Calendar of Australian writers’ festivals for 2022

With face-to-face events now back on the calendar, we’ve recently seen successful Writers’ Festivals staged in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, as well as many of the other lockdown-displaced festivals that were moved to earlier this year. But there are still plenty more to come. So, if you’re motivated to seek out the next ‘hit’ of literary inspo, we’re here to help – with a handy calendar of the remaining festivals of 2022.

(Be sure to bookmark this list as it will be updated as new events are announced.)

Derwent Valley Writers’ Festival, TAS
27–29 May 2022
The inaugural Derwent Valley Writers’ Festival is a celebration of all things story, held in the beautiful Derwent Valley just half an hour north of Hobart. They invite story-lovers of all ages and abilities to gather in the historic setting of the Barracks Art Gallery for a weekend of local literary fun.

BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Online
5x Thursdays 6-7pm: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 June 2022
The BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival is an annual event that explores what crime can tell us about human beings today and in the past. Speakers include writers, reporters and film-makers, and professionals from the justice system such as detectives, judges and psychologists.

South Coast Writers Festival, Wollongong NSW
3–5 June 2022
Readings, conversations, panels, and book launches in venues across Wollongong Town Hall, Library, and Art Gallery. Discover new Australian writing by talented authors in our region and beyond including Jane Caro, Dinuka McKenzie, Scott Ludlam and many more.

Words on the Waves Writers Festival, Umina NSW
3–6 June 2022
The inaugural Words on the Waves Writers Festival will be held on the scenic Central Coast, NSW with storytelling and energising conversations, book
signings with your favourite authors, workshops, a kids’ program and more.

Henry Lawson Festival, Grenfell NSW
9–13 June 2022
Grenfell hosts the annual Henry Lawson Festival on the June long weekend. The festival promotes and recognises aspiring Australians in their artistic endeavours. Entries are received nationally for verse, short story, painting and photography, and performers travel vast distances to participate in the festival year after year.

Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival, Bellingen NSW
10–12 June 2022
With a focus on contemporary Australian writers, this festival will be presenting an exciting line-up of literary talent, workshops, readings, and displays over the June long weekend in this picturesque NSW river town.

Greek-Australian Writers’ Festival, Little Bay NSW
12 June 2022
The 40th Greek Festival of Sydney is devoting a day to presentations of recently-published books in English by Greek-Australian writers. Although very different in style and content, all the books are united by common themes of migration, displacement and identity.

Emerging Writers Festival, Melbourne VIC
15–25 June 2022
This is one of Australia’s most established and well-respected literary festivals – existing to develop, nurture and promote Australia’s new writing talent, creating platforms for connecting writing communities and their audiences.

NT Writers Festival, Darwin NT
23–26 June 2022
Held annually, this festival’s location alternates between Darwin and Alice Springs – this year it’s in Garrmalang Darwin – taking place across four days at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in The Gardens and emphasising Australia’s cultural and linguistic diversity through unique immersive experiences.

Kids and YA Festival, Lilyfield NSW
25 June 2022
Now in its eleventh year, the 2022 Kids & YA Festival will be bigger and brighter than ever before. This year’s festival will examine emerging trends, engage with celebrated authors, and offer informative and inspiring sessions on writing for children and young adults.

Storytellers Festival, Fremantle WA
26 June 2022
Taking place at the newly built Fremantle Library, this year the festival features a stellar artist lineup including the Noongar singing group Madjitil Moorna, plus award-winning YA and children’s authors Writers of all stages and ages will also get the chance to pitch their own story ideas to a panel of writers and Fremantle Press editors!

CYA Conference 2022, Online
Every weekend in July 2022
From children’s board books to fiction novels for adults, CYA provides professional development sessions for new and established writers and illustrators. The 2022 conference runs online every weekend in July with workshops, full-day masterclasses, editor bootcamps and assessments sessions conducted by published writers and industry professionals.

Whitsunday Voices Youth Lit Festival, Mackay QLD
13–15 July 2022
The Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival provides a unique opportunity for students and educators in and around Mackay, to meet and learn from some of Australia’s most acclaimed children and young adult authors, presenters and performers.

Mildura Writers Festival, VIC
14-17 July 2022
Held in July, the Mildura Writers Festival presents four days of words, food and wine with Australian and international writers. Throughout the weekend invited guests and audience members intermingle freely sharing an experience that provides thoughtful and challenging ideas about writing and literature in general.

Burdekin Readers’ and Writers’ Festival, Ayr QLD
22–24 July 2022
The focus of the “Ignite Your Mind” Burdekin Readers’ and Writers’ Festival has always been to bring together Australia’s best authors so residents and visitors can enjoy an intimate weekend of words, while also enjoying the delights of this beautiful region.

Canberra Writers Festival, ACT
10–14 August 2022
After two years of pandemic mayhem, a broad range and popular line-up of authors whose work and words will engage, inform, challenge, and inspire. Across more than 60 live events, the festival will once again offer a diverse and dynamic range of international, national, and local literary talent.

