What not to miss at the Canberra Writers Festival 2026

Posted on 28 August, 2026

More than 110 events, 200 artists and hundreds of books across four days – the countdown to the 2026 Canberra Writers Festival is on!

One of the most exciting events on our literary calendar, the Canberra Writers Festival will be taking over the city from Thursday 15 until Sunday 18 October, transforming the Parliamentary Triangle into a hub celebrating the magic of books.

The festival brings together Australian and international authors, bestselling novelists, political thinkers, comedians, journalists, children’s writers and illustrators – and features some of the country’s most exciting new voices. The 2026 festival is extra special, marking the 10^th anniversary year.

To celebrate the milestone moment, this year the Canberra Writer’s Festival also has a powerful theme: For the Love of Books.

Artistic Director Andra Putnis says that at its heart, it’s all about reminding people why books matter.

“People often tell me how much joy and relief books bring them. They share memories of favourite books read years ago and wish they had more time for reading,” she says.

“For the Love of Books is about taking a stand and making that time. It’s about coming together to celebrate the books and authors we already love, discover something completely unexpected and share the excitement of brilliant conversations.”

“At a time when our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions, books give us the space to think and reflect. They allow writers and readers to explore ideas with nuance, complexity and imagination – and I think celebrating and protecting that kind of storytelling has never been more important.”

With so much happening, we’ve pulled together a bumper guide with some festival highlights. And with something for all ages and every kind of reader, there are plenty of opportunities to both honour the precious books you love and discover something new!

If you love local stars and Canberra connections

This year’s program is a celebration of authors who not only live in Canberra, but also those whose lives and books have connections to the ACT and surrounds. Chris Hammer, Karen Viggers, Jack Heath, Ludy Ridge, Saskia Beudel and Amy Remeikis are just some of the names you’ll recognise, along with Canberra-raised bestselling fantasy author Garth Nix.

Other local highlights include award-winning writer Mirandi Riwoe bringing A Short History of Longans to the National Archives on Sunday 18 October – with parts of the story set in nearby Queanbeyan – and Petronella McGovern (who lived in Canberra for 14 years). She’ll be returning with her latest work after setting her debut novel Six Minutes around Weston Creek and the Brindabella Mountains.

Looking for even more Canberra connections? Rebecca Higgie’s futuristic political thriller The Book of the After features scenes in Parliament House and Kingston, while Johanna Bell recalls the birds of Canberra before it’s too late in Department of the Vanishing. Check out the full program to see when and where you can catch these authors!

If you’re looking for something female-focused

This year, the Canberra Writer’s Festival program is packed full of some incredible female voices.

Women of Crime on Friday 16 October will see Jane Caro, Naïma Brown and Petronella McGovern come together for an unmissable conversation about women-centred fiction and what fictional stories can teach us about the society we really live in.

On Saturday 17 October, bestselling author Pip Williams will be talking about her new book about an English nurse and a German doctor and the Australian artist who captures their secret love, while Mother Rage will see Lauren Novak, Ilka Tampke and Karen Viggers come together to talk about mum rage, and the stigma that keeps mums quiet.

Angry wives, furious femmes and searching sisters are uniting during Faithful and Furious Sisters, where Gabbie Stroud, Ayesha Inoon and Sophie Green explore women of all ages who want to create something else for themselves, while The Way Women Lead celebrates books that speak boldly about the vital role of women in leadership roles across the media, economics, history and space and technology sectors. Go along to hear a panel conversation between Elise Stephenson, Sita Sargeant, Catie Bradbear, Melissa Bray and Amy Remeikis about the way women lead and why it matters more than ever.

If you’re having an existential crisis

Who isn’t? On Saturday 17 October, Verity Lane is hosting two events that will make you feel less alone.

At 1 pm, Love, Career…Sadness: Cue Quarter-Life Crisis will see Georgie Tunny, Josh Hortinela and Emma Pei Yin come together to celebrate quarter-life and everything that comes with it. Then, at 3.30 pm, HerCanberra’s Erin Cross will be in conversation with Jordan Prosser in Millennial Despair: When You Just Can’t Even, where he will read from, and reflect on, his savagely funny and tender work about millennial ennui.

Whether you’re experiencing deep inner conflict where you question the meaning of life, your personal identity, and your purpose or you’re just looking for a laugh, these events will deliver in spades.

