Canberra Writers Festival is this weekend: top sessions and where to eat, drink, and debrief
Posted on
It is a truth universally acknowledged that book lovers during a break between writers’ festival sessions must be in want of a bite to eat (and maybe a drink or two).
Perhaps that’s stretching the Austen quote a little too far, but my experience as a book festival attendee has taught me that you’re going to want some sustenance and caffeine to keep you going, as well as some time and space to debrief with your book club friends about the incredible session you just saw.
The Canberra Writers Festival is celebrating our city’s love of books from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October, and this year’s program is, well, huge!
It’s an absolute feast for book lovers with more than 100 events on the program!
To help you plan your perfect book club day out, we’ve pulled together some itineraries matching must-see sessions with nearby places to eat, drink, and chat so you can get the festival out of the group chat. And with more than half the events already sold out before the festival weekend, grab your tickets now so you don’t miss out!
Saturday
Photo credit: Ben Calvert
Meet at Verity Lane Market at 1 pm for Love, Career… Sadness: Cue Quarter-Life Crisis! where local author Emma Pei Yin will be chatting to Georgie Tunny and Josh Hortinela about their debut novels, Over to You and Hate You to Love You. This session promises a look at friendship, romance, and career in our twenties, as well as a peek behind the scenes of the TV and publishing industries and more than a few 90s romcom references.
At 3.30 pm it’s time for the millennials to shine at Millennial Despair: When You Just Can’t Even… This session between HerCanberra’s Erin Cross and novelist and screenwriter Jordan Prosser will discuss Jordan’s new novel Blue Giant, a savagely funny and tender work about millennial ennui.
There’s plenty of time between sessions to grab a late lunch or a drink together from the variety of vendors at Verity Lane Market, and if the weather is good, the outdoor seating will be a perfect place to sit and chat (or read!).
For a fun festival night-time experience, we recommend heading to Smith’s Alternative at 6.30 pm for Welcome to the Future!, where local horror writer Kaaron Warren will be hosting sci-fi writers Garth Nix, Charlie Jane Anders and Barbara Truelove for a discussion about what the future might look like.
At 8.30 pm, it’s the writers festival after dark at Smith’s Alternative as Briony Winchester leads a team of brave authors to create an entirely improvised rom-com live on stage in My Dirty Awkward Rom Com! Think meet-cutes, kisses, catastrophes and happily-ever-afters – anything could happen in this session, guaranteed to be full of laughs.
For food and drink, grab a hot drink or something from the bar, and Smith’s has you covered with a range of savoury and sweet eats to choose from if you’re after something light. If you’re looking for dinner, Briscola Italian is just a few doors down from Smith’s, or duck into Civic Asian Noodle House for a classic Canberra quick bite. To end your festival day over a drink, why not head down Odgers Lane to Molly for a 1920s speakeasy vibe, or head upstairs to Highball on London Circuit for a cocktail.
Sunday
Sunday at the Canberra Writers Festival is concentrated across a handful of iconic venues in the Parliamentary Triangle. One of the great things about this is that it’s easier than ever to switch between venues for the sessions you want to see.
To keep you going on an action-packed Sunday of festival sessions, in-house cafes at The National Library of Australia (Bookplate), The National Portrait Gallery (Portrait Café), The National Archives of Australia (Café Constitution) and Old Parliament House (The Courtyard Café) will be open for drinks and light meals across the day (check websites for opening hours at each).
Looking for something later in the day? The Jetty is just a short walk along the lake and has several food truck vendors to choose from, or Rosa’s is the perfect place to stop for pizza and wine.
What better way to start a Sunday with your girlfriends than with a session on girl-power? Meet at The National Portrait Gallery at 10 am for Faithful and Furious Sisters, where Sophie Green, Ayesha Inoon and Gabbie Stroud will be talking female-focused fiction – think angry wives, furious femmes, strong sisters.
Stay at The National Portrait Gallery for Curiosity and Philosophy of Chef Josh Niland at 11.45 am, a must-see for your foodie friends. Josh will be in conversation with Amanda Whitley about his journey from a kid who loved daytime TV cooking shows to a global superstar on the food scene as the fish butcher.
Take a short walk along the lake to The National Library of Australia for Welcome to The Multiverse of Amie Kaufman at 1.30 pm. Amie is a superstar of Australian Young Adult fiction, blending sci-fi and fantasy with fierce friendship and a touch of romance to create smart stories that are just as satisfying for adult readers as the teens they’re marketed for. Amie will be chatting with Kaaron Warren about her work, including her most recent novel Red Star Rebels (think The Martian meets Die Hard meets Home Alone!).
Canberra’s book lovers will be aware that ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Australian Books Countdown is happening over the same weekend as this year’s Canberra Writers Festival. Last year Canberra had the highest rate of voting of any state or territory, and if you’re keen to hear how this year’s countdown is looking, you must join Debra Adelaide, Mirandi Riwoe, John Morrissey and Julieanne Lamond for the Top 100 Australian Books session at the National Library at 3.15 pm. This is going to be the perfect session to help get your summer reading list sorted!
The 2026 Canberra Writers Festival is being held from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October, and will host more than 200 artists at over 100 events. For more information or to view the full program, visit canberrawritersfestival.com.au. Need more help planning your perfect festival experience? Check out the curated ticket packages.
