Bookshop, Library & Festival Events – October 2026
| Date | Event Host | Event Details |
| 2-16 | FESTIVAL | Totally Lit Fremantle, WA |
| Oct 5 | Beaumaris Books | Michael Robotham in conversation with AT Prewett Time: 6.30pm Venue: Ginger Fox SOLD OUT, waitlist available |
| BMI Ballarat | Monica McInerney in conversation When Sullivan Met Lola Time: 6pm Venue: BMI Library | |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Somewhere Here the Future’s Hid by Jeff Sparrow Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings | Hear Pip Williams and Toni Jordan in conversation about The German Ward Time: 6.15pm Venue: Athanaeum Theatre | |
| Readings | Hear Sue Woolfe in conversation about The Girl Who Climbed on Rooves Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |
| 6 | Fairfield Books | Michael Robotham Tell Me Something True Time: 6.30pm Venue: Northcote Library |
| Literary Listings | Lunch with Pip Williams The German Ward in convo with Kate Mildenhall Time: 11.30 – 3pm Venue: Elwood Bathers SOLD OUT | |
| Wheeler Centre & Culture RMIT | In conversation: Andrew O’Hagan On Friendship with Marieke Hardey Time: 7pm Venue: The Capitol | |
| Readings | Hear Alice Zaslavsky talking about her new cookbook, Weeknights with Alice Time: 6pm Venue: Readings Hawthorn | |
| Ramona Books | A reading party with Carrie Tiffany The Lady with the Dog Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Northcote | |
| Northern Books | Pip Williams The German Ward in conversation with Mel Fulton Time: 7pm Venue: Phee Broadway Theatre | |
| 7 | Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Garth Nix in conversationo Massif Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Penitent by A.W. Hammond (A&U) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings | Hear Suzie Miller and Marieke Hardy in conversation about Inter Alia Time: 6.15pm Venue: Cinema Nova | |
| Readings | Hear Amanda Tattersall and Saffron Zomer in conversation about Conscious Tribes Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |
| The Leaf Bookshop | Michael Robotham and JP Pomare in converation Time: 7pm Venue: in store, Ashburton | |
| Little Bookroom & Yarra Libraries | LAUNCH: Hometown Shaun Tan Time: 6pm Venue: North Fitzroy Library | |
| 8 | Sorrento Writers Festival | In Conversation: Chris Hammer Full Circle Time: 6pm Venue: Sorrento Portsea RSL |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Askew by Andy Jackson Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Geelong Libraries | Michael Robotham Tell Me Something True in conversation Time: 6pm Venue: Geelong Library | |
| Stories by the Sea | Allee Richards Tight Lines in conversation with Danielle Binks Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mt Eliza | |
| Monash Uni Pub | Launch: Australian Girls by Catherine Gay Time: 4pm Venue: Melbourne Museum, Carlton | |
| The Book Bird & Text Publishing | LAUNCH: Nina Kenwood, People Skills in conversation with Brooke Crawford Time: 6pm Venue; Boom Gallery, Geelong West | |
| 8-11 | FESTIVAL | Brisbane Writers Festival As Australia’s oldest continuous writers’ festival, BWF has a long and storied history of connecting communities, showcasing creativity and finding just the right words |
| 9 | Readings | Hear Atong Atem in conversation about Passage Time: 6pm Venue: Church of All Nations |
| 9-11 | FESTIVAL | Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival The Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival is a celebration of writers and readers in the Dandenong Ranges and beyond, inspiring and educating new and emerging writers, showcasing a diversity of literary styles, and igniting literary debate and conversation. Returning in 2026 for its second year. |
| 9-11 | FESTIVAL | Tasmanian Poetry Festival TAS The Tasmanian Poetry Festival commenced in 1985 and is held annually, normally over the first full weekend in October. Local and guest poets are invited to Launceston to share their work at a range of events held over the Festival weekend. |
| 10 | Love Your Bookshop Day | Check out your local bookshops for details of all the fun! |
| Bendigo Library | A Puzzling Pursuit with Lorena Carrington Time: 12pm Venue: Bendigo Lirbary | |
| FESTIVAL | Mount Beauty Writers Festival Thom Woodfoofe, Michael Brissenden, Saskia Beudel, Siobhan O’Brien, Dr Peter Coleman | |
| 10-11 | FESTIVAL | Western Port Writes, VIC Western Port Writes (WPW) is a biennial literary festival based in the Western Port region of the Mornington Peninsula, held in Somers and surrounds. Designed to celebrate creativity and the art of the story, it showcases established and emerging writers connected to our region and beyond. |