Cairns Tropical Writers Festival, QLD
12–14 August 2022
This biennial event brings together a regional community of writers and readers with Australian and internationally revered authors and celebrities, who inspire us and feed our literary minds. For national and international visitors, it is a cultural experience that allows them to touch the inspirational heart of the region in an environment of immense natural beauty.

Romance Writers of Australia Conference 2022, WA
12–14 August 2022
Since 1992 Romance Writers of Australia Inc has held an exciting National Conference in August, bringing together more than 350 aspiring, emerging and established authors for professional workshops, networking, fellowship, and continuing education, to say nothing of dress-up parties and events! This year’s event is in Fremantle, WA.

Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, Bondi NSW
20 August – 14 September 2022
The Sydney Jewish Writers Festival is an annual event showcasing a diverse range of contemporary Jewish stories, authors, and themes from around the world. The festival is well-attended each year especially by literature lovers, as well as individuals who are interested to hear from some of the world’s most renowned authors.

Byron Writers Festival, Byron Bay NSW
26–28 August 2022
This year at a new site in the picturesque North Byron Parklands, you can expect to hear from your favourite authors, discover new talented writers and listen to conversations with some of our greatest thinkers on the topics that matter now.

Melbourne Writers Festival, VIC
2–11 September 2022
With a vision of being Australia’s boldest literary festival, Melbourne Writers Festival brings writers and readers together to be inspired, challenged and thrilled by an intelligent, rousing and diverse program of books and ideas.

Writers Unleashed (The Sutherland Shire Writers’ Festival), NSW
3 September 2022
Writers Unleashed (The Sutherland Shire Writers’ Festival) is back in 2022 with an exciting line-up of author talks, workshops and presentations – stay tuned for more information about this local festival with a big heart!

Dubbo Writers’ Festival, Online
9-11 September
An opportunity for Outback Writers’ Centre members to have their work commented on by industry professionals. If you have a polished first chapter of your unpublished novel or memoir, imagine it being read aloud to a panel of three publishers. How long will it survive before all three panelists say STOP? Will your whole chapter be read without interruption?

Scribblers Festival, WA
13–18 September 2022
The Scribblers Festival is held annually to inspire children about the importance of books and creativity for understanding and communicating with the world around them. Bringing together a cast of authors, illustrators and other creative minds to tell their tales and reveal what goes into making them.

Write Around the Murray Festival, Albury NSW
14–18 September 2022WAM is a five day festival of reading, writing and storytelling held in the vibrant regional city of Albury on the Murray River. It attracts world-class authors and presents eclectic and high-calibre events, spirited conversation and community celebration.

Northern Beaches Readers Festival, NSW
23–25 September 2022
Already with more than 30 authors lined up, this event is focused on connecting readers with popular authors. The festival will feature some of Australia’s leading authors in panel discussions, intimate ‘in conversation’ events and much more!

The York Festival, WA
24 September – 9 October 2022
The York Festival Writers Program is part of the larger festival held during wildflower season in the iconic town of York, in the Avon Valley, Western Australia. This year’s events are still being finalised – bookmark the site to stay updated!

Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival
29 September – 2 October 2022
The City of Greater Geraldton regional library is excited to host the Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival to the seaside city of Geraldton. Event details will be announced on their site soon!

High Country Writers Festival, Glen Innes NSW
8–9 October 2022
The High Country Writers Festival is an independent annual celebration of books and writing, held at ‘The Makers Shed’ on iconic Waterloo Station, it’s a true taste of rural Australia that promises you’ll come away invigorated!

Berry Writers Festival, NSW
21–23 October 2022
Three days of inspiration in the beautiful ‘town of trees’. Panels and conversations with well known, local and emerging authors. Author signings, workshops and social events. More than two dozen authors already confirmed – including A.L. Tait!

Blue Mountains Writers Festival, Katoomba NSW
21–23 October 2022
Book lovers, writers and thinkers will come together for live events and panel talks, digital livestreams, literary dinners, childrens’ events, and online and in-person workshops. Expect food for the mind, heart and soul with over multiple stimulating and exciting events.

Book Links StoryArts, Brisbane
22-23 October 2022
This two day conference for writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians promotes excellence in children’s literature. The festival aims to offer workshops and master classes, and the opportunity to obtain feedback on pitches, manuscripts and portfolios. There will be key panel sessions with editors, agents, authors and illustrators and focused sessions with book creators.

Headland Writers Festival, Tathra NSW
28–30 October 2022
Headland Writers Festival is a new literature event for the Far South Coast featuring conversations with authors, industry forums, workshops, performances, live music and more. Be sure to save the dates!

Mountain Writers Festival, Macedon VIC
5–6 November 2022
Place. Story. Nature. Unique in Australia, Mountain’s environmental focus is not just a theme, but the festival’s entire purpose now and into the future. The two-day festival will include author panels and in-conversation events showcasing novels with regional settings, environmental science writing, Indigenous storytelling, nature writing, and cli-fi.

Do YOU know of an event that belongs on this 2022 list? Get in touch with us and let us know!