Bookshop, Library & Festival Events – June 2026
| Date | Event Host | Event Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Readings Books | Anna Goldsworth in conversation with Michael Williams Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library (Black Inc) |
| Readings Books | Saskia Beudel and Bridie O’Donnell in conversation Peaking Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (Monash Uni Pub) | |
| 2 | Avenue Bookstore | LAUNCH: Win the Night to Win the Day,Penelope Barr Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Richmond |
| Monash WordFest | WordFest 2026: Launch with Cheng Lei and Kylie Moore Gilbert Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatre | |
| Paperback Bookshop | Celebrate the release of Andrés Barba’s new novel, Last Day of a Prior Life Time: 6pm Venue: Bard’s Apothecary | |
| 2-25 | FESTIVAL | Monash Libraries – WordFest WordFest, the annual literature festival, unites readers and writers through author talks, writing workshops, and the Monash Short Story Writing Competition. |
| 2-10 | FESTIVAL | Words out West, Dalby, QLD For readers, writers and word-lovers alike, in Western Downs! School Days June 2 & 3 Schooners and Stories June 5 & 6 Books & Bubbles June 13 Festival Weekend June 13 & 14 Writers Retreat June 20 |
| 3 | Stella Prize | Stella Day Out, Geelong This FREE event will feature a conversation with Goorie and Koori poet Evelyn Araluen, whose Stella-prize shortlisted collection ‘The Rot’ has already won two major literary awards this year – with Charlotte, The Book Bird Geelong |
| Hear Maria Ripani discussing The Baker’s Percentage (Smith Streeet Books) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | ||
| Brunswick Bound Books | Book launch: Mirror Landscape by Lisa Gorton Time: 6.30pm Venue: Brusnwick Artists’ Bar (Giramondo Pub) | |
| 4 | Dymocks 234 | LAUNCH: One Knight Stand, Amie Kaufman with Lili Wilkinson Time: 7pm Venue: Dymocks Collins Street |
| Hill of Content | Shaun Micallef Death Takes a Holiday in conversation with Michael Williams Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Bourke Street | |
| Mary Martin Books | LAUNCH: Honour & Heresy, Max Francis with Cameron Sullivan Time: 6.15pm Venue: Southgate store | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Over to You by Georgie Tunny (A&U) Time: 6pm Venue: Cinema Nova | |
| Readings Books | Join Melbourne writing collective Meridian Australis to celebrate the launch of CRUX 2026 (Meridian Australia) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Monash Word Fest | Author Talk with Pia Miranda Finding My Bella Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatrette | |
| 5 | Bookatini | Aperitivo with Georgie Tunny Over to You Time: 6.30pm Venue: Harley & Rose, West Footscray |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Or: an Autobiography by Toby Fitch (Upswell) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| 5-7 | FESTIVAL | Bellingen Writers Festival NSW A beloved gathering of literary lovers, which brings together world-renowned icons and emerging voices for an unforgettable weekend of creativity, community, curiosity and inclusiveness. |
| 5-8 | FESTIVAL | Woodend Winter Arts VIC – Woodend & Macendon Ranges The Woodend Winter Arts Festival is an annual celebration, showcasing the very best of classical music from Australia and internationally, along with a literary and visual arts program. |
| 6 | Your Library Ltd | Meet the Author: Sofie Laguna The Under World Time: 10.30am Venue: Rowville Library |
| 7 | Great Escape Books | Mark Smith Where Truth Ends on conversation with Tanya Scott Time: 2pm Venue: Anglesea Bowling Club |
| 9 | Brunswick Bound | Australian Launch of the Poems of Seamus Heaney Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Wild Geese Hotel, Brunswick |
| Hill of Content | In conversation: Harrison Young Prudence and Ambition with Glyn Davis Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Bourke Street (S&S) | |
| Monash WordFest | Author Talk with Michael Klim Kliem Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatrette | |
| 10 | Bayside Libraries | Ali Lowe The Second Wife with Kate Horan On the Edge with Helen Farch Time: 6.30pm Venue: Beaumaris Library |
| Yarra Libraries | Author Talk: Alice Pung, Unpolished Gem Time: 6.30pm Venue: North Fitzroy Library with Fairfield Books | |
| Readings Books | LAUNCH: How to Love the World by Ilka Tampke with Toni Jordan Time: 6pm Venue: Readings Carlton (S&S) | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Where Truth Ends by Mark Smith (Pan Mac) Time: 6pm Venue: Crystal Palace & Courtyard, Carlton North | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Driver Driver by Valerie Ng (Grattan Street Press) Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| Monash WordFest | Author Talk with Olivia Ong Back on my Feet Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatrette | |
| 11 | Stonnington Libraries | Kate Legge in conversation Delicious with Jeffreys Books Time: 6.15pm Venue: Toorak/South Yarra Library |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Ben’s Library by Amani Uduman and Joanna Bartel Time: 6pm Venue: Chadstone (New Frontier Publishing) | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (HC) | |
