The Biggest Names in Books are Coming to Auckland Writers Festival 2026!
Published: Thursday 12 March 2026
It’s here! The 2026 Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki programme is live and ready to browse. Read on for a small selection of highlights and make sure you click through to the full programme to plan your #AWF26 schedule.
The Aotea Centre and other central city venues will come alive in May with a party-like atmosphere as more than 220 artists from across the country and the world feature in over 170 events.
Artistic Director Lyndsey Fineran and a team of staff and guest curators have delivered a Festival that will entertain, enlighten and inform every type of reader.
“Nothing has thrilled me more than seeing attendances soar over the last two years and watching a broader range of readers (and the reading‑curious…) fill our theatres. My hope is that my third AWF programme not only excites our beloved Festival regulars but also cracks the doors open a little wider to welcome new ones.”
Tickets go on sale 9am, Friday 13 March via Ticketmaster or by calling 0800 111 999. The Festival is designed to be accessible and welcoming, with more than 25% of events free of charge.
Happy Festival planning!
The Biggest Names in Fiction
Enjoy a rare opportunity to hear in-person from Booker winners, global bestsellers and local superstars.
Pictured: RF Kuang, Lily King, Charlotte Grimshaw, David Szalay, Catherine Chidgey, Tayari Jones, Mick Herron, Louise Erdrich, Yann Martel, Amitav Ghosh, Mieko Kawakami and Roddy Doyle.
The Biggest Names in Non-Fiction
Some of the world’s sharpest non-fiction writers will assemble across the Festival venues.
Pictured: Lyse Doucet, Tareq Baconi, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Jimmy Wales, Tāme Iti, Karen Hao, Gone By Lunchtime, Helen Garner, Patrick Radden Keefe, Witi Ihimaera, David Moscrop, Amitav Ghosh, Luke Kemp and Barbara Demick.
Fun for All the Whānau
The entirely free PUKAPUKA ADVENTURES is designed for the whole whānau. There is also a ticketed family offering that includes a special gala night just for young bookworms, a theatre experience, and Dav Pilkey, the creator of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.
Pukapuka Adventures cover illustrations from Hatch and Match © 2024 Ruth Paul. Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Australia Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
Two Special Virtual Events
Two virtual events will serve to make the world feel a smaller place. Audiences can connect with renowned British novelist Ian McEwan and Hamnet author Maggie O’Farrell.
What's New
Plot Twist, a whole new arm of the Festival aimed at rangatahi and celebrating lit outside the lines, launches this year.
A Q Theatre takeover, the programme will bend genres, break rules, and rewrite the Festival script, with spoken word, tarot, dark academia, romance, and surprises around every corner. There will also be free zine making with Auckland Zinefest, DJs, BookTok meet-ups, and more.
Also new for 2026 is the Intrepid Lounge, a welcoming dwell space for Festival goers to escape the bustle for some downtime, giving you the chance to relax and reflect after hearing from some of literature’s most recognisable household names.
