Bookshop, Library & Festival Events – September 2026
| Date | Event Host | Event Details |
| 1 | Readings | Join Readings and Radio National for a discussion on the importance of children’s literature. Panel participants include Australia’s Children’s Laureate, the one and only Andy Griffiths, author and publisher Hilary Rogers, and Readings’ own Carlton Kids manager, Tamuz Ellazam. |
| Readings | Join us to celebrate the launch of Five Voices by Tamara Moss (A&U Children’s) Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium | |
| 2 | Little Bookroom | LAUNCH: The Day of Stolen Bicycles Maria Teta & Warren Bonett Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Brunswick |
| Readings | Join us to hear Natalie Paull in conversation about Sweet Heart (Murdoch Books) Time: 6pm Venue: Lido Cinema | |
| Celebrate the launch of Polyvagal Parenting by Paul North, Lydia So and Michael Allison Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | ||
| BMI Ballarat | Lauren Williams Neighbourhood Watch and Penny Tangy What Rhymes with Murder? Time: 6pm Venue: BMI Library | |
| 3 | Readings | Hear Michael Mohammed Ahmad BuggerI and Antoun Issa in conversation (Hachette) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| A.J. Mackinnon in conversation about Realms of Gold (Black Inc) Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | ||
| The Bookbird | Literary Salon with Maria Takolander the End of Romance & Laura McPhee Brown Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Geelong | |
| Novel Nook | Victoria Hannan I Love The Whole World in convo with Alice Bishop Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Yarra Glen | |
| 3-6 | FESTIVAL | Blak and Bright VIC Sept 3-6 Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival is based in Naarm (Melbourne). Established in 2016, the four day showcase celebrates the diverse expressions of First Nations writers and covers all genres from oral stories to epic novels and plays to poetry. We believe that Blak stories are for everyone. |
| 4 | Readings | Enjoy showcase of Melbourne poets reading their most recent works. Hosted by Tim Loveday Time: 8pm Venue: Carlton |
| Blak & Bright | Spokenground with Ali Cobby Eckermann, Luke Patterson, Dakota Feirer, Laurie May, Samantha Faulkner & Maria van Neerven Time: 6pm Venue: Bard’s Apothecary | |
| Your Library Ltd | Writing workshop with Kate Mildenhall The Hiding Place Time: 2pm Venue: Miller’s Homestead, Boronia | |
| Heads and Tales | Jock Serong in conversation with Kim Wilson (HC) Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Barwon Heads SOLD OUT | |
| 4-6 | FESTIVAL | Eumundi Writers Festival QLD The inaugual Eumundi Writers Festival was held in 2025 and is returning this year. The Eumundi Writers Festival 2026 will challenge audiences to think deeply about The Human Condition in the most intense of situations – war, crime, love, family. We will take audiences into another realm to uncover the uniqueness and importance of the “human-to-human” connection through words and emotion. |
| 5 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of Tail Not Included by Michael Debenham (Hardie Grant Kids) Time: 3pm Venue: Hawthorn |
| Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: Ella and the Call of the Wild by Cassy Polimeni and Hykie Breeze Share Time: 2pm Venue: in store, Brunswick East | |
| Mornington Libraries | Author Talk: Anne Freeman The Time After Now in convo with Heide Catherine Time: 11am Venue: Mornington Library (Hawkeye Pub) | |
| Queenscliff Literary Festival | PROGRAM LAUNCH featuring Louise Milligan & Sally Rugg Time: 6pm Venue: Queenscliff Town Hall | |
| Writers Victoria | Writing Compelling True Crime Stories with Vikki Petraitis Time: 10am – 4pm Venue: Writers Vic | |
| Great Escape Books | Jock Serong in conversation with Gregory Day Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Aireys Inlet | |
| Kinokuniya Bookshop | Grand Opening of the Kinokuniya Concept Store Melbourne Central | |
| Sept 5 to Oct 11 | FESTIVAL | Sketch and Scribble Fest, Surf Coast VIC Each year children’s writers and illustrators of all levels – beginner writers and sketchers to published authors and illustrators – gather on the Surf Coast and on-line to connect and learn from publishers and published experts. |
| 8 | Glen Eira Libraries | The Road to Publication with Katie Hoskins When The Party’s Over Time: 7pm Venue: Bentleigh Library & Youth Hub |
| Readings | Hear Sarah Pound in conversation about her new cookbook, Wholesome Made Easy Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn (Pan Macmillan Aus) | |
| Eltham Bookshop | Women Shape Stories with Ilka Tampke, Mc\ichelle Wright, Anne Freeman in conversation with Kylie Ldd Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Eltham | |
| Ballarat Libraries | Tess Wood in conversation The Cairo Bridal Shop Time: 10.30am Venue: Ballarat Library | |
