Newcastle Writers Festival

Newcastle Writers Festival is back and bigger than ever, and with support from our University as a major partner. The program, managed by alum Rosemarie Milsom and Dr Amy Lovat, features 155 writers and 95 ticketed and free events across Newcastle and surrounds, including at our campuses at NUspace and Callaghan, the weekend of Friday 27 - Sunday 29 March.

As Festival Director Rosemarie Milsom states: “The Festival and the University are both committed to creativity and critical thinking. When I first began planning the inaugural event in 2012, I felt strongly that the University - of which I am a graduate - was an essential partner. It has been a meaningful journey; one that has enlivened the Festival program and engaged our audiences." 

With a thriving inner-city presence at NUspace building, Watt Space Gallery and the Conservatorium of Music, the festival program boasts a stellar line-up of local, national and international authors and creatives, as well as featuring our talented staff and students.

The festival also creates exciting real-world learning opportunities for our creative writing students.  Students have participated as panelists and volunteers; they have also had opportunities to attend masterclasses hosted by guest writers. This has allowed them to make connections with nationally recognised writers and to have a platform for sharing their own work with large audiences.

Program highlights include:

- Read the Room, an outdoor reading party, which will be held on March 22 at Newcastle Ocean Baths.

- The ‘Radical Newcastle’ history walk on March 27 is a collaboration with the University of Newcastle.

- The largest Family Fun Day program since 2019 features a lineup of much-loved children’s writers, including Andy Griffiths, the Real Pigeons and Sally Rippin.

- International guests include British philosopher AC Grayling and US food writer Laurie Woolever, who worked as Anthony Bourdain’s executive assistant.

- A special event at Bartholomew’s on March 28 that celebrates the history of cocktails with Newcastle-raised, Melbourne-based Michael Madrusan, who has been bartending for 30 years and has written what is widely regarded as the most comprehensive cocktail recipe book ever published.

- Popular ABC journalist and producer Matt Bevan returns on March 29 with a special live recording of his Are You Listening? podcast.

- Words & Music returns on March 28. The event is curated by Nick Milligan and features local and visiting musicians who perform new work inspired by books written by festival guests. The lineup includes Jamie Hay, Symphony Rain, Liz Stringer, and Urthboy.

University of Newcastle’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Equity, Nathan Towney said the University was excited to continue its long-standing partnership with the festival.

“We’ve supported the writers festival for many years and each year we look forwarding to opening up our campus to the community and welcoming leading writers to our city,” Mr Towney said.

“Newcastle Writers Festival has become a major calendar event for Newcastle, bringing people together to share in storytelling, and celebrate the creativity and joy books bring to so many of us and we’re proud to be a part of that.”

View the full 2026 program.