| Port Phillip Libraries | Toni Jordan Tenderfoot in conversation with Jenny Hedley Time: 6pm Venue: St. Kilda Library | |
| Bookatini | Bookclub dinner with Ali Lowe The Second Wife Time: 6pm Venue: Richmond Neighbourhood Centre | |
| Women’s Prize | Winner Announcements – Fiction and Non-Fiction Stella Prize in attendance with Emily Maguire & Kate Mildenhall LIVESTREAM ONLINE from 6.30pm BST | |
| 12 | Readings Books | Hear Tony Albert and Liz Nowell in conversation about Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir (T&H) Time: 6pm Venue: The Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton |
| 12-14 | FESTIVAL | Willy Lit Fest, Williamstown VIC This three-day literary festival takes place in the Town Hall and Library in Williamstown. It features more than 80 authors participating in 50 events and is run by a volunteer committee of locals, supported by more than 30 volunteers at festival time. |
| 13 | Willows and Wine | First Drafts Reading Salon First Drafts is an opportunity for writers to test out their work in a friendly, low-pressure environment. Further in the link above Time: 7-9pm Venue: Willows & Wine, West Melbourne |
| Moorabool Libraries | The Peter Carey Short Story Awards Event Time: 3pm Venue: Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh | |
| Readings Books | Join Spiri Tsintziras for a full day workshop on writing truthful, authentic narratives about your life Time: 10am Venue: Hawthorn | |
| Novel Nook | DarkAcademia Author Event with Max Francis Honour & Heresy with Madi Gologranc Time: 5pm Venue: in store, Yarra Glen | |
| 15 | Old Knox Grammarians | An evening with Author Ralph Jackman Detention Tim: 7pm Venue: WSA Lecture Theatre, Knox Grammar |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of the English translation of Out of the depths by Joseph Toltz and Anna Boucher Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of What Will the Neighbours Think? by Jan Russ as told to Robyn Bishop (Big Sky Publishing) Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| 16 | Stonnington Libraries | Victoria Brownlee in conversation, The Writers Retreat Time: 6.15pm Venue: Malvern Library |
| Mary Martin Books | Author Mystery Night Time: 6.15pm Venue: meet at Queen Victoria Market store | |
| Monash WordFest | Author Talk with Bob Brown Defiance Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatrette | |
| 17 | Darebin Libraries | Warm Winter Read Launch: Author Talk with Fiona Hardy Unbury the Dead Time: 6.15pm Venue: Northcote Library (with Fairfield Books) |
| BMI Ballarat | Anthea Hodgson The Palace of Lost Virtue Time: 6pm Venue: BMI Library | |
| Collins Moonee Ponds | Leah Swann Later, Only Love Remains Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Moonee Ponds | |
| 18 | Harry Hartog | Book Launch: Win the Night to Win the Day by Penelope Barr Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mosman |
| Brunswick Bound | Join us at Brunswick Kitchen 6pm for a evening of delights with Kishwar Chowdhury. Kishwar will be presenting a recipe from Smoke, Rice, Water and discussing her approach to cooking, food and developing recipes with Brunswick Bound’s Jaclyn Crupi. | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Wormhole by Hannah McElhinney (Affirm) Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Ink Bookshop | Author Event: Mark Smith Where Truth Ends Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mansfield | |
| Readings Books | The Readings Big Book Club: Five-part series exploring Homer’s Odyssey In-person tickets are sold out, online membership is still available exploring Homer’s The Odyssey over four weeks from 18 June to 9 July 2026. Each session will be guided by one of The University of Melbourne’s leading academics, who will provide a 35-minute lecture, followed by conversation and audience discussion – hosted by Michael Williams, editor of The Monthly | |
| Readings Books | LAUNCH: The Informant, Christine Gregory (Ultimo) Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Carlton with Sisters-In-Crime | |
| Monash Word Fest | Author Talk with Travis Boak The Power Within Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatrette | |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the author: Romy Ash Mantle Time: 6pm Venue: Realm Library with Collins of Croydon | |
| Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Books in Bars: Georgia Harper Dove & Mercedes Mercier The Couples Retreat Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel | |
| Collins on Lydaird | Book Launch: Shifters by Nicole Kelly Time: 5.30pm Venue: Old Colonists Club, Ballarat | |
| Maribyrnong Libraries | Refugee Author Talk: Edita Mujkic Between Before and After Time: 6pm Venue: Braybrook Library | |
| 18-19 | FESTIVAL | Winter Writers Roundtable VIC Mount Beauty, Bright & Myrtleford Alpine Shire Council presents a roving two-day literary event Featuring Michael Brissenden, Suzanne Leal, Siobhan O’Brien and Zahid Gamieldien, the Winter Writers Roundtable brings together an extraordinary mix of talent across journalism, fiction, and screenwriting. |
