The full program for the 2026 Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival has officially been revealed, and this year’s line-up is enormous.
Chris Hammer headlines huge Dandenong Ranges Lit Fest line-up.
Chris Hammer, Sally Hepworth, Garth Nix, Kerryn Mayne – in just its second year, the Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival will bring some of Australia’s best and most loved authors to the Hills for three days of conversation, learning and laughs.
Hammer, one of Australia’s leading crime fiction writers who has sold more than 1.5 million books worldwide and had several turned into mini-series, will deliver the opening address at Cameo Cinemas on Friday, October 9.
He will also be part of a Crime Fiction panel on Saturday, October 10, where he will discuss his latest novel, Full Circle, released just weeks earlier.
Fresh off the international success of her latest novel Mad Mabel, bestselling author Sally Hepworth will be joined by Kerryn Mayne for a special In Conversation event on Saturday, and award-winning author Garth Nix will be part of the Speculative Fiction panel on Saturday, followed by an In Conversation with Declan Fry on Sunday.
These are just a few of the incredible authors ready to share their insights at this year’s expanded Festival. Others include Vikki Petraitis, Kate Mildenhall, Sandra Carmel, Anne Freeman, Kylie Ladd, Ilsa Evans, Tiriki Onus and Marian Spires.
Experience writing ngurrak barring
Audiences will also be delighted by a range of new topics this year, including Indigenous storytelling, romance, graphic novels, crime, modern fiction and screenwriting. The screenwriting panel also includes a special showing of beloved Australian movie Penguin Bloom – with screenwriter Shaun Grant in the room.
Photos by Zita Norton
THE MASSIVE LINE-UP
was announced by author Jaclyn Crupi
at the Festival program launch in Belgrave, Aug 27
“Writers festivals are a place where I feel as though I am with like-minded people. They are a place where I know I am in community,” she said.
“I love hearing from writers about their writing lives, their obsessions, the creative risks they take, the false starts along the way. The conversations enrich my reading life in meaningful ways. I think we sometimes need to remind ourselves how special and unique writers festivals actually are and how lucky we are that they bring writers into our communities.”
This year a number of pre-Festival events have been organised to keep audiences excited and engaged ahead of the main event. During Book Week in August, You Choose author George Ivanoff gave children a behind-the-scenes look at his process, while more than a dozen aspiring authors attended a self-publishing workshop with Hills local Aaron Lamb.
Another special session for children will be held in the September school holidays with author and illustrator Zeno Sworder who will read from Once I Was a Giant before helping children create a miniature picture book at Belgrave Library, Friday October 2, 11am.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Zeno Sworder’s workshop has been rescheduled to Friday October 2.
Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival Chair Marian Matta said they were thrilled the Festival had resonated so well with audiences and authors last year, which had led to them offering an expanded program years ahead of schedule.
“This time last year we were about to embark on our first Festival with hopes high and fingers crossed. It’s safe to say that we exceeded our own expectations,” she said.
“That we’re able to expand the Festival to three days in just our second year is testament to the incredible support we’ve received from Hills locals, and the tremendous authors who believe in our event.
We hope we can exceed our expectations again this year, and the announcement of our program tonight is a major step in making that happen.”
Marian thanked the major sponsors Yarra Ranges Council and Community Bank Upwey & District, and all the other businesses who had provided financial or in-kind support for helping make the event possible.
Tickets are on now on sale, so get in quick and book your favourites while you still can!
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