Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival, Media Release, 8 July 2026

The Southern Highlands will become a destination for readers, writers and performers this July as the Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary and the region hosts its inaugural Australian Poetry Slam heat.

The milestone festival, running from 23–26 July across Berrima and Bowral, will bring together some of Australia’s most acclaimed authors, journalists, historians, thinkers and performers for four days of conversations, ideas and storytelling.

Adding to the excitement, acclaimed Australian actor and author Bryan Brown AM has been confirmed for the festival’s new Literary Dinner, joining 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Siang Lu for an unforgettable opening night at Berkelouw’s iconic Book Barn at Bendooley Estate.

Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival Artistic Director Michaela Bolzan said the 2026 program celebrates both the festival’s rich history and the future of literary culture in the region.

“Fifteen years ago we set out to create a writers’ festival that would bring outstanding Australian voices to the Southern Highlands. Today, the festival is one of the region’s most loved cultural events and continues to attract audiences from across NSW and the ACT,” Ms Bolzan said.

“This year we’re delighted to host a Literary Dinner featuring Bryan Brown and Miles Franklin Award winner Siang Lu. It’s a wonderful way to open the festival and create an intimate experience that brings readers and writers together.”

The festival opens on Thursday 23 July with the inaugural black-tie Literary Dinner, where guests will enjoy fine food and local wines while hearing from Bryan Brown about his remarkable career and latest novel, The Hidden, alongside Siang Lu, whose novel Ghost Cities won Australia’s most prestigious literary prize in 2025.

The festival’s main program will then take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July at Empire Cinemas Bowral, where audiences will enjoy three days of conversations with some of Australia’s most celebrated writers, journalists, historians and thinkers.

Friday’s program explores memoir, literature, history and social change, beginning with acclaimed author Alice Pung OAM, whose celebrated memoir Unpolished Gem marks its twentieth anniversary this year. Audiences will also hear from award-winning novelist Yumna Kassab, historian and creator of the viral Hot History platform Ainslie Harvey, journalist and gender equity advocate Virginia Haussegger AM, and writer and former Sydney Theatre Company co-Artistic Director Andrew Upton, who will join the festival live from London to discuss his debut novel Krank Fuss.

Saturday’s program features internationally acclaimed novelist Gail Jones, bestselling author Bri Lee and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen OAM, before concluding with a special Saturday Night Live event exploring artificial intelligence through a world-premiere performance and conversation with leading AI expert Professor Toby Walsh, returning for the second year in a row.

Sunday’s closing program welcomes former diplomat and historian Lachlan Strahan and journalist and author Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks, whose latest work examines the influential chiefs of staff working behind some of the world’s most powerful leaders.

Saturday features some of Australia’s most respected contemporary voices, including internationally acclaimed novelist Gail Jones, bestselling author Bri Lee and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen OAM. The day concludes with a special Saturday Night Live event exploring the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence through a world-premiere performance and conversation with leading AI expert Professor Toby Walsh.

The festival concludes on Sunday with former diplomat and historian Lachlan Strahan discussing Australia’s place in a rapidly changing world, followed by journalist and author Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks, whose latest work examines the influential chiefs of staff working behind some of the world’s most powerful leaders.

The anniversary celebrations come just weeks after the Southern Highlands hosts its first Australian Poetry Slam heat on 3 July at Bowral Memorial Hall. Presented by Word Travels and hosted by Hani Abdile, the event gives local poets the opportunity to compete for a place in the NSW Finals and ultimately the National Final at the Sydney Opera House.

“What excites me most about this year’s program is its diversity,” Ms Bolzan said.

“Across July we’ll celebrate storytelling in all its forms — from award-winning novels and memoirs to live spoken-word performance. Together, the Writers’ Festival and Australian Poetry Slam showcase the incredible depth of literary culture emerging in the Southern Highlands.”

The Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival runs from 23–26 July 2026 at Berkelouw Book Barn, Bendooley Estate, Berrima, and Empire Cinemas, Bowral.

For further information on the Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival program including the Literary dinner visit www.shwf.com.au.

For more information on the Australian Poetry Slam Southern Highlands Heat visit: https://events.humanitix.com/australian-poetry-slam-southern-highlands-heat.