About Us
Our Story
Founded in 2016, the Canberra Writers Festival is a much-loved celebration of books, ideas and storytelling, bringing writers and thinkers together with audiences from Canberra and beyond.
The Festival’s lively program includes author talks, panel discussions, book launches, masterclasses and performances, many held in Canberra’s iconic national cultural institutions.
You can enjoy events throughout the year, culminating in the major Festival each October, featuring more than 100 local, national and international authors and events for readers of all ages. The Canberra Writers Festival also delivers a dedicated program for primary and secondary school students across Canberra.
At its heart, the Canberra Writers Festival celebrates great writing and creates a place for diverse authors, thinkers and readers to come together, share ideas and be part of the conversation.
On Open Dialogue and Freedom of Expression
You’re invited to be part of a festival that fosters artistic expression and the respectful exchange of ideas. You’ll hear nation-leading discussions on a wide range of social, political, environmental and economic issues, alongside events that entertain and celebrate the playfulness and wonder of page-turning stories.
Great literature and storytelling require freedom of expression, care and responsibility. At the Festival, you’ll hear authors express their views and share their work, beliefs and life experiences, within the framework of anti-discrimination and other relevant Australian laws. You’re also invited to listen with care, curiosity and an open mind.
Theme for 2026: For the Love of Books
Join us for the 10th anniversary of the Canberra Writers Festival with our rallying theme: For the Love of Books. In a world where books are increasingly under threat, and screens and scrolls dominate- let’s celebrate books for offering expansive journeys that explore ideas and contemplate different ways of being. Books that transport us into the lives of others and through time like no other art form. Where we as readers live alongside the characters as we turn the pages and where we don’t just consume, but where our imaginations co-create.