South Coast Readers & Writers Festival 2026
Description
The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival returns to Thirroul over three days, 24–26 July, with a vibrant lineup of literary talent from rising local stars to international bestsellers.
Featuring Evelyn Araluen, Antoinette Lattouf, James Bradley, Michelle De Kretser, Tara Rae Moss, Andrew Pippos, Tim Flannery, Inga Simpson, Richard Glover, Kathryn Heyman, Debra Adelaide, Sara Haddad, Mark Tredinnick, Gary Lonesborough, Catherine McKinnon, Kate Holden, Judith Nangala Crispin, Aunty Barbara Nicholson and more.
Held in the Thirroul District Community Centre & Library, the Festival is a celebration of all things reading, writing and creativity on the South Coast of NSW. Choose from 12 unique sessions on Saturday and 10 sessions on Sunday, on topics ranging from crime fiction, history, young adult literature, poetry, environmental writing, publishing, memoir, literary journals and more.
Plus, author workshops, the launch of our latest Young Writers Collective Anthology, a journal-making class for kids and a FREE "The Library That Made Me" event on Friday night brought to you by the State Library of NSW.
There's something for everyone this year at the SCRWF!
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View the full program: southcoastwriters.org/program
Meet this year's guests: southcoastwriters.org/festival-authors
Select single session tickets on sale from Friday 10 July, 10:00am
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The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival 2026 is brought to you by South Coast Writers Centre, with help from Wollongong City Council, the University of Wollongong, the State Library of NSW, Sydney Review of Books, 5 Islands Press, and Create NSW. Our festival bookseller is Collins Booksellers Thirroul.
For more information visit our website, southcoastwriters.org/festival, and subscribe to our newsletter.
SCWC members can access a $10 ticket discount via the Discount Codes page on our website (member login required)
UOW students can access a 50% ticket discount (please email news@southcoastwriters.org)
50% hardship concessions are available for single session tickets only (please email news@southcoastwriters.org)
2026 Festival Program
- 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
FREE: The Library That Made Me
Celebrate the publication of The Library That Made Me: 200 Years of the State Library of NSW with guests Richard Glover, Judith Nangala Crispin, Mark Tredinnick and Alana Valentine. In a live discussion hosted by Phillipa McGuinness, these acclaimed guests will reflect on the libraries that shaped them as readers and writers. This is a free event, ticketed separately, for ages 18+.
- 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
FREE: Young Writers Collective Anthology Launch
Join us for the launch of the Young Writers Collective’s third anthology, Untestable Questions, created, edited and designed entirely by members of the Collective. Featuring poetry and prose readings by Nic Cathcart, Kit Fox, Holly Haisman, Ray Lee, Rhys Lorenc, Kirsty McInnes, Rebecca Monteleone, Jamilla Ravel and Katie Short, showcasing the distinct voices of a remarkable group of emerging writers. The Young Writers Collective is a workshop-based writing group for young adult writers from the Illawarra. In 2026 the YWC Anthology is proudly sponsored by Culture Bank Wollongong.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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