| 10-11 | FESTIVAL | Newstead Young Writers Festival Vic This wonderful new festival debuted in 2024 and will be back again in 2026. |
| 11 | Clunes Booktown on Sunday | Chris Hammer, author of Full Circle, in conversation with Jacqui Horwood Time: 2pm Venue: Clunes Train Station |
| The Best Seller Bookclub | Live on-stage Quiz Featuring Kate Langbroek, Melissa Leong, Joel Creasy, Mary Coustas with Matthew Hardy, Plus, Erica Made the award winning bookseller from Readings bookstores. Time: 2pm Venue: Thornbury Theatre | |
| 12 | Readings | Join Toni Jordan, Dr Alan Finkel, Dr Ben Eltham and Alex Hardy as they discuss what the future holds in the age of AI Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Torquay Books | Brooke Davis No One’s Looking Time: 5.30pm Venue: in store, Torqsuay | |
| 13 | Wheeler Centre | Join Alice Oseman to discuss Heartstopper Time: 7pm Venue: Melbourne Town Hall |
| Beaumaris Books | Chris Hammer in conversation with AW Hammond Full Circle time: 6.30pm Venue: Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron, Beaumaris | |
| 14 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of No One’s Looking by Brooke Davis with Kate Mildenhall Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of The Lonely Generation by Dr. Michelle Lim Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| Hill of Content | LAUNCH: Scran by Ali Stoner with Jaclyn Crupi Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Bourke Street | |
| 15 | Your Library Ltd | Brooke Davis No One’s Looking in conversation with Mark Mupotsa-Russell Time: 6pm Venue; Belgrave Library |
| Yarra Libraries | Riley Knight in convo The Most Interesting People You’ve Never Heard Of Time: 6.30pm Venue: Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library | |
| Readings | Celebrate launch of The Book of Angels by Lyndon Walker, hosted by Kevin Brophy Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings | Hear Charlie Jane Anders in conversation with Amie Kaufman, C.S. Pacat and Seth Haddon Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Readings | Hear Pia Gava and Jenna Lo Bianco in conversation about A Pasta Tour Time: 6pm Venue: Chadstone | |
| Wheeler Centre | In conversation: Susan Orlean Joyride Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre | |
| Geelong Library | Tricia Stringer The Paradise Resort in conversation time: 6pm Venue: Geelong Library & Heritage Centre | |
| Stonnington Libraries | Nina Kenwood People Skills in conversation with Steph Vizard Time: 6.15pm Venue: Toorak/South Yarra Library | |
| 15-25 | FESTIVAL | Queenscliffe Literary Festival VIC The Queenscliffe Literary Festival is a celebration of Australian writers, books and ideas featuring some of our finest authors and thinkers in a program of events designed to stimulate thought and discussion. |
| 16 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of Australianarama by Stavroula Adameitis aka Frida Las Vegas Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Stories by the Sea | Carrie Tiffany in conversation with Christine Balint Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mt Eliza | |
| The Bookbird Geelong | Brooke Davis No One’s Looking in conversation with Rhett Davis Time: 6pm Venue: in store | |
| 16-18 | FESTIVAL | Festival of Stories, Echuca/Moama Spend the weekend with friends — at long literary lunches under the vines, powerful spoken word, live music after dark, country wisdom shared over scones and tea, art and comedy, lively conversations and creative workshops you won’t find anywhere else. |
| 16-19 | FESTIVAL | Tamar Valley Writers Festival TAS Set amid Launceston’s historic architectural beauty, lush vineyards, and natural bushland as a backdrop, the Tamar Valley Writers Festival is a treasured part of Tasmania’s cultural calendar and one of the largest writer’s festivals outside an Australian capital city. |
| 17 | Readings Kids | Celebrate the launch of Invisible Dogs by Kiah Thomas and Jake A Minton Time: 2pm Venue: Readings Kids |
| Your Library Ltd | Meet the Author: Nicola Marsh Orchard at Rosevale Time: 10.30am Venue: Rowville Library | |
| Little Bookroom | LAUNCH: 113th Assistant Librarian: Forbidden Pages by Stuart Wilson Time: 2pm Venue: in store | |
| 17&18 | ABC RN | Top 100 Australian Book Countdown |
| 18 | Collins Warrnambool | Bookwiz: with Davin Ardlie, Megan Twycross & Mark Smith Time: 12pm – 4pm Venue: Keayang Maar Vineyard, Dixie |
