Victoria’s biggest literary event returns to the beloved seaside towns of Sorrento and Portsea from Thursday 23 April to Sunday 26 April 2026 – the four-day literary event will feature more than 180 authors and guests and 150+ events across 10 Sorrento and Portsea venues.
The Festival shines a spotlight on the power of storytelling in all its forms, including a dynamic program dedicated to getting into the creative minds of fiction writers. From compelling coming-of-age narratives and debut novelists to queer fiction and gothic revivals, the festival brings together some of Australia’s most exciting literary voices.
An immersive theatre program brings the page to stage, inviting audiences behind the scenes of new works and live readings, offering a rare glimpse into the creative process. Together, these sessions celebrate storytelling with something to captivate every kind of reader and theatre lover.
Sorrento Writers Festival Program highlights:
Frankenstein and Heathcliff Crushes: Gothic films are reviving the classics | Thursday 23 April
Deirdre Coleman and Clara Tuite with Seth Robinson
Renewed Hollywood interest in literature’s great gothic classics prompts our three University of Melbourne scholars to consider: what it is about the stories of Mary Shelley, Emily Bronte, Bram Stoker and Jane Austen that continues to light up the imaginations of movie and tv producers around the world?
Me, Stripped Bare (i): Why writers need to tell their story | Thursday 23 April
With Kate Holden, Melissa Leong and Jayne Tuttle with Peter Wilmoth
The writers reveal why they decided to commit their own personal stories to paper, and how cathartic (or otherwise) the process proved to be.
From Footy To Fiction: How did you make that handball? | Thursday 23 April
Dwayne Russell and Kelvin Templeton with Steve Perkin
Two greats of the game, sports commentator and former Geelong player Dwayne Russell, and former Footscray player and 1980 Brownlow Medallist Kelvin Templeton have both written and published their first novels. Host Steve Perkin delves into the world of these two footy retirees and their need to write a spicy novel.
Barnacle Theatre Production: Are We Dead Yet? | Thursday 23 April
Are We Dead Yet? – An afternoon to die for, with Alan Pentland (Fast Forward, Melbourne Spoken Word prize), and Liz Hicklin (95 and Still Alive), “a rare and talented star” and the mistress of sit-down stand-up comedy. This performance is produced by Barnacle Studios from The Broadway Rosebud.
Coming Of Age Novels | Friday 24 April
Madeleine Gray, Erin Hortle and Toni Jordan with Charlee Brooks
Some of literature’s most engaging characters are children who become adults during the book’s narrative. The writers discuss their new novels and how they tackled important themes like the journey from innocence to awareness, awakened sexuality, relationships with family, grief and trauma, betrayal and friendship.
Meet The Debutants: Our new novelists share their first foray | Friday 24 April
Davin Ardlie, Rebecca Armitage and Cameron Sullivan with Jo Dyer
Audiences will join a celebration of three debutant authors and learn about the process of writing and publishing audiences’ first novel.
Love, Friendship, Devotion: Queer fiction comes of age | Friday 24 April
Madeleine Gray, Sofie Laguna and Cameron Sullivan with Charlee Brooks
This session explores a shift in literature as queer stories become less about a “coming out” moment or the struggle for identity, and move toward the complex and everyday lives of interesting adventures of LGBTQ+ characters.
Inside the Rehearsal Room | Friday 24 April
Emily Sheehan, Red Stitch Theatre Company and Michael Cathcart
A first exclusive read-through and workshopping of playwright Emily Sheehan’s new work. Two best friends and football WAGs – one a polarising anti-woke commentator, the other an ex-athlete turned sports psychologist – prepare to launch a new ‘female-friendly’ gambling app on grand final weekend. But when a scandal breaks at their own club and a public tragedy collides with launch day, they must decide whether to pull the app or profit from the fallout. Emily will be joined by actors from Red Stitch Theatre Company with Michael Cathcart as host.
The Village Square: Music, Fables And Your Own Imagination | Friday 24 April
Zoe Knighton, Robbie Melville and Richard Piper
The Village Square combines live music performance and storytelling. Set in an imagined town many years ago, The Village Square presents stories of love and loss, misfortune and mirth, the graceful and grotesque.
The 2026 Sorrento Writers Festival runs Thursday 23 April to Sunday 26 April. For more information and full program, visit: www.sorrentowritersfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Sorrento Writers Festival (supplied)