Newcastle Writers Festival

17/06/2026

Only 2 weeks left to submit to the Story Hunter Schools Writing Competition. The prize seeks to celebrate and encourage the next generation of young writers.

Thanks to the generous support of The MacDougall Foundation, cash prizes of $200 will be awarded to three winners in each age category.

Under 10 years – up to 500 words
10–12 years – up to 1,000 words
12–14 years – up to 2,000 words.

Winners and highly commended writers will also have their work published on the Story Hunter website. Entries close at 11:59pm AEST on 1 July 2026.

Learn more at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2026-story-hunter-writing-comp/

Video description: Emma, our Story Hunter Coordinator, is shown speaking to the camera while seated on a couch in NUspace. Footage of students participating in past Story Hunter writing events has been added.

15/06/2026

Newcastle Writers Festival is recruiting for two key leadership roles: Managing Director and Artistic Director.

These positions will play a vital role in leading the future of this thriving cultural institution - guiding the festival's continued growth, and shaping the experience of artists, audiences, staff and volunteers.

Applications close 5.00pm AEST on 17 June. Learn more and apply at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/work-with-us-2026/

Video description: Footage captured during this year's festival, including audiences in sessions at City Hall, NUspace and The Press Book House and people browsing Maclean's pop-up bookstore. Text was added outlining the information above.

11/06/2026

We are thrilled to extend the Story Hunter program to high school students in the Hunter Region!

Several of our workshops have been adapted to suit students in grades 7 and 8, and high schools can now book 90-minute incursions in Character, Setting, Tension Building or Editing.

Your support will help the Story Hunter team reach more schools in the region and inspire a love of writing and reading. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/

Video description: Bianca, a local high school English teacher, is shown speaking to the camera while seated on a couch in NUspace. Footage of students and guides participating in past Story Hunter writing events has been added.

06/06/2026

Story Hunter explores big ideas with young writers through creative writing workshops that incorporate drama, play and collaboration.

Your support can help us continue taking local writers into schools to challenge young minds and inspire a love of writing. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/

Video description: Emma, our Story Hunter Coordinator, is shown speaking to the camera while seated on a couch in NUspace. Footage of students and guides participating in past Story Hunter writing events has been added.

03/06/2026

Last week we were featured on NBN Television discussing Story Hunter's multi-week outreach program and new funding for 2026 provided by the MacDougall Foundation. Students from Waratah West Public School were very excited to have a TV crew visit for their final workshop!

The Story Hunter program is offered for free to disadvantaged schools across the 11 Hunter LGAs, and is entirely reliant on philanthropic and government funding. We are extremely grateful for the long-term support of The Catfish Foundation as well as The MacDougall Foundation, and grants provided by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund and Create NSW.

To help us continue to reach the next generation of Hunter writers, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/

01/06/2026

Yesterday afternoon, booklovers gathered at Hilliers Cafe in Newcastle Art Gallery for the festival's second reading party.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the booked-out event, and to Dan Cox for hosting. Our next reading party will be held on Sunday, 26 July at The Grand Hotel Newcastle. Book now at https://events.humanitix.com/read-the-room-in-july

The Read the Room project is presented thanks to the support of Create NSW and Newcastle BIA through their Special Business Rate program.

Video description: Footage of people sitting around tables, reading books and engaging in conversation at Hilliers Cafe inside the Newcastle Art Gallery.

31/05/2026

“We are at a stunningly possible moment. The question is, who are you going to be in this moment?” Sarah Wilson on living in a collapsing world during her in conversation with Rosemarie Milsom on Friday night at Newcastle Conservatorium of Music.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the special event, to our presenting partners The University of Newcastle, Australia and Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival and to MacLean's Booksellers.

Image description: The first two photos show Sarah Wilson speaking with Rosemarie Milsom on stage at the Conservatorium of Music. A large banner is behind them that features a yellow background, the text 'I Eat the Stars: Sarah Wilson in Conversation' and an illustration of an open book, with pages detaching and flying away like birds. The third photo shows Sarah signing a copy of her book, I Eat the Stars, while smiling at an audience member. The final image features a copy of I Eat the Stars upright next to a glass of water on a table on stage, with a velvet emerald green chair to the side.

31/05/2026

28/05/2026

Don't miss the festival's second reading party this Sunday!

The project brings booklovers together for quiet reading and guided conversation hosted by Dan Cox.
📍 Newcastle Art Gallery's Hilliers Cafe
📅 Sunday, 31 May
⏰ 3pm - 4pm

Bring your current book, discover new favourites, and enjoy the atmosphere among fellow readers. Refreshments will be available to purchase. Phones are off-limits.

Learn more and book tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/read-the-room-in-may/

Illustration by Eirian Chapman

Supported by Create NSW and Newcastle BIA

Image Description: The first image features a white background, a yellow to pink gradient graphic of the words “READ THE ROOM,” where the final “M” is replaced by an open book, and illustrations of four people reading while sitting on the ground, riding a unicycle, in a wheelchair and lying down. The second image features a yellow to pink gradient background, text outlining the event details above and illustrations of people reading while sitting, lying and under a tree.

27/05/2026

Newcastle Writers Festival is hiring! Join a leading regional arts organisation to deliver one of Australia’s most respected literary festivals in 2027 and 2028.

We are recruiting for two key leadership roles: Managing Director and Artistic Director. These positions will play a vital role in leading the future of this thriving cultural institution - guiding the festival's continued growth, and shaping the experience of artists, audiences, staff and volunteers.

Applications close 5.00pm AEST on 17 June. Learn more and apply at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/work-with-us-2026/

Image description: The first image features a photo of the audience smiling during an event at the Conservatorium of Music at our 2026 festival. The NWF logo and the text 'Join our team, Managing Director and Artistic Director' were added. The following two images feature yellow backgrounds, the NWF logo and a brief outline of each position, which can be found on our website and in the alt text.