Richard Roxburgh, Jack Thompson, Virginia Trioli, Hannah Moloney, Stan Grant, Zoe Terakes, Michael Robotham, Tara Moss, Debbie Spillane and Bryan Brown.
These are just some of the Australian icons and storytelling masters coming to town for the 16th Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival (BWRF) on 5-7 June at the Bellingen Memorial Hall.
“The BRWF has grown into one of the country’s most distinctive regional writer’s festivals,” said Artistic Director Adam Norris.
“We have truly world-class talent in our main program, balanced by a wildly funny variety show that caps off the weekend.”
With just over a fortnight until opening night, demand is reaching record highs. Eight sessions have already sold out, with a dozen more listed as “Selling Fast.”
Mr Norris highlighted a few “hidden gems” that still have limited tickets available at www.bellingenwritersfestival.com.au
• Political Power & Personal Reflection: Bob Carr explores the machinery of global politics on Saturday with former High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Iam Kemish and political journalist Amy Remeikis, before diving into his moving memoir on the loss of his wife, Bring Back Yesterday, on Sunday morning.
• Welcome to Culture: Ground your weekend in history, art, and truth on Saturday morning. Gumbaynggirr Elder Uncle Gary Williams joins internationally acclaimed Bundjalung curator Djon Mundine for a vital, vibrant conversation on the ongoing narrative of Indigenous art and storytelling, moderated by Seth Jordan.
• The Crime Scene: Michael Robotham joins Bryan Brown and Adam Norris on Saturday to dissect the craft of the thriller, ahead of his intimate conversation with Debra Adelaide on Sunday.
• Rising Voices: Film and television actor Zoe Terakes (star of Marvel’s Ironheart) discusses queer love in ancient Greek myths in their book Eros, and their transition from the screen to becoming a vital literary voice.
“It’s incredible to see people visiting from right across the country,” Mr Norris said.
“More than ever, building spaces for people to share stories and discuss the issues that are impacting their lives is crucial.”
“I want the Festival and the Fringe to be entertaining, of course, and I think that is exactly what people are going to see here. But we also find ourselves in unusual, challenging times. Every community needs places where they can come together to laugh, to listen, and hopefully to learn more about each other.”
“That has been my hope for BRWF 2026.”
Mr Norris said local authors will be celebrated at a special event at Alternatives Bookshop on Friday 5 June.
Local schools also get involved in the lead-up to the Festival through its Schools Program, which brings the joy of storytelling to young minds across the Mid North Coast with a week full of interactive and inspiring sessions.
The main stage of cultural heavyweights includes Richard Roxburgh joining titan of the stage and screen, Jack Thompson, for a one-of-a-kind conversation, Bryan Brown, Stan Grant and Virginia Trioli.
Bryan Brown joined as Festival Patron in 2023, to help share and celebrate the incredible landscape of Australian literature – fiction, non-fiction and everything in between.
“It’s an interesting journey for a bloke who only read his first book at age 25 arriving as a Patron of the Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival a number of years later,” Bryan says. “The places and ideas that writers take us to widens our humanness. How lucky are we.”
The Fringe: A Free Carnival of Creativity
Just steps away from the main stage, Maam Gaduying Park will host the BRWF Fringe Festival. This free, open-air carnival features author showcases, open mic poetry, live music, dance, and local food vendors.
A major highlight of this year’s Fringe is a live table-read of Malcolm McFarlane’s screenplay, The Water Cart, featuring Australian acting royalty Jack Thompson, Brooke Satchwell and friends.
The Fringe events will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June.
