Join us for this free event to discover the secrets of the elusive echidna.
There are few animals more unusual than the echidna – a spiky, egg-laying mammal that eats ants.
But some of the most striking things about echidnas are things most of us don't know. That they use their snout like a snorkel when they swim, that they can sense electromagnetic fields, that they have intriguingly complex brains, startling physical strength and 'backwards' back feet. That they go into torpor when conditions are poor and can survive fires by sheltering underground. And that during the mating season, male echidnas will line up behind a female, making cooing noises and forming an orderly echidna train, waiting for their chance to impress her with some very strange reproductive equipment!

What’s happening:

Echidna Talk: Dive into the fascinating world of echidnas with a captivating talk by Danielle Clode on one of Australia's most unique creatures.

Book Launch: Signed copies of Danielle's new book The Enigmatic Echidna will be available for sale.

Echidna-Themed Kids Activities: Fun and educational hands-on activities for kids centred around our spiky friends.

Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival 2026

Geraint F. Lewis (author of the forthcoming The Shortest History of Reality) will be on a panel event New Frontiers: Shaping our world through science and technology with Richard King (Brave New Wild) and David Gillespie (The Attention Recovery Plan), moderated by Bill Crozier. 

Geraint F. Lewis is a professor of astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy, part of the University of Sydney's School of Physics. He has published more than 500 papers across cosmology, galactic archaeology, gravitational lensing and the fundamental nature of the universe, and four books of popular science, including The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook and Where Did the Universe Come From?

Join us to open the 2026 Festival and celebrate 40 years of Melbourne Writers Festival.

Hear original readings and performances responding to this year’s theme, Visions & Revisions, from a lineup of extraordinary festival guests.

Featuring novelist, visual artist and poet Omar Musa, author and former political advisor Don Watson, poet, playwright and performing artist Ariana Reines, musician, composer and curator Sophia Brous, and the 2026 MWF First Nations curators: author Anita Heiss, journalist and broadcaster Daniel James, poet Evelyn Araluen and interdisciplinary artist and novelist Jessica Johns. 
 
Plus, The Age presents its Book of the Year awards for fiction and nonfiction. 
 
Come together to celebrate many visions and infinite revisions. 

The VCE Program offers Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the curriculum, under the guidance of renowned local authors.  

Throughout the day, students will hear from beloved poet, author and activist Tony Birch, acclaimed poet and novelist Maxine Beneba Clarke, and award-winning memoirist Alice Pung.  

The day will conclude with a no-holds barred Ask Me Anything session with the afternoon’s speakers, Clarke and Pung. These interactive sessions will encourage students to connect meaningfully with literature, storytelling and their own creative potential.  

The VCE Program Day runs from 10.00am – 2.30pm and tickets grant entrance to the full day (all four sessions). Between sessions, students can meet the authors, have their books signed and browse a selection of titles available for purchase (card only) at a Readings pop-up bookstore.

When booking, payment can be made via bank card or invoice at checkout. Please be aware that selecting the invoice option will create a reservation. Your booking will be confirmed once full payment has been received. 1 complimentary teacher ticket will be added automatically for each 20 students.

The MWF Schools 2026 VCE Program is proudly supported by the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, Faculty of Arts, the University of Melbourne.  

For the past decade, Queerstories has connected audiences across Australia. Now, the beloved LGBTQIA+ storytelling series returns to Melbourne Writers Festival for one night only.
Curator and host Maeve Marsden is joined by writers Tareq Baconi, Bob Brown, Nikita Gill, Zoe Terakes and Chris Tse. Each guest will share a story they want to tell but are never asked to – unexpected tales of pride, prejudice, resilience and resistance.

Bob Brown comes to Melbourne Writers Festival with his bold new book,  Defiance for a special live recording of the Good Weekend Talks podcast.  

For half a century, Bob Brown has been a fearless environmentalist and social justice campaigner – and a thorn in the side of those who would put profits before planet. Part memoir, part manifesto, part practical handbook for individual and collective action, Brown's latest book lays out why it’s more important than ever to speak up and fight for environmental and land justice.

Join Brown for a fireside chat, as he reflects on reasons for optimism, the irreplaceable beauty and value of nature and a lifetime of activism. With Konrad Marshall.

For the annual John Button Oration, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at UNSW and author of The Shortest History of AI Toby Walsh delivers an illuminating address exploring the current and future impact of AI on our society.

What went wrong in the AI race? What are the ethical implications of artificial intelligence? What can we expect from the world AI will shape?    

