Bookshop, Library & Festival Events – May 2026
| Date | Event Host | Event Details |
| 1 | Petersons Bookstore | LAUNCH: A Single Witness by Christine Balint Time: 10am Venue: in store, Mornington |
| Croydon Library & Affirm Press | Kate Solly, author talk The Paradise Heights Miniautre Railway Bust-Up Time: 2pm Venue: Croydon LIbrary | |
| Merribek Libraries | Book doof & book swap Time: 6pm Venue: Brunswick Library | |
| Readings Books | A Little Unwell: Kerry Jewell in conversation with Katherine Collette hosted by Zachary Pryor Time: 6pm Venue: The Oratory, Abbotsford Convent | |
| Readings Books | LAUNCH: My Wonderful Disgrace School Ball with Angourie and Kate Rice Time: 6pm – 8pm Venue: Church of All Nations | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Mantle by Romy Ash with Tony Birch Time: 8pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of A Single Witness by Christine Balint Time: 6pm Venue: Readings Hawthorn | |
| 2 | Lerderderg Library | LAUNCH: Henry Goes Bush by Wayne Marshall Time: 12.30pm Venue: Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh |
| Port Phillip Libraries | Casey Nott Five Stages of Grace in convo with Anne Freeman Time: 2pm Venue: Albert Park Library | |
| 2-4 | FESTIVAL | Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival, Maroochydore, QLD |
| 4 | CBCA & Yarra Libraries | Karen Comer in conversation with Danielle Binks Time: 6pm Venue: Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library |
| 5 | Kingston Libraries | Author Talk: Kirsty Manning Murder in Paris Time: 6.30pm Venue: Cheltenham Library |
| Paperback Bookshop | Salon Series: Erin Vincent in conversation with Anna McDonald Time: 6pm ONLINE EVENT | |
| Amplify Bookstore | LAUNCH: The Graduate by Rebecca Lim with Kate Cuthbert Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, West Melbourne | |
| Brunswick Bound | Rebirth by Antoun Issa with Nahed el-Rayes and Hawraa Kash Time: 6pm Venue: Soundworks Music Studio | |
| 6 | Geelong Libraries | Lisa Wilkinson The Titantic Story of Evelyn Time: 6pm Venue: Geelong Library and Heritage Centre |
| Yarra Libraries | Author Talk: Someone Like Me — What is Autistic writing? Hear from Caitlin McGregor, Shadia Hancock and CB Mako from the landmark UQP anthology for a wide-ranging conversation on voice, identity, and craft. Joined by co-editor Clem Bastow Time: 6.30pm Venue: Fitzroy Town Hall Reading Room | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the aunch of Challenging Anzac, edited by Mia Martin Hobbs Carolyn Holbrook and Joan Beaumont (New South Publishing) Time: 6pm Venue: Readings Carlton | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Thornbacks by Chloe Wilson Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (PRH) | |
| Brunswick Bound | Book launch for The Missing Mother by Mali Cornish Time: 6pm Venue: Brunswick Artists’ Bar | |
| 7 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (PRH) |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Money, Money, Money by Rachel Davies & Angela Meyer (A&U NZ) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Avenue Bookstore | Jason M Jones celebrates Entrecote Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Albert Park (with sparkling wine & hors d’oeuvres) | |
| YPR Libraries | In Conversation with Michelle Wright Good Boy (A&U) Time: 7pm Venue: Watsonia Library | |
| 7-10 | FESTIVAL | Melbourne Writers Festival |
| 8 | Northern Books | An Evening with Lisa Wilkinson The Titanic Story of Evelyn Time: 7pm Venue: Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine |
| Stories By The Sea | Book Launch: A Single Witness, Christine Balint Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mt Eliza | |
| 9 | The Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: The Dream Keeper by Anna Walker Time: 2pm Venue: in store, Brunswick East |
| Collins Books Croydon | Author Talk and Afternoon Tea: Kirsty Manning Murder in Paris Time: 2pm Venue: Cafe Ora Do’Oro, Croydon | |
| Book Launch | Launch: The Next Wave, Fiona Basile Time: 2.30pm Venue: Frankston Arts Centre | |
| 11 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Bookshop of Buried Pasts by Sarah Clutton with Katherine Collette Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (A&U) |
