Header image: Lisa Haymes Photography

The full program for Words on the Waves Writers Festival 2026 has been released, and it’s a big one to navigate. Six days, dozens of sessions, panels, workshops and events… you could easily feel a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start.

So here’s how to make sense of it – and what’s worth locking in early.

Kick off Words on the Waves 2026 at The Art House 

The Opening Night Address on Wednesday 27 May is an easy entry point. Held at The Art House Wyong, it brings together Bob Brown, Sarah Wilson, Steve Toltz, Victor Steffensen and Jack Toohey for a one-night conversation around this year’s theme, take the time.

It’s a good way to get a feel for the festival, and really sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s also a good one to go to solo, if you prefer listening over making small talk.

Day & Weekend Pass: What Sessions Should You Book?

If you’re only going to do one thing, make it the Day or Weekend Pass sessions on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May. This is where the bulk of the program sits – 24 author talks across three venues.

You’ll choose 4 sessions per day (or 8 across the weekend) and move between Ocean Beach SLSC, Umina Beach SLSC and the Festival Marquee at the Peninsula Recreation Precinct.

You’ve got conversations with Dame Quentin Bryce, Bob Brown and Bob Carr, panels unpacking media and power, and plenty for fiction lovers too – from crime to historical storytelling. Make sure to set aside time afterwards to unpack it all (ideally with good friends, over good food).

There’s a good mix here – so you can go heavy on ideas, stick to storytelling, or bounce between the two.

The Dip: $15 Author Talks on the Central Coast

Low commitment, high payoff – The Dip offers an easy way to take in the writers’ festival.

Held at Jasmine Greens in Umina, these are shorter, more casual talks. You’ll find sessions with names like Osher Günsberg, Tammy Huynh and Lily Crozier, alongside a mix of topics spanning mental health, investigative journalism, houseplants and romantasy fiction. You can keep it light or go deeper depending on what you’re feeling.

Words on the Waves Highlight Events

Outside the main program, there are a handful of events that tend to book out early – and for good reason.

Here are our top picks:

• Literary Cruise – set sail with Lisa Wilkinson through Broken Bay
• Sparkling Company with Heather Rose – a late afternoon sesh with a glass of bubbles in hand
• Ebb & Flow Poetry Slam – high energy, unpredictable, a crowd favourite
• An Evening with Bryan Brown – big-ticket conversation with a screen legend
• Late Night Lit – smaller, looser, perfect way to end the day

There’s also a new History Walk through Gosford we reckon would be interesting too.

And if you’ve got a book idea sitting in your Notes app, check out the Writing Up Stream workshops. A few of these have already started selling out, so if this is your lane, don’t leave it too late. 

Free events and activities on the Central Coast

Not everything in the Words on the Waves program requires a ticket. There’s a family-friendly activities, free book clubs, and a series of local book launches running before and during the festival. 

The Family Fun Day at Gosford Library is a popular pick for parents on the Central Coast – with storytime, live drawing, music and workshops, it’s designed to get young readers involved & engaged. 

Planning Your Words on the Waves Writers Festival Experience

If you’ve ever thought “I’d like to go to something like that…”

This is it.

Start with one session, and go from there.

Worst case, you leave with a few new book recommendations.
Best case, you’ve just found your new annual thing.

Words on the Waves Writers Festival
May 27 – June 1, 2026
Browse the full program and book tickets at wordsonthewaves.com.au

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A Week of Stories, Ideas and Big Conversations is Coming…

April 2026

If you’ve been meaning to read more, think more, or just sit still for five minutes without a screen… this might be your moment. Words on the Waves Writers Festival is back from May 27 to June 1 2026, bringing a week of stories, ideas and conversation to the Central Coast.

Since launching in 2021, this immersive literary event has built a solid following – not just among booklovers – and those in the know tend to plan their whole week around it. The festival mixes big-name authors with local voices, thoughtful panels with fun events, and just enough structure that you can dip in for a single session or spend the week squeezing in as many sessions as possible.

Sessions are held across a mix of local venues, with the main Day Pass program centred around the Peninsula. Beyond that, you’ll find special events popping up in community spaces right across the Central Coast.

Words on the Waves invites us to take the time

The 2026 theme is simple: take the time.

Not in a lofty, abstract way, but in a more practical sense – like sitting through a conversation that makes you think, hearing a story that sticks, or picking up a book you wouldn’t normally reach for.

It’s a nice shift, especially when life feels like it’s moving at about 200km/h and your reading habits have become three pages before falling asleep.

“Writers’ festivals are friendly and welcoming spaces to ‘take the time’ – to daydream, to connect, to learn something new – or simply to find your next read.” – Angela Bennetts, Festival Director

Across the six days, there’ll be author talks, panel discussions, writing workshops, book launches and a lineup of special events that go beyond your standard literary festival.

From evening conversations and storytelling nights through to a Literary Cruise with Lisa Wilkinson, plus a Family Fun Day and youth-focused sessions, you can tailor your days to suit – and the kids won’t feel like you’ve just dragged them along.

Big names & big ideas on the Central Coast

The 2026 program features an impressive lineup of Australian authors, journalists and cultural voices, including Quentin Bryce, Bob Brown, Rosalie Ham, Tara Moss and Sarah Wilson, alongside heavyweights like Thomas Keneally and Steve Toltz.

Across the main weekend (May 30-31), there’ll be 24 author talks, all accessible with a Day or Weekend Pass. There are also a few fresh additions this year – a guided history walk through Gosford, publisher pitch sessions for aspiring writers, and new ways to connect with authors beyond the usual stage setup.

And then there are the crowd favourites making a return: Late Night Lit, Story Club, the Poetry Slam, The Dip, and headline events like An Evening With Bryan Brown.

Local literary festival backed by the community

Pulling something like this together doesn’t happen without serious local support, and Words on the Waves has built a pretty strong network behind it.

Funding partners like Central Coast Council and the NSW Government help make the festival possible, alongside major partners including the University of Newcastle, Keyton and Brentwood Village.

There’s also a long list of local businesses, venues and community groups involved – from surf clubs and libraries through to accommodation and media partners (including yours truly at Coasties) – all playing a role in bringing the festival to life.

This is very much a homegrown event, with a national-level lineup.

Words on the Waves 2026

Tickets are already on sale (and early demand has been strong), so if there’s something you’ve got your eye on, it’s worth getting in sooner rather than later.

Commit to the full weekend or just one session – worst case, you walk away with a few new book recommendations and a reminder that reading for fun is still a thing.

“In a time when writers’ festivals are more important – and imperilled – than ever, we invite you to celebrate the role they play in showcasing the big ideas, bold stories and urgent artistry of Australian authors.” – Angela Bennetts

Visit wordsonthewaves.com.au for the full program and to learn about the brilliant authors and journalists.

Words on the Waves Writers Festival
May 27 – June 1, 2026
Buy your tickets now