Join one of the world’s leading AI researchers for a deep dive into the opportunities, challenges and unexpected consequences posed by artificial intelligence.

Following his address, Walsh will be joined by Niraj Lal for a Q&A.

Join Bob Brown at Vision Australia Library for a fireside chat, as he reflects on reasons for optimism, the irreplaceable beauty and value of nature and a lifetime of activism.

For half a century, Bob Brown has been a fearless environmentalist and social justice campaigner – and a thorn in the side of those who would put profits before planet. Now, he shares his bold new book, Defiance: Stories from Nature and Its Defenders.

Part memoir, part manifesto, part practical handbook for individual and collective action, Defiance lays out why it’s more important than ever to fight for environmental and land justice. Join Brown at Vision Australia Library for a fireside chat, as he reflects on reasons for optimism, the irreplaceable beauty and value of nature and a lifetime of activism. With Kate Mildenhall.

Did you follow the latest literary scandal? Can you tell true Dickens from AI? Do you even read the news

Quick thinking and close reading take centre stage in this lively battle of literary wits. Play along with The Guardian’s wild and wonderful game show where two teams of writers – hosted by culture editor Steph Harmon – put their common, and not-so-common, knowledge to the test. Watch as they battle it out for the ultimate prize: bragging rights.
 
Don’t miss this enjoyable and deeply chaotic battle of the brains. With team captains Stephanie Convery and Jo Tovey joined by special guest contestants Robert Forster, Lally Katz, Sean Kelly and Niraj Lal.

What are the pathways to a future in which First Nations knowledge systems are centred, and communities are empowered to meet their own social, cultural and economic needs?

In this panel discussion, historian Julie Andrews OAM, Indigenous justice advocate Professor Eddie Cubillo, and writer and mathematician Dr JM Field come together with host Tony Birch.

Together, they’ll reflect on Indigenous ways of knowing, being and relating, and the importance of self-determined practice across fields as diverse as philosophy, mathematics, sociology, advocacy and law. Curated by Anita Heiss.

Ten Minutes. Five Voices. Infinite Possibilities.
Join us as we welcome five of our guest authors — 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay, philosopher and bestselling author AC Grayling, New York Times bestselling author and social philosopher Sarah Wilson, award-winning journalist, podcaster, and human rights advocate Antoinette Lattouf, and trailblazing environmentalist Bob Brown, each sharing ten-minute readings from their own work or pieces by writers that have touched them, resonated, and lingered deep in their cells well beyond the end of the page.

From intimate reflections to bold narratives, each reading will celebrate the transformative power of words — to challenge, console, spark hope, and ignite action. In uncertain times, we invite you to join us and be reminded why words still matter — now more than ever.

Begin the evening with a drinks reception featuring wines from festival partner Clairault Streicker, followed by a traditional Welcome to Country from the Undalup Association.

Join legendary environmentalist Bob Brown for a compelling conversation on Defiance, his powerful new collection of stories from the frontline of nature’s battles.

Drawing on over fifty years of activism, Brown reflects on the people, places and fierce moral choices that have shaped his life and work. With humour, warmth and unshakeable conviction, he celebrates courage, community and resistance in the face of corporate power and environmental destruction and inspires us all to keep fighting for the planet.

Hosted by David Ritter (Greenpeace)

Join environmental leader Bob Brown (Defiance) and authors Sarah Wilson (I Eat the Stars) and Katherine Johnson (Every Wild Soul) and poet and deep-sea researcher Prema Arasu (Vampire Squid) for a dynamic panel discussion.

These passionate climate advocates will share insights and experiences from their work confronting the climate crisis. Through thoughtful conversation, they will explore the challenges we face, the power of storytelling and activism, and practical steps to protect our planet. This session invites audiences to engage with fresh ideas and to find hope for a sustainable future.

Hosted by David Ritter (Greenpeace)
Tickets: $10 ($5 donated to Greenpeace)

Hope and Action
Join environmental leader Bob Brown (Defiance) and authors Sarah Wilson (I Eat the Stars) and Katherine Johnson (Every Wild Soul) and poet and deep-sea researcher Prema Arasu (Vampire Squid) for a dynamic panel discussion.

These passionate climate advocates will share insights and experiences from their work confronting the climate crisis. Through thoughtful conversation, they will explore the challenges we face, the power of storytelling and activism, and practical steps to protect our planet. This session invites audiences to engage with fresh ideas and to find hope for a sustainable future.