| Kingston Libraries | Tony Birch in conversation with Bec Kavanagh Time: 6.30pm Venue: Parkdale Library | |
| 12 | Readings Books | Hear Belinda Alexandra in conversation about her new book, The Italian Correspondent (HC) Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn |
| Moonee Valley Libraries | Author Talk: Christian White The Long Night Time: 7pm Venue: Sam Merrifield Library | |
| Mary Martin Bookshop | Author Mystery Night – guest author & wine! Time: 6.15pm Venue: meet at Mary Martin Queen Vic Market | |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the author: She Shapes History with Sita Sargeant (HG) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Croydon Library | |
| Stonnington Libraries | Author Talk: Jonathon Butler The Boy in the Dress Time: 6pm Venue: Malvern Library | |
| Kingston Libraries | Maxine Beneba Clarke in conversation with Jacinta Parsons Time: 6.30pm Venue: Cheltenham Library | |
| 13 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of after War by Dzenana Vucic (UQP) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Readings Books | Jane Caro in conversation about her essay Rich Kid Poor Kid (Black Inc) Time: 6pm Venue: Cinema Nova | |
| Royal Historical Society of Victoria | Book Launch: I’ll Walk Beside You, Peter Mitchell Time: 6pm Venue: RHSV | |
| YPR Library | Author Talk: Clara Brack The Secret Landscapes (Upswell) Time: 7pm Venue: Ivanhoe Library | |
| Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Books in Bars: Belinda Alexandra The Italian Correspondent Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel | |
| 14 | Port Phillip Libraries | Liz Hicklin Kiss and Cry in conversation with Jacinta Parsons Time: 6pm Venue: St Kilda Library |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Periodic Bitch by Emma Hardy (A&U) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings Books | Hear Matt Bevan discuss If You’re Listening: Declassified Time: 6.15pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Phantom Days by Angela O’Keeffe (UQP) Time: 6.30pm Venue: State Library | |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the Author of The Duke – Anna Cowan (Pan Mac) Time: 6.30pm Venue: Realm Library, Ringwood | |
| Poetica Bondi | How to Read a City with Elizabeth Walton & Richard Lawson Time: 6pm Venue: Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf | |
| 14-24 | BOOK FAIR | NGV Melbourne Art Book Fair |
| 15 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of two glorious collections of poetry, Nowhere Near Damascus – Poems by Steve Meyrick and All That Could Be Lost by Melanie Jansen. Launched by Tim Loveday Time: 8pm Venue: Carlton |
| The Leaf Bookshop | Victroria Purman The Marriage Trap in convo with Laura Dean (HC) Time: 7pm Venue: in store, Ashburton | |
| 15-16 | FESTIVAL | Kyogle Writers Festival, NSW |
| 15-17 | FESTIVAL | Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival WA |
| 15-17 | FESTIVAL | Melbourne Art Book Fair |
| 15-17 | FESTIVAL | Write Here, Lake Macquarie, NSW |
| 16 | The Little Bookroom | Book Launch: One Last Night by Patrick Guest & Jess Racklyeft (HG) Time: 2pm Venue: In store, Brunswick East |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the author – Melissa Manning Frogsong Time: 10.30am Venue: Rowville Library | |
| 16 | FESTIVAL | Addi Road Writers Festival, Marrickville, NSW 2026 theme is ‘Truth Beauty’ |
| 17 | Geelong Libraries | Author Event: John Bartlett – Love and its penalties: a memoir Time: 2.30pm Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library |
| 18 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Politics of Being Me by Annastacia Palaszczuk Time: 6.30pm Venue: State Library (HC) |
| Mornington Libraries | Author Talk: Fiona Hardy Old Games Time: 11am Venue: Mornington Library Time: 2pm Venue: Hastings Library | |
| 18-24 | FESTIVAL | Sydney Writers Festival NSW |
| 19 | Boroondara Libraries | In Spite of You: In Conversation with Patrick Lenton and Charlee Brooks Time: 7pm Venue: Hawthorn Arts Centre, Hawthorn |
| Moonee Valley Libraries | Author Talk: Emily Stewart Sensible Money Time: 6pm Venue: Niddrie Library | |
