ABA 2026 conference program announced

The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has released the program for its 2026 conference, to run from 13 to 15 June at in Canberra at the QT hotel (pictured).

Sessions at this year’s conference will include an opening keynote by Fabian Paagman, co-president European and International Bookselling Federation (EIBF) and owner of Paagman bookshops, Netherlands; the annual Nielsen report by Bianca Whiteley; a panel featuring ABA CEO Susannah Bowen, Writing Australia director Wenona Byrne and Australia Reads CEO Anna Burkey exploring “how bookshops sit at the heart of the reading advocacy picture”.

Other events scheduled for Saturday include a panel on regional bookselling, and an “author speed dating cocktail reception”.

On Sunday, the Australian Publishers Association (APA) head of product and supply chain Cat Colwell will give a TitlePage update; the Indigenous Literacy Foundation will share news on its work; and panel sessions will cover children’s bookselling, “creating a bookshop that invites wonder”, and AI for bookshops.

The Sunday will also include a trade exhibition, and gala dinner and awards night, the latter to be hosted by Myf Warhurst.

Monday’s program includes workshops, author events and an industry forum bringing together APA CEO Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson, ABA president Gavin Williams, Paagman and session chair by Bowen “for a candid, forward-facing conversation that weaves together the themes and talking points of the past three days through the eyes of industry leaders”.

Authors appearing at the conference will include Brooke Davis, Favel Parrett, Bruce Pascoe, Adam Liaw and Alice Zaslavsky, along with Meg Mason, who will give the closing keynote before joining attendees for a sit-down lunch.

The program is available on the ABA website.

Category: Conferences Local news