Hosted by David Ritter (Greenpeace)
Tickets: $10 ($5 donated to Greenpeace)

Join acclaimed environmentalist Bob Brown for an insightful conversation about Defiance, his powerful new collection of stories from the frontlines of environmental battles. Drawing on over five decades of activism, Brown reflects on the inspiring people, places, and tough moral decisions that have shaped his work and life. With humour, warmth and unwavering conviction, he celebrates the bravery, community spirit and resistance that challenge corporate power and environmental degradation, motivating us all to keep standing up for the planet.
 
Hosted by Brad Pettitt – WA Greens Parliamentary Leader
Q&A and book signing will occur after the author talk.

Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but it seems that every advancement in AI disconnects us further from our core qualities of creativity, humanity and empathy.

In this panel discussion, writer Anna Goldsworthy, author of the Quarterly Essay: On AI, self and culture, critic and author of Brave New Wild Richard King and Booker Prize–shortlisted author Steve Toltz, whose new novel A Rising of the Lights sees a man grappling with loneliness in a tech-dominated world, discuss the impact of AI on literature and culture.

Join Anna, Richard and Steve as they investigate how AI impacts our our ability to create and connect, in conversation with AI expert Toby Walsh.

Short stories are the delectable morsels of the literary world, able to capture potent parts of the human experience in pages.

In this panel discussion, three short story writers share their craft. Multi-award-winning writer Tony Birch’s latest Pictures of You collects his short fiction from the past two decades, while The Fireflies of Autumn: And Other Tales of San Ginese by Moreno Giovannoni spans the 20th century in a Tuscan town. Tony Tulathimutte’s international bestseller Rejection is an obsessive and ambitious collection for the contemporary internet age.

Discuss the often-overlooked form with Tony, Moreno and Tony. With host Carody Culver.

Three writers discuss how they conquered second novel syndrome to publish again after their successful debuts in this free panel event.

Moreno Giovannoni’s second book The Immigrants focuses on a family starting over with unspoken dreams and fears in a Victorian town. Madeleine Gray, internationally bestselling author of Green Dot, returns to themes of modern dating and relationships with Chosen Family. Award-winning author Andrew Pippos’s The Transformations tells an emotional story about endings and the chance of new beginnings.

Join Moreno, Madeleine and Andrew as they discuss the challenges and successes of their second books, with host Amy Sambrooke.

Join us at Harry Hartog Burnside to celebrate Danielle Clode’s new book, The Enigmatic Echidna: Secrets of the World's Most Curious Creature. Danielle will be in conversation with Professor Michael Jennions.

There are few animals more unusual than the echidna – a spiky, egg-laying mammal that eats ants. But some of the most striking things about echidnas are things most of us don't know. That they use their snout like a snorkel when they swim, that they can sense electromagnetic fields, that they have intriguingly complex brains, startling physical strength and 'backwards' back feet. That they go into torpor when conditions are poor and can survive fires by sheltering underground. And that during the mating season, male echidnas will line up behind a female, making cooing noises and forming an orderly echidna train, waiting for their chance to impress her with some very strange reproductive equipment!

In The Enigmatic Echidna, biologist and award-winning author Danielle Clode follows the echidna on its eclectic path through the Australian landscape. Equal parts surprising, amusing and enlightening, it is an irresistible journey into their unique and beautiful world.

The pursuit of truth is a noble ideal, but what if the truth is larger, weirder or worse than we imagined?

In this Festival favourite event, ABC presenter Annabel Crabb and writer David Marr lead opposing teams in a saucy and suggestive comedy debate to answer the pertinent question of our time: Can we handle the truth? Hear arguments from reporter Matilda Boseley, comedian and drag artist Reuben Kaye and comedians Rhys Nicholson and Jennifer Wong. Hosted by Yumi Stynes.

Hear Annabel, David, Matilda, Reuben, Rhys and Jennifer gauge our appetite for the wild, unbelievable, unpredictable and sometimes unsavoury truth.

Book a babysitter and alert the group chat because you're not going to want to miss this night of indecent innuendo. Recommended for ages 15+

Join Founding Editor of The Saturday Paper and editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media Erik Jensen to discuss the latest news with special guests.

Hear from Australian journalist and broadcaster Geraldine Doogue, and Canadian political columnist and commentator David Moscrop, in conversation with Erik.

Join Founding Editor of The Saturday Paper and editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media Erik Jensen to discuss the latest news with special guests Brigid Delaney (The Seeker and the Sage) and columnist Sean Kelly.

