Mudgee Readers' Festival

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Mudgee Readers' Festival

The Mudgee Readers' Festival has been developed to promote the joy of reading. Be entertained by a wi

16/06/2026

📚 First Author Announcement! 🎙️

We know one of the questions you're asking already: who's coming to MRF this year?

We're delighted to reveal the first four authors joining us for this year's festival:

CLARE WRIGHT OAM – award-winning historian, broadcaster and author of the acclaimed Democracy Trilogy, including Ṉäku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions.

BRANDON JACK – author, journalist and former Sydney Swans player, whose bestselling novel Pissants has been optioned for television.

JANE CARO AM – Walkley Award-winning columnist, broadcaster, novelist and one of Australia's most influential social commentators.

GAIL JONES – internationally celebrated novelist, three-time Miles Franklin shortlisted author, and recipient of Creative Australia's 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature.

And this is just the beginning....

We'll be announcing more fantastic authors throughout the week, with the full festival program going live in the coming weeks. We'll also keep you posted on exactly when tickets go on sale.

We can't wait to share what's in store for Mudgee Readers' Festival 2026! 📖 ❤️

09/06/2026

With government funding becoming harder and harder to access, we're asking our wonderful community to help support the future of Mudgee Readers' Festival.

Every year, MRF brings acclaimed authors, inspiring conversations & cultural events to regional Australia. This August, we'll once again host our annual festival, alongside school visits made possible through our friends at WestWords.

As a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, every donation over $1 is tax deductible. No contribution is too small: every dollar helps us bring great writers, ideas & opportunities to our region.

If you're in a position to give this tax time, we'd be incredibly grateful for your support ❤️

https://www.mudgeereaders.com/donations

19/05/2026

Only 2 more sleeps until ‘Live & Local’ livestream, right here in Mudgee! 📕

Here are some of the sessions, plus books available at our ‘Pop-Up’ bookstore—thanks to —plus the livestream program. More info available on our website!

13/05/2026

Congratulations to Hayley Scrivenor and Graeme Compton, recipients of our 2026 Mudgee Literary Arts Residency!

Hayley and Graeme will each receive five days of uninterrupted writing time at Kildallon Education Centre, here on Wiradjuri Country. During their residency, both writers will also present a public workshop for the community, something we’re incredibly excited to share with you in the future.

We received a strong and highly competitive field of applications, but Hayley and Graeme’s stood out not only for the quality of their creative work, but for their thoughtful engagement with regional storytelling, community connection & the ways their projects will contribute to the broader literary life of Mudgee.

This residency is proudly funded by the NSW Government through EnergyCo’s Community and Employment Benefit Program.

📸 credits:

Hayley: Jesse Dittmar
Graeme: Amber Hooper

04/05/2026

On Wednesday May 6th, seven Mudgee based women will share their stories that explore resilience, individuality and the beauty found in places others might overlook. They remind us that even in the toughest conditions, joy can be found often where we least expect it.

This event is presented by Generation Women Australia, founded by Donna Logue, and hosted by friend of Mudgee Readers’, Summer Land. Summer is an author and ghostwriter of 15 books, including The Last Victim with Tracy Hall, and most recently, Natalie Bassingthwaighte’s memoir, Love Like This.

Known for her sharp wit, intense curiosity and deeply empathetic nature, Summer is passionate about helping tell stories that inspire a more connected, compassionate and creative world.

This is a great event for Mudgee & we’re happy to spread the word.

Tickets are selling fast - book your tickets here:

https://www.generationwomenaus.com/next-show/all/mudgee/may-2026

30/04/2026

Who's getting excited for Sydney Writers' Festival's 'Live & Local' program?
📚🙏

We stream the very best of the festival directly to you, here in Mudgee!

When you ask? This year is Thursday 21 May until Sunday 24 May. Where is it held? Kildallon Education Centre, on Court Street (next to the Country Universities Centre, aka 'the old Tafe'). How much does it cost? A gold coin donation. Tea and coffee is provided.

Head to our website to check out the full program:

https://www.mudgeereaders.com/news-1

This year, we're excited to be running a book club! Come and chat about last year's Man Booker winner, Flesh, before the session with David Szalay. More about this soon!

What's

01/04/2026

Due to a change in scheduling, the Mudgee Readers’ Festival will now be held on Saturday 22 August 2026.

We look forward to gathering in Mudgee for a day of books, ideas & lively conversation.

23/03/2026

Live & Local 2026 📚

After the success of Live & Local, Sydney Writers' Festival returns to Mudgee again this year to bring the best of the Festival direct to you. We're not going to lie, this program is definitely one of the best we've seen!

One of Australia’s most loved forums for literature, ideas and storytelling, Sydney Writers’ Festival will live-stream its headline events from Sydney to Kildallon Education Centre (70 Court Street, Mudgee) from Thursday 21 May to Sunday 24 May.

Prepare to be invigorated and engaged by conversations, debates and discussions featuring some of the world’s finest writers and thinkers.

Audiences can also participate in live Q&A sessions at each event, sending questions straight to the Sydney stage.

Join us for Live & Local 2026 streamed live by Sydney Writers’ Festival and delivered locally to Mudgee, with the assistance of volunteers from Mudgee Readers' Festival.

Stay tuned — we'll share the program with you shortly! 🫣

02/03/2026

Our friends at are excited for their first author event of the year! 📚

Join to the shop for a relaxed author talk with his good mate on Thursday, March 5, kicking off at 6pm.

Rod is a true Aussie larrikin — funny, warm, and full of stories — and he’ll be chatting about his book Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It !

✨ Free event
📖 The Book Nest will have copies of the book available to purchase on the night
📝 From 6pm this Thursday!

Grab a seat, bring a friend, and join our bookshop partner for a great evening of stories and laughs!

11/02/2026

✨ Applications open! 📚

The Mudgee Literary Arts Residency is launching for the first time in 2026 — offering writers and illustrators a week of uninterrupted creative time on beautiful Wiradjuri Country!

Five quiet writing days in the historic Kildallon building. Open to fiction and narrative non-fiction writers, poets, children’s authors, graphic novelists and illustrators.

There are two residencies available in 2026 (subject to accommodation availability).

📅 Applications open Wednesday 11 February 2026.

Interested and living in the Arts OutWest, Outback Arts or West Darling Arts regions? Apply via the link on our website.

Further afield? Submit an EOI through the form on our website.

This residency is proudly funded by the NSW Government through EnergyCo’s Community and Employment Benefit Program.

Address

Mudgee, NSW
2850

Website

http://www.mudgeereaders.com/

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