About
Craft
•
Connection
•
Joy
•
Grief
•
Rage
•
Legacy
•
Possibility
•
Family
•
Reflection
•
Friendship
•
Redemption
•
Wonder
•
Craft • Connection • Joy • Grief • Rage • Legacy • Possibility • Family • Reflection • Friendship • Redemption • Wonder •
An unmissable event for readers and writers alike, the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival offers all who attend an intimate festival of ideas and creativity, bringing community together to read, connect, and consider new ways of thinking and being in our ever-changing world.
Our 2026 theme – echoes and edges – evokes the stunning landscape that surrounds the festival, while prompting audiences to reflect on the vast possibilites for intellectual, political and emotional impact literature affords us.
Our main program offers an incredible line-up of authors sharing their talents across four main stages at The Carrington Hotel, The Baroque Room and the Katoomba Community Centre. An extended workshop program invites participants to make time for their own writing during the Festival, with opportunities to learn from the best facilitators in the country at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and Varuna the National Writers’ House. Last year’s popular satellite program in the Megalong Valley returns, as well special events at Scenic World, the beloved Kids Program at Katoomba Library, and so much more.
Blue Mountains Writers Festival Team
-
![Maeve Marsden, the creative director at Varuna The Nationals Writers' House. She has a wide open smile, short dark hair, and is wearing a striped shirt with green, orange, and black colours.]()
Maeve Marsden
Creative Director
-
![Veechi Stuart, the executive director of Varuna The National Writers' House sitting on a concrete step in front of a grey door, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a white top, brown pants, black sandals.]()
Veechi Stuart
Executive Director
-
![Amy Sambooke, the program advisor for The Blue Mountains Writer's Festival. She has curly hair, glasses, and a dark blue collared shirt, smiling outside Varuna The Nationals Writers' House.]()
Amy Sambrooke
Program Advisor
-
![Jasmin McGaghey, First Nations Creative Producer]()
Jasmin McGaughey
First Nations Creative Producer
-
![Chris Cannell, the communication and Marketing director at Varuna The National Writers' House. He is smiling and wearing a Black and white Blue Mountains Writers' Festival T-shirt and a lanyard, standing indoors.]()
Chris Cannell
Marketing & Ticketing
-
![Wei Clerkin]()
Wei Clerkin
Volunteer Coordinator
-
![Erin English, the venue manager for the Blue Mouatins Writers' Festival. She has light brown hair and is smiling while sitting against a yellow wooden wall, wearing a colourful floral top and black pants.]()
Erin English
Venue Management
Making our Festival Accessible
Varuna the National Writers’ House is committed to making our programs and events as accessible as possible. Our venues page lists all venue-related accessibility information, and our accessibility page provides more in-depth information. Please contact hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have specific questions we haven’t covered.