If you’re looking for something family-friendly

The Canberra Writers Festival has plenty for kids of all ages! In fact, on Saturday 17 October, the Icon Water Festival Lawn will be a Family Friendly Festival Hub, so you can spend a whole day celebrating books.

Start the morning by listening to the Woden Valley Youth Choir as they honour the role of rhythm, repetition and music in helping with those very first steps into literacy, before heading off to enjoy one of the many events happening.

At 12 pm, Sue Whiting and Danielle Binks will discuss the memorable girl characters they loved growing up and how these amazing heroines shaped the writers they’ve become in Fearless Girls Who Make Their Own Adventures, while Deadly Science, Deadly Storytelling will celebrate First Nations Children’s authors with Corey Tutt and Marly Wells in conversation with Lisa Fuller.

Little readers will love story time sessions with Jemima Parker, Maura Pierlot, Sue Whiting, Krys Saclier and Nicole Godwin and Young Adults also have something to look forward to with The Future Of Fiction Is Fan, where Amie Kaufman and Garth Nix will be in conversation with Charlie Jane Anders about the power and importance of fan fiction, where it might go next and how it just might save us from AI.

Sunday 18 October will also have plenty for the kids to do with Let’s Chat with R.A. Spratt, the launch of Before It Was Called Science and Andy Griffiths, Bill Hope and The Gigantic Knucklehead all happening at the National Library of Australia!

If you want something unexpected

My Dirty Awkward Rom Com! on Saturday 18 October should be at the top of your list. Come along to watch Briony Winchester and a brave team of local and interstate authors – including Alyx Gorman and Josh Hortinela – create an entirely improvised rom-com live on stage.

Ever wondered how you survive reality TV? Catch Survivor legend Stephen Fishbach at Verity Lane where he’ll join fellow author and contestant on Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn, Wai Chim, to shed light on the entertainment machine of reality TV and its creative triumphs, heartbreaks and devastations during How Do You Survive Reality TV?

And for those who can’t resist some old-fashioned trivia, the Canberra Times Literary Trivia at Louie Louie on Saturday 17 October promises to be a lot of fun. Hosted by comedian Chris Ryan, there will be prizes to be won – including bundles of books!

If you love food as much as a good book

Because why choose between the two? On Friday 16 October, join Durkhanai Ayubi, Lucy Ridge and Sita Sargeant at Stepping Stone Café for She Who Tastes, Knows: Food & Storytelling. During the event, they will be talking about how cooking can preserve cultural memory, empower women to share their stories and create sustainable livelihoods. Your ticket will include canapés, a three-course dinner and the author talk.

Pop Sunday 18 October into your diary to catch international award-winning chef, restaurateur and author, Chef Josh Niland in conversation with HerCanberra’s Amanda Whitley in Curiosity and Philosophy of Chef Josh Niland. Known for his practice of cooking fish with little waste, go along to hear how, as a young kid, Josh followed his curiosity and instincts all the way to becoming a global superstar, revolutionising how we cook, transport, age and store fish.

If you want to think 

Big conversations about politics, democracy, education, social equity, media, AI and technology are all taking place at the Canberra Writer’s Festival this year.

Harry Hobbs, Stephen Young and Royce Kurmelovs will be in conversation about pseudolaw, sovereign citizens and conspiracy movements in Outlawed: The Rise of Sovereign Citizen Ideology, while George Megalogenis and Matt Bevan will be talking about the shocks that must change how we think about Australia in the 21st Century in Australia In The World.

For those interested in learning about how debates over free speech, identity and equality of opportunity are transforming our politics, make sure to catch Waleed Aly, Niki Savva and Jordan McSwiney in Political Rupture: Identity, Equality and Opportunity. And don’t miss former Media Watch host and Walkley Award-winning journalist Paul Barry in a live Follow the Money podcast recording with Ebony Bennett during The Big Steal, where they’ll ask: why do we buy into ‘corporate saviour’ myths?

If you want to get hands-on

Have you ever dreamed of writing your own book? The Canberra Writer’s Festival will give aspiring and established writers opportunities to learn directly from leading authors and illustrators including Michael Robotham, Kris Kneen, Queenie Chan and Christof Bogacs.

Make sure to book tickets early, because these sessions are expected to sell out quickly.

For more information or to view the full program, visit canberrawritersfestival.com.au

Images supplied.