Mudgee Readers’ Festival 2026 program announced

Mudgee Readers’ Festival (MRF) has announced the full program for its 2026 festival, running 21 to 23 August, featuring conversations, workshops and special events at venues across Wiradjuri Country, Mudgee, NSW.

Jane Novak, in her first year as creative director, said, “After 30 years in bookselling, publishing and as a literary agent, working with the amazing existing Mudgee Readers’ Festival committee to deliver my first ever festival program has been a joy. I grew up in Mudgee, my parents ran a bookshop here for nearly 30 years so this feels like a homecoming of sorts.”

Sessions include “Under Threat: Democracy and Free Speech” with Clare Wright, Jane Caro, Fiona Kelly McGregor and Malcolm Knox, in conversation with Stephen Romei, which will explore “how Australia can protect democratic institutions and freedom of speech at a time when public trust in political, media and academic institutions is under increasing pressure”.

In the lead-up to the festival, Michael Winkler and Wayne Marshall will be in conversation at the Book Nest Mudgee on 19 August.

Other guests include Louise Milligan, Brandon Jack, Natalie Conyer, Debra Adelaide, Gail Jones and Rachel Franks.

In partnership with WestWords, MRF will welcome authors Samantha WL Lee, Alexandria Burnham and Lisa Nicol. The festival will also partner with the Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council to bring back the Wiradjuri language zine.

The program is available from the MRF website.

Category: Festivals Local news