Bob Brown, Australian Environmentalist and former Leader of the Australian Greens, and once resident of Trunkey Creek, joins us for this special event.

2pm – Film Screening: THE GIANTS

From a seedling to forest elder, THE GIANTS interweaves Bob Brown’s extraordinary life with the story of the ancient forests he is fighting for, featuring award winning cinematography and stunning animation.

3.30pm – Defiance: Bob Brown in conversation

Bob Brown joins Jen Barry on the BMEC stage to talk about his book, Defiance. Drawing on his experiences celebrating and defending nature, Bob shares stories to galvanise, uplift and inspire.

4.30pm – Book signing with Bob Brown in the BMEC foyer

The mainstay event in the Sydney Writers’ Festival program and the Australian political calendar returns.

Festival favourite and renowned political analyst Barrie Cassidy returns with his professional pals to review a year of international negotiations, widespread protest, renewed economic and environmental crises and a slew of new policy decisions.

Get the experts’ opinions with writer and broadcaster Waleed Aly, award-winning columnist Sean Kelly, Chief Political Analyst at The Australia Institute Amy Remeikis and acclaimed political writer Niki Savva. In conversation with host Barrie Cassidy.

In a world of misinformation, AI hallucinations and international cover-ups, the truth feels more elusive than ever.

Without a secure foundation of shared knowledge and institutions to support it, the basis of our society and culture is under threat. In this panel discussion, experts across technology, journalism and philosophy share their perspectives on the value of truth today. International correspondent Barbara Demick (Daughters of the Bamboo Grove), philosopher A.C. Grayling (For The People), Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales (The Seven Rules of Trust) and AI researcher Toby Walsh (The Shortest History of AI) share their insights.

Join Barbara, A.C., Jimmy and Toby in conversation with ABC Radio National’s Natasha Mitchell (Big Ideas).

Sit in for an evening of stirring words from five of our country’s finest thinkers at the 2026 Words on the Waves Writers Festival Opening Address.

Reflecting on the 2026 festival theme Take the Time this exciting event will be hosted by:

• Former leader of the Australian Greens, trailblazing environmentalist Bob Brown.
• Multi-New York Times and Amazon best-selling writer Sarah Wilson. 
• Booker-shortlisted author of A Fraction of the Whole, Steve Toltz
• Indigenous knowledge leader and founder of the Firesticks Alliance, Victor Steffensen, and; • Viral social media sensation, Jack Toohey.

Don’t miss this inspiring event, which also launches the festival’s sixth celebratory year here on the Central Coast.

Doors 6:30pm for a 7pm SHARP start.

Story Club is a live storytelling show packed with special guests, brilliant stories and lots of laughs.
For this Words on the Waves festival edition, our brave guests David Marr, Brigid Delaney and Toni Jordan – alongside intrepid hosts Osher Günsberg and Zoe Norton-Lodge – will share true tales to the theme ‘Take the Time.’

Bob Brown, in conversation with Natalie Kyriacou

Trailblazing environmentalist, and former leader of the Greens party, Bob Brown will share his tale of Defiance. Leave uplifted, inspired, and touting a battlecry or two.

Niki Savva, in conversation with David Marr

No one knows the Canberra hallways of power better than award-winning political commentator Niki Savva.
This one-time staffer to John Howard and Peter Costello has eye-popping stories to spare, most recently illuminated in her book Earthquake: the election that shook Australia.

Amy Remeikis and Sean Kelly. Moderator: Jacqueline Maley.

What does Labor stand for today? On the 30th anniversary of John Howard coming to power, what has he left us with? This riveting #AusPol panel explores our political leaders and their legacies, with Quarterly Essay 100:The Good Fight author, Sean Kelly, and analyst Amy Remeikis.

Ursula Dubosarsky, Kate Holden and Jennifer Mills.

Join three literary virtuosos – Jennifer Mills, Ursula Dubosarsky and Kate Holden – to hear more about magic, mythology, and humanity’s relationship with nature. A Concise Compendium of Wonder radically reimagines fairytales while essay collection The Ruin of Magic asks ‘what is home?’

Lucinda Holdforth and Elizabeth Finkel.

Go beyond conventional wisdom to drill into hard-to-swallow truths with these two eminent thinkers. Former speech-writer Lucinda Holdforth posits that our obsession with longevity is a threat, while science journalist Elizabeth Finkel reminds us of the value of evidence-based, expert-informed debate.