Let's chat with R.A. Spratt!

10:00am | Theatre | Recommended for ages 7 - 12

Join the bestselling and beloved author behind unforgettable characters and laugh-out-loud adventures for a wildly entertaining session packed with hilarious tales, behind-the-scenes secrets, outrageous imagination and plenty of audience fun.

Book launch: Before it was called science

Corey Tutt with Jo White and Hans Bachor | 10:00am | Level 4 | Recommended for ages 7 - 12 | FREE event

Bestselling author Corey Tutt is back to share more incredible stories of how Australia's First Peoples practised science long before it carried that name. Join Corey in conversation with Questacon’s Director Jo White and Mind in Residence Hans Bachor, for the release of his new book which follows his groundbreaking children's book The First Scientists.

Andy Griffiths, Bill Hope and The Gigantic Knucklehead

11:45am | Theatre | Recommended for ages 7 - 12 

Strap in for the funniest, wildest and most outrageous family event of the festival! Join the legendary author and illustrator as they return with the third laugh-out-loud adventure in their bestselling You & Me series: You & Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead.

Art fights the doomscroll!

Queenie Chan and Christof Bogacs, with Yen Eriksen | 11:45am | Level 4 | Recommended for young adults

Join two of Australia’s most talented visual storytellers as they talk about comics and manga as the ultimate weapon to fight the doomscroll. Dive into why the visual storytelling of comics and manga demands a completely different kind of brain power and how turning an actual page triggers empathy and deep focus.

Welcome to the multiverse of Amie Kaufman

In conversation with Kaaron Waren | 1:30pm | Theatre | Recommended for young adults

Join us for a wild ride through the internationally bestselling author's ever-expanding multiverse of stories. Discover the secrets behind pulse-racing adventures, jaw-dropping plot twists and epic world-building and characters you'll think about long after the final page.

Amazing journeys and extraordinary histories

Stephanie Owen Reeder and Danielle Binks with Rebecca Higgie | 1:30pm | Level 4 | Recommended for ages 7 - 12 

Two celebrated authors will discuss incredible lives, unexpected adventures, and the ways stories can reshape our understanding of the world.

Top 100 Australian books

Debra Adelaide, Mirandi Riwoe, John Morrissey and Julieanne Lamond | 3:15pm | Theatre

What has been running up the charts in ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Books over the festival weekend? What can we learn from the results? Which books lie close to the hearts of our panel? Get your summer reading list sorted! 

Climate wars and political intrigue

Chris Hammer, Rebecca Higgie and Michael Brissenden | 3:15pm | Level 4

This discussion will traverse non-fiction and fiction exploring the politics and human drama of climate change in our national capital and surrounding region. What do we see when we project into the future?  

Workshops in the Ferguson Room, Level 1

The art of dialogue

Presented by Jordan Prosser | 10:00am - 11:30am

Want to write dialogue that zings and sings on the page or screen? Join novelist and screenwriter, Jordan Prosser, as he shares his Top 10 Tips for writing killer dialogue that reveals your characters and builds the world of your story. 

Sense, memory and memoir

Presented by Kris Kneen | 12:30 - 2:00pm

Our senses and memories are precious keys to opening the doors of memoir. This workshop offers participants a unique opportunity to enhance their writing skills under the guidance of award-winning memoirist Kris Kneen. 

Manga workshop

Presented by Queenie Chan | 3:00pm - 4.30pm

Celebrate your creativity at this exciting manga workshop with acclaimed creator Queenie Chan, designed especially for young adults.  This hands-on session invites you to explore the art of manga through character design, expressive drawing and storytelling. 

Kids and family events at Icon Water Festival Lawn

Canberra's own shining stars: The 2026 CBCA Award winners

10:00am | Marquee | Recommended for adults and young adults | FREE EVENT, bookings required

The Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards are the most influential and highly respected literary award for children in Australia. This event showcases Canberra’s shining stars of the 2026 awards including Sandy Bigna, Eleri Harris and Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder OAM.

Morris Gleitzman: Dangerously Great Storytelling

In conversation with Lauren Smith | 11:45am | Marquee | Recommended for ages 7-12

Warning: this session contains dangerous levels of laughter and wildly unnecessary detours. Morris Gleitzman takes us behind the scenes of his writing life. Discover improbable adventures, surprising twists and more than a few skeletons. 

Fearless boys who make their own adventures

Corey Tutt, Jack Heath and Scott Woodard | 1:30pm | Marquee | Recommended for ages 7-12

Two celebrated authors discuss the memorable boy characters they loved growing up and how these adventurous heroes shaped the storytellers and creators they’ve become. 

The future of reading is the future of us!

Andy Griffiths, Morris Gleitsman and R.A. Spratt with Sue Whiting | 3:15pm | Marquee | Recommended for all ages

It’s official: young Australians aged 15-24 are reading more than ever. And reading isn’t just a hobby - it is the key to greater empathy, lower rates of loneliness and developing the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the age of AI misinformation that is upon us. Join three of Australia’s most beloved storytellers in conversation.

The National Library of Australia is proud to be a foundation partner of the Canberra Writers Festival.