| Port Phillip Libraries | Author talk with Caroline De Costa The Rosemary Time: 6.30pm Venue: Emerald Hill Library | |
| 20 | Bayside Libraries | Sarah Bailey Click in conversation with Vikki Petraitis Time: 6.00pm Venue: Brighton Library |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (Hodder Staughton) | |
| Readings Books | Hear Thom Woodroofe discuss his new book, Power, Prosperity & Planet, with Zoe Daniel (Monash Uni Press) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Overachiever’s Reset by Fleur Marks Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| 21 | Your Library Ltd | Meet the author: Bob Rich The Hole in Your Life: Grief and Bereavement Time: 2pm Venue: Healesville Library |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the author – Kate Mildenhall The Hiding Place Time: 6.30pm Venue: Rowville Library | |
| Brunswick Bound Bookshop | After Hours with Ender Baskan, Elena Gomez, Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle, Connor Weightman Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Brunswick | |
| The Bookbird Geelong | Literary Salon: Michael Winkler, Wayne Marshall, Rhett Davis Time: 6m Venue: in store, Pakington St., Geelong | |
| Stories by the Sea | Edwina Preston Sororicidal in convo with Dr Stephanie Wescott Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mt Eliza | |
| ABIA | Awards Night! Venue: Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne | |
| 23 | The Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: Oh No! by James Foley (Penguin) Time: 2pm Venue: in store, Brunswick East |
| Stella Prize | Stella Day Out featuring Debra Dank, Sofie Laguna, Christy O’Brien & Cecile Shanahan Time: 11am – 3pm Venue: Echuca Library | |
| 25 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Win the Night to Win the Day by Penelope Barr Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn (HG) |
| 26 | The Wheeler Centre | Florence Knapp The Names with Beverly Wang Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre |
| 27 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Ruiners by Ellena Savage (S&S) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Readings Books | Hear Raewyn Connell in conversation about her book, Trans Lives Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Northern Books | Antoun Issa will be in conversation with Mel Fulton discussing his deeply personal book Rebirth Time: 6pm Venue: The Taproom Shedshaker Brewery, Castlemaine | |
| Mornington Libraries | Author Talk: Marguerita Stephens with Aunty Fay The Years of Terror Time: 1.00pm Venue: Mornington Library | |
| 27-31 | FESTIVAL | Words on the Waves Writers Festival, Central Coast NSW |
| 27 May – 1 June | FESTIVAL | Denmark Festival of Voice, Denmark, WA |
| 28-31 | FESTIVAL | NT Writers Festival, Darwin NT |
| 28 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Later, Only Love Remains by Leah Swann Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (HC) |
| Readings Books | Hear Lucy Ridge and Dani Valent in conversation about Fed Up Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (Monash Uni Pub) | |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the Author: Spiri Tsintziras Twelve Golden Gifts Time: 1.30pm Venue: Lilydale Library | |
| Torquay Books | In Conversation with Hannah Gould: How to Die in the 21st Century Share (T&H) Time: 6pm Venue: In store, Torquay | |
| Brunswick Bound | Eat the Book with Mara Ripani The Baker’s Percentage & Jaclyn Crupi Time: 6pm Venue: Brunswick Kitchen | |
| 29 | Readings Books | Hear Michael Williams and Steve Toltz in conversation about his new book, A Rising of the Lights (PRH) Time: 6.15pm Venue: Church of All Nations |
| 29 May – 1 June | FESTIVAL | Island Readers and Writers Festival, Hobart TAS The inaugural Nipaluna / Hobart Readers and Writers Festival will be a vibrant four-day celebration of literature, story-telling and creating connection, taking place in the heart of Hobart. |
| 30 | The Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: The House That Walked Away by Simon Howe (HG) Time: 2pm, Venue: in store, Brunswick East |
| FESTIVAL | Capricorn Coast Writers Festival QLD |