| 18 June – 5 July | FESTIVAL | Glen Eira Story Telling Festival Wonderful program at various venues, guests include Melissa Manning, Melanie Cheng, Anna Snoekstra, Jacinta Parsons, Sofie Laguna, Mark Brandi, Benjamin Law, Laura McClusky, Alice Pung, Maxine Beneba Clarke and many more! |
| 19 | Beaumaris Theatre | Author Talk: Anna Johnston When Lemons Give You Life Time: 6.30pm Venue: Beaumaris Theatre |
| 19-20 | FESTIVAL | Boorowa Literary Festival NSW Guests: Chris Hammer, Sulari Gentill and Sam Guthrie, Alli Parker and Kimberley Allsopp, and Caroline Overington |
| 20 | Surf Coast Art Matters | Shed Talk with Jock Serong Favel Parret & Brooke Davis- the path to publication Time: 12pm Venue: Winchelsea Town Hall |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the release of Nanny Tobbins and the Midnight Plan and join Lucie Stevens for a zine workshop (HC) Time: 11am Venue: Hawthorn | |
| ABC Radio | Big day of Books PERTH with Beaufort Books, Fremantle Press, UWA Publishin, Magabala Books, Copyright Agency, Hachette and Centre for Stories Time: 10am – 4.30pm | |
| Story Society, Bendigo | Celebrating Pride Month with Amie Kaufman, Darcy Green, Max Francis Time: 12pm – 1.30pm Venue: Bendigo Library with Bookish Bendigo | |
| BAD Crime | A day of crime in the mountains with: Jane Caro, Mark Tedeschi, Tara Moss, Michael Duffy, Gary Sturgess Time: 10am Venue: Bates Hall, Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre | |
| 23 | BMI Ballarat | In conversation with Mark Smith Where Truth Ends Time: 6pm Venue: BMI Library |
| 23-26 | FESTIVAL | Outback Writers Festival, Winton, QLD Held annually in Winton, Queensland, this festival aims to engage writers and readers in Australian stories. |
| 24 | Hobsons Bay Libraries | Casey Nott Five Stages of Grace with Emma Mugglestone Time 6.30pm Venue: Altona Library |
| Monash WordFest | Author Talk with Melissa Leong Guts Time: 7pm Venue: Clayton Theatrette | |
| Miles Franklin Literary Award | Short List Announcement | |
| 25 | Monash WordFest | WordFest – Sir John Monash Lecture with Eric Beecher Time: 7pm Venue: Museum of Australian Photography |
| Bayside Libraries | Romy Ash Mantle in conversation with Geoff Parkes Time: 6.00pm Venue: Sandringham Library | |
| Brunswick Bound | Join us at Brunswick Kitchen at 6pm for a simply elegant evening with Elizabeth Hewson of Saturday Night Pasta. Elizabeth will be demonstrating elements from the recipes featured in Home Food and discussing her approach to cooking, food and developing perfectly imperfect recipes with Brunswick Bound’s Jaclyn Crupi. | |
| Yarra Libraries | LAUNCH: Fitzroy North: People, Place, Protest by Dr Judith Buckrich Time: 6.30pm Venue: North Fitzroy Library | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery by Li Chen (PRH) Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Good Sea by Vannessa Hearman Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (Melbourne Uni Press) | |
| Readings Books | Spice Market Series – first session: Amie Kaufman will be joined by Keshe Chow, Dr Kate Cuthbert and Bronwyn Eley as they discuss all things spicy! Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| Stories by the Sea | Authors in conversation: Dr Stephanie Wescott & Prof Steven Roberts wtih Fi Wright (3RRR) Schooling Misogyny Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mt Eliza SOLD OUT | |
| 27 | Your Library Ltd | Meet the Author Katherine Brabon Cure Time: 10.30am Venue: Rowville Library |
| FESTIVAL | Surf Coast Writers Festival, Torquay VIC Join the good people in Torquay for the inaugural Surf Coast Writers Festival – a celebration of words, stories, and creativity by the coast. | |
| 29 | Wheeler Centre | The Next Big Thing: Love Lies and Liminal Lives Harrison Abbott, Lily Crozier, Fernanda Dahlstrom, Kerry Jewell, Leah karan, Dee Salmin with Pranati Narayan Visweswaran Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Moat |
| Readings Books | Join Gabrielle Wang for a workshop and create your own picture book Time: 2.00pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| 30 | Bayside Libraries | A.T. Prewett The Picasso Ransom in conversation with Kerryn Mayne Time: 6pm Venue: Brighton Town Hall |
| JULY | ||
| 1 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of The Damned by Matt Rogers Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (S&S) |
| 2 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Rite of Spring by Kris Kneen Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Something Sweet by Jessica Holmes Time: 6pm Venue: Chadstone (Pan Mac) | |
| 3 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Don’t Forget to Smile by Ariane Beeston Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (Black Inc) |
| 4 | Readings Books | Celebrate the launch of Shakespeare in the Orchard by Danielle Binks Time: 2pm Venue: Readings Kids (Hachette) |
| Readings Books | Hear Don Watson talking about The United States of America Time: 6pm Venue: Union Theatre, University of Melbourne (Black Inc) | |