| 9 | Readings Books | Hear Katie Hoskins in conversation with Kylie Ladd about When the Party’s Over (Pan Mac) Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn |
| Collins Booksellers Echuca | Tess Woods in conversation The Cairo Book Shop Time: 1pm, Venue: Echuca Library | |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of The Reckoning by Vikki Petraitis (S&S) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Northern Books | James Curran Grand Ambitiion in conversation with Geoff Raby AO Time: 7pm Venue: State Library Theatrette | |
| Text Publishing | Launch: Robyn Dennison In Plain Sight Time: 6.30pm Venue: Brunswick Artists Bar | |
| Your Library Ltd | Mark Smith in conversation Where Truth Ends Time: 6pm Venue: Croydon Library | |
| Hill of Content | LAUNCH: People with Money Jess Ho (S&S) Time: 6pm Venue: in store | |
| 9-11 | FESTIVAL | Somerset Storyfest – Out West QLD Longreach |
| 9-13 | FESTIVAL | Write Around the Murray – Albury Writers Festival NSW Write Around the Murray (WAM) is a five day writers’ festival in Albury. We present high quality, affordable literary programs to audiences on the border of regional NSW and Victoria. |
| 10 | Readings | Hear Riley James in conversation about The Wreck (A&U) Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library |
| Readings | Join Belinda Smith to celebrate the launch of Trip Reports by Rich Haridy (New South) Time: 6.30pm Venue: Carlton | |
| GV Libraries | Tess Woods in conversation The Cairo Bridal Shop Time: 2pm Venue: Yarrawonga Library Time: 6.30pm Venue: Wangaratta Library | |
| Stories by the Sea | Victoria Hannan I Love the Whole World Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Mt Eliza | |
| Prime Ministers Lit Awards | Shortlist announcement | |
| 10-18 | FESTIVAL | Emerging Writers Festival Naarm Venue: The Wheeler Centre |
| 11 | The Leaf Bookshop | Dervla McTiernan in conversation with Sarah Bailey Time: 7.30pm Venue: in store, Ashburton |
| Nice Stack of Books | Shannon Kelly-White Billie King in convo with Casey Nott Five Stages of Grace time: 6.30pm Venue: Meeniyan Town Hall | |
| The Paragraph Fellowship | 2026 Paragraph Fellowship Announcement (Emerging Writers Festival) Time: 6pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre | |
| 11-13 | FESTIVAL | Port Fairy Literary Weekend VIC The Port Fairy Literary Weekend is a not-for-profit cultural organisation, set up to celebrate and promote Australian writing, to bring authors from across Australia to this special corner of the world, and in so doing build networks and engagement between writers and readers. Jo Canham and her team always deliver a vibrant festival weekend! |
| 12 | Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: Big Mountain, Little Emu by Emma Stuart Share Time: 2pm Venue: in store, Brunswick East |
| Sisters in Crime | Davitt Awards Night presented by Dervla McTiernan & Louise Milligan Time: 6.30pm Venue: Stamfort Plaza, Melbourne | |
| The Leaf Bookshop | LAUNCH: Darkness in the Flesh by MG Hunt Tel: 6pm Venue: in store, Ashburton | |
| 12-13 | National Writers Conference | Emerging Writers Festival presents the National Writing Conference Venue: The Wheeler Centre |
| 12-13 | Randwick Council | Randwick’s Reading Takeover Suzanne Leal, James McKenzie Watson, Dinuka McKenzie, Ashley Kalagian Blunt Venue: Randwick Town Hall |
| 13 | Clunes Bookstown | Booktown on Sunday: Sara Hardy The Unusual Life of Edna Walling Time: 2pm Venue: Clunes Railway Station |
| FESTIVAL | Whitsundays Writers Festival Airlie Beach, QLD This three day event will comprise an engaging mixture of genres from crime to memoir, romance to screenwriting, and more, as well as interactive workshops, panel discussions and author talks. Location: Airlie Beach | |
| Story Society Bendigo | Jodie McAlister A Study in Sparkling in convo with Cecile Shanahan Time: 2pm Venue: Solterra & Vine, Maiden Gully | |
| 14 | Moonee Valley Libraries | Moreno Giovannoni The Immigrants in conversation with Antoni Jach Tiem: 7pm Venue: Sam Merrifield Library |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of two new poetry collections: Brood Chamber by Annie Mairéad Hunter and Some Exaggerations by David Regan. Hosted by Tim Loveday Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| 15 | Readings | Hear Sonia Orchard in conversation with Louise Milligan about her new book, Before the Harm Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library |
| 16 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of The Weight of Witness: The Experiences of Australian and New Zealand Medics in Gaza (Hardie Grant) Time: 6pm Venue: Church of All Nations |
| Readings | Hear Holly Ringland in conversation with Sally Hepworth about The World Beneath Her Feet Time: 6pm Venue: Cinema Nova (HC) | |
