Festival '26

A joyous and revealing conversation with Romy Ash, Trent Dalton and Antoun Issa recalling their most memorable first imes – from when they first thought they could be a writer, to landing a publishing deal, or what they'd change about their first book. With David Sly.

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Supported by MUD Literary Club

Join 2026 Miles Franklin-longlisted novelist Steve MinOn for an enlightening conversation about First Name Second Name, a spellbinding odyssey spanning four generations of family estrangements. With Suzy Freeman-Greene.

In her raw, daring autofictive debut, Stamford Hospital, Thammika Songkaeo explores what happens when a woman on the brink dares to confront the demons in her mind. Set in Singapore but emotionally borderless, it is a piercing portrait of burnout, resentment, and the silent rebellions that so often go unnoticed. With Ashley Hay.

See all the information for Inside Publishing day, including how to get tickets here.

Actor and writer Zoe Terakes invites us into their debut literary work Eros inspired by their Cretan heritage. Full of sex, water and rage, Terakes' stunning collection reimagines five ancient Greek queer myths. With Naima Brown.

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Supported by Hotel Marvell

Bundjalung storytellers and knowledge holders, Ella Noah Bancroft, Delta Kay, Dakota Ferier, share personal and collective stories of the ocean – its significance, power and gifts. With Naomi Moran.

Join Robert Forster, celebrated musican, songwriter, raconteur and co-founder of iconic band The Go-Betweens for a thoroughly entertaining rock n roll road trip with his fiction debut Songwriters on the Run. With Triple J's Like A Version creator Mel Bampton.

Walkley award-winning investigative journalist Debbie Whitmont unravels the true story of Australia's first political assassination and asks whether the conviction of Vietnamese refugee Phuong Ngo could be one of Australia's greatest miscarriages of justice? With Matthew Condon.

Join celebrated memoir and fiction writer Kris Kneen for a glorious exploration of identity and desire at the heart of their hotly anticpated new novel Rite Of Spring. With Nell Schofield.

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Supported by The Guardian

One of Australia’s most admired and widely-recognised people, Turia Pitt, is a bestselling author, a two-time Ironman and a humanitarian. Turia features in frank and funny conversation with Leila McKinnon about the joy of being selfish and the practical side of self-love.

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Supported by The Sunseeker

Acclaimed writers for young people Tristan Bankcs, Ruby Jean Cottle and Sarah Armstrong discuss the reading crisis in Australia, how it impacts their craft and how to engender a love of reading. With Sarah Armstrong.

Raise your voice in song for this joyous festival finale with Janet Swain's Big Voice Choir featuring special guests Shane Howard (Goanna) and Benja Roberts.

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