Southern Highlands Writers' Festival 2026

This winter, come and experience the cool climate of the Southern Highlands, the perfect setting for the 2026 Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival (SHWF). Now in its fifteenth year, the annual SHWF is one of the most popular and much-loved events on the Highlands’ calendar.

The 2026 SHWF will take place from Thursday 23rd July to Sunday 26th July at two venues. The Berkelouw Book Barn, Bendooley Estate in Berrima and the iconic Empire Cinemas in Bowral. Both are only 90 mins drive from Sydney and Canberra.

THE 2026 LINEUP

THURSDAY 23 JULY

Literary Dinner with Siang Lu and Bryan Brown AM in Conversation

6:30pm – 9:30pm
Berkelouw Book Barn, Bendooley Estate, Berrima

Join us for an unforgettable black-tie Literary Dinner at Berkelouw's iconic Book Barn. Savour fine food and wines amid thousands of books, as we celebrate 2025 Miles Franklin Award winner Siang Lu and his novel Ghost Cities and legendary Australian actor/author Bryan Brown and his latest book, The Hidden. An extraordinary evening of literature and elegance awaits!

FRIDAY 24 JULY

Alice Pung OAM in Conversation

10:30am – 11:30am
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Alice Pung OAM is an acclaimed Australian author, lawyer, and educator. Her beloved debut memoir Unpolished Gem, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. She has since built an extraordinary body of work, including Her Father's Daughter and Laurinda.

Yumna Kassab in Conversation

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Yumna Kassab's latest work is Goodbye My Love. Yumna’s books have been shortlisted for prestigious literary prizes, including the national Miles Franklin Literary Award. In 2023, Yumna was named the inaugural renowned Parramatta Laureate in Literature.

Ainslie Harvey in Conversation

2:30pm – 3:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Ainslie Harvey is the creator behind the viral internet sensation Hot History. Her latest work, Sisters of Scandal, contains mind-blowing tales of history's boldest and baddest women across centuries and cultures, celebrating power and defiance.

Virginia Haussegger AM in Conversation

4:30pm – 5:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Virginia Haussegger AM is an award-winning journalist and gender equity advocate. Her latest work, Unfinished Revolution, explores feminist action in Australia, from the 1970s Australian Women’s Liberation Movement to the 2021 March4Justice rally and beyond.

Andrew Upton - Live from London

7:30pm – 9:00pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Andrew Upton is a writer, director and former Co-Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company with wife Cate Blanchett. Andrew will be discussing his debut novel Krank Fuss live from his London base. Ticket price includes a choc-top or popcorn.

SATURDAY 25 JULY

Gail Jones in Conversation

10:30am – 11:30am
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Gail Jones is one of Australia's most celebrated writers. She is the author of eleven novels, recipient of numerous literary awards, widely read internationally and praised for lyrical, thoughtful prose. Gail’s latest work is The Name of the Sister.

Bri Lee in Conversation

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Bri Lee is the multi-award-winning, bestselling author of acclaimed non-fiction books Eggshell Skull, Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart. Her astonishing new novel is Seed.

Astrid Jorgensen OAM in Conversation

2:30pm – 3:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Astrid Jorgensen OAM is a choral conductor, composer, producer and entertainer who believes that everybody can sing. She is the founder and director of Pub Choir® and her new memoir is entitled Average At Best.

Saturday Night Live! Featuring Prof. Toby Walsh

7:30pm – 9:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Saturday Night Live! explores artificial intelligence through the world premiere of Written In Our Voices, an immersive performance followed by a conversation with leading AI expert Professor Toby Walsh. A truly engaging and thought-provoking event not to be missed. Ticket price includes a choc-top or popcorn.

SUNDAY 26 JULY

Lachlan Strahan in Conversation

10:30am – 11:30am
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Lachlan Strahan is a former diplomat and historian. In his latest book, The Curious Diplomat, Lachlan explores the Australian way of diplomacy and what Australia can do today to forge a path in a complicated and dangerous world.

Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks in Conversation

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Empire Cinemas Bowral

Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks’ work sits at the intersection of media, power and gender. Her latest book, The Right Hand contains fascinating conversations with chiefs of staff to the world’s most powerful people. Ticket price includes wrap party refreshments.

Booking Fees

Booking fees are charged by Humanitix and not by SHWF.

Hosting events using Humanitix directly contributes to funding a brighter future for disadvantaged kids around the world. With 100% of profits from booking fees going towards solving the world's most pressing issues. For this reason SHWF has chosen to use Humanitix as our chosen ticketing platform.

The Southern Highlands Writers' Festival acknowledges the Gundungurra and Dharawal peoples as the traditional custodians of this place we now call the Southern Highlands of NSW. We pay our respect to Elders, past, present and emerging.