| 17 | Geelong Libraries | Holly Ringland in conversation with Brooke Davis The World Beneath Her Feet Time: 6pm Venue: Geelong Library & Heritage Centre |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of the long cloud by Hector Mackenzie (Scribe) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings | Hear Karen Brooks discuss The Extraordinary Florence Stoker (HC) Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| Readings Kids | Celebrate the release of The Big Switch by Kristin Darell and A River I Must Be by Kate Foster Time: 6pm Venue: Readings Kids (Penguin & HC) | |
| 18 | Story Society Bendigo | Jock Serong in conversation A Suitable Man Time: 5.30pm Venue: Bendigo Library with Bookish |
| Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Books in Bars with Karen Brooks The Extraordinary Florence Stoker Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel | |
| 19 | Writers Victoria | The Story Lab: Developing and Selling Your Screen Idea with Tristram Baumber Time: 10am – 1pm Venue: Writers Vic |
| Little Bookrook | BOOK LAUNCH: Betsy and Bon by Simon Howe Time: 2pm Venue: in store, Brunswick East | |
| Readings Kids | Celebrate the launch of Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky by Will Kostakis Time: 2pm Venue: Readings Kids (A&U) | |
| Wheeler Centre | Sally Rippin introduces her newest novel, Lottie, Pog and the Runaway Ghost Time: 10am and 1pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre | |
| 19 | FESTIVAL | Writers Unleashed – Sutherland Shire Writers Festival NSW (biennial festival) Venue: Kirrawee Library |
| 21 | Readings | Hear Sheree Joseph discuss her memoir, Juicy (Pantera Press) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton |
| Readings | George Megalogenis to celebrate the launch of Waves of Plenty by Mark Cully Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn (Black Inc) | |
| Whitehorse Manningham Libraries | Writing workshop with Christine Newell Five Seasons in Seoul Time: 6.30pm Venue: Doncaster Library | |
| 22 | Sorrento on Tour | Jock Serong A Suitable Man in conversation with Corrie Perkin Time: 6pm Venue: Gasworks Albert Park |
| 23 | Readings | Celebrate the launch of Gone Guru by Nadine Browne (Fremantle Press) Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Living with a Person with Dementia by Bernie McCarthy Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Eye of the Needle by Christopher Raja (Text) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: Loneliness is a Molecule by Helena Fox Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Brunswick East | |
| 24 | Readings | Join Lili Wilkinson to celebrate the launch of Our Dark Unravelling by Margot McGovern Time: 6pm Venue: Emporium (PRH) |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Better Man by Ben Vasiliou (S&S) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Readings | Join us for the announcement of the 2026 Ned Kelly Awards Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn | |
| 24 Sept to 11 Oct | FESTIVAL | North Australian Festival of Stories Townsville QLD Townsville City Council presents the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA), a celebration of arts, culture, inclusion, and community. During the festival period, NAFA transforms Townsville with eclectic and vibrant events that include comedy, dance, theatre, circus, music, visual arts, cabaret, workshops and so much more. |
| 25 | Chestnut Tree Bookshop | An evening with Antoun Issa Rebirth Time: 7.30am Venue: in store, West Fooscray |
| 25-27 | FESTIVAL | Northern Beaches Readers Festival NSW The Northern Beaches Readers’ Festival Inc is an event focused on connecting readers with popular Australian authors, that will feature some of Australia’s leading authors in panel discussions and more intimate ‘in conversation’ events. |
| 26 | Little Bookroom | BOOK LAUNCH: Bravepaw and the Songstone of the Deep: Bravepaw 4 by Lili Wilkinson & Lavanya Naidu Time: 2pm Venue: in store Brunswick East |
| 28 | Randwick Council | Randwick’s Reading Takeover Author Panel Kate Forsythe, Josh Hortinela, Mary Colussi, James McKenzie Watson, Ashley Kalagian Blunt Venue: Randwick Town Hall |
| 29 | Writers Victoria | Online Feedback: Picture Books with Elizabeth Cowell Tiem: 10am ONLINE |
| 30 | Writers Victoria | Writing Essentials: Crafting Stories for Young Adults with Ange Crawford and Demet Divaroren (five week course) Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm Venue: Writers Victoria |
| Eltham Bookshop | Kate Grenville The Country Schoolmaster in convo with Toni Jordan (Black Inc) Time: 6.30pm Venue: in store, Eltham | |
| Readings | Hear Amy Matthews in conversation with Jodi McAlister about The Treasure House Time: 6pm Venue: Hawthorn (S&S) | |
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Our Place by Matt Lloyd-Cape (Black Inc) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |
| Oct 1 | Readings | Join Helen Garner to celebrate the launch of The Lady with the Dog by Carrie Tiffany Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (New South) |
| Oct 2 | Ramona Bookshop | An Evening with Eleanor Limprecht Culdesac in conversation with Penni Russon Time: 6.30pm Venue: instore, Northcote |