“For 21 years, the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival has played an important role encouraging writing talent in Brimbank and Melbourne’s western region. And to celebrate we are presenting the biggest festival to date with a huge line-up of creative talent,” says Brimbank Mayor Cr Virginia Tachos.
The Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival is 21 years old this year and we’re celebrating with our biggest festival to date. 34 events over 6 days from 12-17 March 2026. The festival program, can be found here: brimbanklibraries.vic.gov.au/BWRF.
This year’s festival theme is ‘sharing stories’. Every story is important and stories can be shared in endless ways, not just in books. That’s why the festival features artists, cooks, gardeners, film makers, songwriters, book authors and a dating expert.
Festival opening night features Nam Le, winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for fiction and author of The Boat and 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem. Nam will share stories about cultural heritage, family, and collective identity, themes that resonate strongly in the west.
Festival highlights include:
- Alita Brydon (Bad Dates of Melbourne, 21M views) and comedian Nelly Thomas (The Single Life of Us) in a hilarious, insightful Q&A in How to Date Like a Dangerous Woman.
- Hear authors Darryl Jones and Dave Witty share their expertise on birds and trees, joined by acclaimed artists Callum Morton and Jen Berean.
- Step inside the creative worlds of four exciting filmmakers shaping the future of Australian storytelling with Adrian Ortega, Kalu Oji, Kaede Miyamura and Goran Stolevski.
- Hear media professionals Professor Andrea Carson, author and journalist Margaret Simons and ABC radio journalist Luke Siddham Dundon in Truth, Lies and the Algorithm.
- Andy Griffiths, who has sold more than 19 million books in over 35 countries and is renowned for his cheeky and irreverent humour. A perfect event for kids who love stories with humour, heart and just the right amount of chaos.
Other authors included, Deborah Ong, Kate Mildenhall, Santilla Chingaipe, Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir, Andrea Rowe, Marguerita Stephens, Andrea Carson, Jen Berean, Darcy Green, Thomas Vowles, Jax Bulstrode and many more.
In addition, check out the range of workshops, which offer a range of skills and practical help for participants looking for help to share their own stories. Topics include, how to write picture books, self-publishing, reliable writing practice, writing for reels, healing through poetry and more. There are limited places, so book today or risk FOMO!
“Thanks to Council funding and Principal Sponsor Victoria University, the festival is free for everyone to attend. Sessions will book out quickly, so book today, so you don’t miss out. I hope to see you at one of the many events and maybe even share a story or two with you,” said Mayor Cr Tachos.
To explore the full festival program, go to brimbanklibraries.vic.gov.au/BWRF.
