Canberra Writers Festival is turning 10, and it’s marking the milestone with four days of books, ideas and conversations across the capital. 

Running from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October, this year’s festival brings together more than 110 events and 200 writers, journalists, thinkers, comedians and artists, with everything from politics and crime to fiction, memoir and kids’ storytelling on the program. 

 

Big Names and Big Conversations 

If your podcast feed is a chaotic mix of political analysis, gripping true crime and stand-up comedy, you’re in for a treat. 

For anyone interested in politics and current affairs, the program includes Niki Savva, Waleed Aly and David Speers, with sessions covering everything from democracy and political reporting to technology and global affairs. 

Crime fans can catch bestselling author Michael Robotham, while the broader literary line-up includes Pip Williams and international guests Susan Orlean and Andrew O’Hagan. 

Oh, and Judith Lucy is coming along too, bringing her latest adventures in wellness, psychics and psychedelics to the festival.

 

Something for Younger Readers Too 

The festival is also putting a major focus on kids and young adults, making it much easier to bring younger readers along rather than leaving the festival to the grown-ups. 

The program includes live drawing battles, manga workshops and interactive storytelling, with some of the biggest names in children’s and young adult fiction joining the line-up, including Andy Griffiths, Morris Gleitzman and Garth Nix.

 

Build Your Own Festival 

With events spread across venues including the National Library of Australia, National Archives, National Portrait Gallery, ANU and Verity Lane Market, it’s easy to build a whole day around the program. Catch a morning conversation, grab lunch nearby, then head into something completely different in the afternoon. 

Tickets are on sale now, with individual events and multi-event discounts available through the festival website. Some of the bigger-name sessions are likely to fill quickly, so it’s worth picking your favourites and locking them in early.

 

FESTIVAL INFORMATION: 

Location: Various venues across Canberra 

Dates/Times: Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October 2026 

Ticketing/Booking: Single tickets and packages available now via the festival website  

Find out more HERE