| 18-19 | FESTIVAL | Canberra Writers Festival ACT Founded in 2016, the Canberra Writer’s Festival has become a beloved event in the national literary calendar – a favourite amongst Australia’s reading, writing and publishing communities |
| 20 | Eltham Bookshop | A night of crime with Chis Hammer, Vikki Petraitis and Adrian Hyland Time: 6.30pm Venue: Eltham Performing Arts Centre |
| Wheeler Centre | Li Cunxin The Lucky Son in conversation Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre | |
| Emerald Hill Library | Casey Nott Five Stages of Grace in conversation Time: 6.30pm Venue: Emerald Hill Library | |
| 21 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of The Last Best Place on the Internet by Richard Cooke Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Wheeler Centre | An evening with Adam Liaw with Benjamin Law Time: 7pm Venue: The Capitol | |
| 22 | Readings | Hear Emily Millane and George Megalogenis in conversation about Super Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Ever Cursed by Olivia O’Flynn Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Judy Horacek Everyone on the Bus Fell Down Time: 7pm Venue Phee Broadway Theatre | ||
| 23 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of Lochard by B. T. O’Brien Time: 6.30pm Venue: State Library |
| 23-25 | FESTIVAL | Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival, Geraldton, WA The 2026 theme is POWER OF EXPRESSION |
| 23-25 | FESTIVAL | Headland Writers Festival Tathra NSW Across three days, the spectacular Tathra headland will serve as a backdrop to an abundance of author in-conversations, panel discussions, workshops, poetry, exhibitions, theatre and music performances. |
| 24 | Your Library Ltd | Meet the Author: Anne Freeman The tiem After Now Time: 11am Venue: Belgrave Library |
| Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld | Literary Salon with Charlotte Wood in conversation with Michael Williams Time: Venue: Royal Mail | |
| Stella Prize | Stella Day Out with Sofie Laguna and Micaelea Sahhar Venue: Aireys Inlet Community Centre | |
| 25 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of All the Ways I See by Nas Campanella, Eliza Hull and Sophie Beer Time: 11am Venue: Hawthorn |
| Fairfield Books | Jock Serong in conversation – A Suitable Man Time: 3pm Venue: Fairfield Community Room | |
| 26 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of Near Death in Venice by Jonathan Biggins Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| 27 | Readings | Hear Paul Bangay in conversation about Diary of an English Garden Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn |
| Readings | Dan Bourchier in conversation with Bridget Brennan about The Elders Time: 6.30pm Venue: State Library | |
| Avenue Bookstore | Kaz Cooke will chat with Emily Westmoreland about her latest book Spooky Ladies Time: 6pm Venue: Albert Park | |
| 28 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of The Song of the Sirens by Taylah Walker Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn |
| Eltham Bookshop | Perspectives on addiction with John Trang, Melissa Manning, Ralph Jackman, John Ryan with Jude Di Meglio Trang Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Eltham | |
| Bayside Libraries | Vikki Petraitis The Reckoning in conversation with Robert Gott Time: 6.30pmk Venue: Beaumaris Library | |
| Readings | Tim Dunlop in conversation with Paul Barclay about The Culture Wars Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Beaumaris Books | Fiona McIntosh The Art Lovers in conversation Time: 6.30pm Venue: Ginger Fox | |
| 29 | Readings | Celebrate Real Pigeons Trap Snacks with Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood Time: 4.30pm Venue: Cinema Nova |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Inlet Bridge by S.D. Hinton Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Illuminated Ruins by Miriam Sved Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| Wheeler Centre | Josh Silver in conversation Fruitfly Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre | |
| 30 | Readings | Hear Nicholas L. Hart and Sally Hepworth in conversation about The Muezzin Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn |
| 30 Oct to 1 Nov | FESTIVAL | Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival Katoomba NSW Presented by Varuna, the National Writers’ House, the Festival will take place in Katoomba amid the spectacular surrounds of the world-heritage listed Blue Mountains. |
| 31 | Stella Prize | One day literary festival with Edwina Preston & Louise Lim Time: from 11am Venue: Ruffy Hall, Ruffy |