. (Biennial)
Perth Writers Weekend, Perth, WA. Reinvented and likely renamed by Perth Festival and run as a standalone.
Continuum, Melbourne, VIC. Spec fic, pop culture.
Mountain Festival, Macedon, VIC. Gen. lit., nature and place focus.
Storytellers Festival, Fremantle, WA. Kids, YA focus but all ages.
Sunshine Coast Fiction Festival, Maroochydore, QLD. Gen. lit.
Oz Asia Festival Weekend of Words, Adelaide, SA. Gen. lit., Asian/Asian Australian focus.
Inspired Readers Festival, Port Macquarie, NSW. Children’s, schools focus.
Australian Short Story Festival, Adelaide, SA. Short stories.
Giiyong Festival, Jigamy, NSW. Indigenous.
National Young Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW. Focus on writers 18-35.
Conflux, Canberra, ACT. Spec fic.
Sydney Jewish Writers Festiva l, Sydney, NSW. Jewish, outdoor poetry focus in 2025.
Tasmanian Poetry Festival, Launceston, TAS. Poetry.
Story Week, Sydney, NSW (primarily; some satellite programs). Poetry, gen. lit.
Headland Writers Festival, Tathra, NSW. Gen. lit.
Lines in the Sand, Maryborough and Hervey Bay, QLD. Gen. lit.
Festival of Fiction, Joondalup, WA. Gen. lit.
Canberra Writers Festival, Canberra, ACT. General lit.
Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival, Geraldton, WA. General lit.
Writers Group Convention, Brisbane, QLD. Writing.
Book Links StoryArts Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD. Children’s, industry.
Scribblers, Claremont, WA. YA, children’s.
Indigenous Literacy Day, nationwide. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander focus.
Emerging Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Gen. lit
Port Fairy Literary Weekend, Port Fairy, VIC. Gen lit.
Australasian Medical Writers Association Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW. Medical.
Writers Assemble!, Adelaide, SA. Gen. lit.
Gippsland Writers Festival, various, VIC. Gen. lit.
Orange Readers and Writers Festival, Orange, NSW. Gen. lit.
Mack Popcon, Mackay, QLD. Pop culture, writer stream.
Byron Bay Writers Festival, Byron Bay, NSW. Gen. lit.
Currumbin Crime Writers Festival, Currumbin, QLD. Crime.
Bendigo Writers Festival, Bendigo, VIC. Gen. lit.
Mudgee Readers’ Festival, Mudgee, NSW. General lit.
Children’s Book Week, national school-based events
Winterwords, Beechworth, Stanley, VIC. Gen. lit.
Local Word Writers Festival, Geelong, VIC. Regional writers, gen lit.
Words in Winter, Daylesford and surrounding towns, VIC. Gen. lit.
Kimberley Writers Festival, Kununurra, WA. General lit.
QPoetry, Brisbane, QLD. Poetry.
Melbourne Jewish Book Week, St Kilda, VIC. Jewish literature.
Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL) Conference, Adelaide, SA. Oz lit, academic.
South Coast Readers and Writers Festival, Thirroul, NSW. Gen lit
Perth Comic Arts Festival, Perth, WA. Comics.
Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, Mackay, QLD. Children, YA, schools.
Willoughby Literary Festival, Willoughby, NSW. Gen. lit.
Apollo Bay Wordfest, Apollo Bay, VIC. Gen. lit.
Phillip Island Festival of Stories, Cowes, VIC. Gen. lit.
Southern Highlands Writers Festival, Bowral, NSW. Gen. lit.
Library and Information Week, national. Libraries.
Poetry Month, national. Poetry.
Rare Book Fair, Melbourne, VIC. Collectables.
Australian Fairy Tale Society Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW. Fairy tales.
BookPeople Conference and Trade Exhibition (formerly Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) Conference and Trade Exhibition), Brisbane, QLD. Industry.
StoryFest, Milton region, NSW. Gen. lit.
Q-Lit Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Gen. lit., LGBTQIA+ focus
Regional Writers Rise Festival, Traralgon et al, VIC. Gen. lit.
Glen Eira Storytelling Festival, Glen Eira, VIC. Series of events. Gen. lit.
Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival, Sydney, NSW. Gen. lit., female focus.
Readers and Writers, Reef to Range, Ravensthorpe & Hopetoun, WA. Gen. lit.
Warrnambool Storytelling Festival, Warrnambool, VIC. Gen. lit.
Live and Local, Mudgee, NSW. Gen. lit. (Sydney Writers Festival add-on)
York Regional Writers Weekend, York, WA. Gen. lit.
Words in Winter Central Goldfields, Maryborough et al, VIC. Gen. lit.
KidLitVic, Melbourne, VIC. Kids and YA, industry.
Festival of Stories, Aitkenvale/Townsville, QLD. Gen. lit.
Hobart LitFest, Hobart, TAS. Gen. lit.
Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, VIC. Things Shakespeare.
Greek Australian Writers’ Festival of Sydney, Sydney, NSW. Gen. lit.
Orange Banjo Paterson Festival, Orange, NSW. Bush poetry, Banjo.
Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival, various locations within Brimbank city, VIC. Gen. lit.