15 to 18 October 2026
Various venues
With a theme of For the Love of Books, this year’s festival features 113 events including panels, talks and entertainments covering social, political, environmental and economic issues as well as delving into the enjoyment of literary and popular fiction and poetry.
There is an extensive children’s and YA component too.
The festival begins on the evening of 15 October at the National Library Theatrewith a panel of international and national writers who have dedicated their lives to their love of literature – Andrew O’Hagan, Anna Goldsworthy, Siang Lu and Sophie Gee. They will share their reflections on the formative books that shaped them, insights into their writing lives, and hopes and fears for the book at this moment in human history.
It ends on Sunday 18 October at the National Library with a free listening party to both celebrate the end of the festival and listen to the final countdown of ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Australian Books.
Tickets can be booked for individual sessions and the program explored at: 2026 Festival Program – Canberra Writer Festival 2026