Queenstown Writers Festival 2026

The Queenstown Writers Festival returns for 2026 with 32 sessions across four days, from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November. Most of the programme runs at Te Atamira, with two sessions at the Queenstown and Frankton libraries. The programme covers author conversations, panel discussions, workshops, poetry, theatre and a children's strand, alongside a Sampler Session of local writers. Visiting writers announced for 2026 include Shehan Karunatilaka, Dame Anne Salmond, Charlotte Grimshaw, Barbara Dreaver, Kiri Allan, Dick Hubbard, Jon Toogood and Chris Finlayson KC. The festival falls on the general election weekend, and the programme includes a session on the result. Full programme, session times and tickets are on the festival's own site.