The time has finally come, and the streets of Bellingen are beginning to fill as the 2026 Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival gets underway!
The Festival has been making its presence felt across the region this week, with authors including Andrew Daddo and award-winning Corey Tutt visiting local schools as part of the Festival’s Schools Program. With more than 30 schools participating, over 4000 students have already been engaged, inspired and entertained ahead of the festival weekend.
The Festival officially kicks off on Friday 5 June, with several sessions already sold out. However, there’s much more to the weekend than the main program in the Bellingen Memorial Hall.
FRIDAY
For the first time, the Festival will begin with a free Local Author Showcase at Alternatives Bookshop, from 4:30pm – 6pm. This intimate evening will feature five local writers sharing stories from across the region and beyond. Audiences will hear about the hidden history of the Nambucca Valley, life on the frontlines of Australian education, the art and philosophy of a local digital artist, stories that bring local animals and waterways to life for young readers, and fiction inspired by Gumbaynggirr Country. It’s a celebration of the voices and stories that make this region unique.
SATURDAY
While the Memorial Hall fills with audiences eager to hear from speakers such as Tracey Holmes, Bob Brown, Tara Moss and Stan Grant, plenty more will be happening around town.
Directly opposite the Hall, in Maam Gaduuing Park, The Fringe Stage will present an exciting mix of conversations and performances, including panels with local songwriters and non-fiction writers, as well as a celebration of the Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative’s 40th anniversary. Audiences can also enjoy performances by the Budaabang Bari dancers, and local alt-folk favourites Darkwood.
Close by, Bellingen Library will once again host community-focused activities throughout the weekend. Writer and designer Rachel Grisewood will lead two free “Writing for Writing’s Sake” workshops, inviting participants to explore creative writing through prompts and imagination-driven exercises. Whether you’re an experienced writer or simply curious, the workshops promise to inspire fresh ideas and help you create stories of your own.
Families can also enjoy Children’s Storytime, featuring songs, rhymes and stories for children aged three to seven.
Just off Church St, The Stables will also host a free exhibition from local artists, Get Fact, in addition to a ticketed experimental print workshop.
SUNDAY
The weekend continues on Sunday, with even more opportunities to participate and explore. Visitors can begin the day at the library with Yoga in the Stacks at 8am or learn the craft of lyric writing with songwriter Tony Rowley during a workshop at The Stables.
In a Festival first, at midday the Citizens Room at Maam Gaduying Park will host a live table reading of Place, a contemporary stage drama by Malcolm McFarlane, featuring Jack Thompson and BRWF Patron Bryan Brown. They will be joined by Zac Burgess, Isaiaha Kelly, Gabrielle Hammond and Mayada Oso for what promises to be a truly special event. The reading is free to attend, although spaces are extremely limited.
The Fringe Stage will also feature a thought-provoking discussion on regenerative farming with Rachel Ward, Georgina Baker and Nidya Bellido, alongside an actors’ panel exploring the journey of creating characters from page to stage. The panel will feature Amy Bradney George and Seton Pollock from Et Tu Theatre, actor and writer Nick Boshier, and screenwriter Courtney Collins. Sydney duo The Darling Hearts will also be taking to the stage to share their latest soulful alt-country tunes.
With sold-out sessions, world-class speakers, local talent, workshops, performances and free community events, the 2026 Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival promises to be one of the most vibrant celebrations of stories, ideas and creativity the region has ever seen.
For more information about event times and tickets, visit bellingenwritersfestival.com.au.
