Melbourne Writers Festival Turns 40 with a Star-Studded Literary Celebration Including Jacinta Ardern, Yann Martel, and David Szalay

From cosy bar conversations to grand stages at Melbourne Town Hall, the city will pulse with storytelling, ideas, and imagination.

Melbourne is poised to become the beating heart of the literary world this May as the Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) marks its 40th anniversary with an electrifying four-day programme from 7–10 May. Over 150 artists will join the festivities, sharing word, story, and a love of literary across a intimate venues, halls, and stages in one of the greatest literary cities.

Melbourne Writers Festival

When: 7-10 May

Where: Various venues across Melbourne

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

 

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Under the theme Visions & Revisions, the festival promises to probe the stories we carry, the futures we dream of, and the revisions—both personal and collective—that shape us. Opening Night on 6 May will see original performances from Omar Musa, Don Watson, Ariana Reines, and Sophia Brous, alongside the announcement of The Age Book of the Year Awards.

A standout moment comes on 7 May when former Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand Jacinda Ardern shares her reflections on leadership in turbulent times. In conversation with Virginia Trioli, Ardern will unpack the challenges of political life, motherhood in the public eye, and offer guidance for a new generation of leaders. That same evening, international literary sensation R. F. Kuang will discuss her latest novel, Katabasis, exploring the power of speculative fiction and the perils of academia.

The festival’s international roster is dazzling. Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, returns to Australia to unveil Son of Nobody, while Booker Prize-winner David Szalay delves into his hypnotic novel Flesh, tracing one man’s life across Hungary and London. American novelist Susan Choi brings Flashlight, a sweeping family saga entwined with geopolitical intrigue, and Japanese literary stars Genki Kawamura and Mieko Kawakami present works that span tender fiction to noir-tinged explorations of society and friendship. Ukrainian-Canadian author Maria Reva and Palestinian writer Tareq Baconi confront war, displacement, and identity with daring narrative invention.

Closer to home, the festival champions voices that shape Australia’s cultural landscape. Activist and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame joins journalist Antoinette Lattouf to celebrate women who defy expectations in Women Who Win, while culinary icon Stephanie Alexander reflects on three decades of The Cook’s Companion. Thought-provoking discussions on politics, independent media, climate fiction, and the ethics of reading and writing feature writers such as Bruce Pascoe, Ray Norris, and Tony Birch.

The festival also celebrates innovation and inclusivity: Crip Stories presents narratives by disabled writers reclaiming voice and agency, Mother Tongue: Writing Matriarchies honours matriarchal storytelling, and Canadian-Australian Indigenous collaborations explore First Nations perspectives across land, waterways, and story.

Beyond panels and performances, MWF invites audiences to interact with literature in new ways: pedal-powered publishing at The Book Factory, cryptic crossword workshops with Minute Cryptic, and even a live onstage dating show, Human Love Quest. Walking tours, library events across the suburbs, and immersive installations such as Slow Read ensure the festival reaches all corners of Melbourne.

Festival Director Veronica Sullivan reflects: “Since 1986, countless hands, hearts, pens and minds have forged this festival’s legacy. You’ll be transported around the world, from the jungles of Borneo with Omar Musa, to a housing commission in Hungary with David Szalay, and to the very depths of Hell with R. F. Kuang.”

The Melbourne Writers Festival 2026 promises four days of insight, invention, and imagination—an unmissable celebration of literature in Australia’s most vibrant literary city.

For the full programme and tickets, visit mwf.com.au.