Dunkeld Writers Festival

Next date: Friday, 29 August 2025 | 06:00 PM to Sunday, 31 August 2025 | 01:00 PM

A festival of words, ideas, and place - celebrating storytelling in Dunkeld.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Dunkeld, at the southern gateway to the majestic Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, this multi-day festival is a rich celebration of literature, storytelling, and big ideas - rooted deeply in the Australian landscape and identity.

More than just a literary gathering, the festival is a dynamic exploration of books, writing, journalism, and thoughtful discussion. With a strong place-based focus, it brings together voices that reflect the heart and soul of Australia - from its ancient stories to its contemporary conversations.

At its core, the festival celebrates Australian writers - emerging and established - across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and performance. Audiences can expect a vibrant program of author talks, panel discussions, workshops, and intimate conversations that span genres and themes.

Topics explored range from Indigenous affairs and cultural identity to sport, food, wine, crime writing, nature, and rural life - each session drawing meaningful connections between storytelling and the world we live in.

With the dramatic peaks of Wurgarri (Mount Sturgeon) and Mud-Dadjug (Mount Abrupt) as a backdrop, Dunkeld offers the perfect setting for reflection, creativity, and conversation. Visitors can soak in the beauty of the region, sample local produce and wine, and immerse themselves in a festival that honours the power of the written and spoken word to inspire, challenge, and connect.

Whether you're a passionate reader, a curious thinker, or a lover of the arts, this is a festival that invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and be part of something truly unique.