2026 Program
Literary dinner - Thursday 23 July
Siang Lu and Bryan Brown AM in Conversation
Thursday 23 July
6:30pm – 9:30pm
Attire: Black-tie
Berkelouw Book Barn, Bendooley Estate, Berrima
Join us for an unforgettable black-tie Literary Dinner at Berkelouw's iconic Book Barn. Savour an exquisite, carefully curated menu and selected Bendooley Estate wines to complement the evening's celebration of literature and elegance. All this as we celebrate 2025 Miles Franklin Award winner Siang Lu and his novel Ghost Cities, a bold and deeply humane exploration of identity and diaspora.
Beloved Australian actor and author Bryan Brown will also joins us to reflect on an extraordinary career spanning stage and screen, and to share the story behind his latest book, The Hidden. An extraordinary evening of fine food, exceptional wine, and unforgettable literature awaits!
Day 1 - Friday 24 July
Alice Pung OAM
Friday 24 July
10:30am – 11:30am
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Alice Pung OAM is an acclaimed Australian author, lawyer, and educator. Her beloved debut memoir Unpolished Gem, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. She has since built an extraordinary body of work, including Her Father's Daughter and Laurinda. Alice is also a celebrated editor, essayist, and advocate for multicultural voices in Australian literature and remains one of our most vital and beloved storytellers. She is also a proud participant in the Stella In Schools Program, connecting young readers with powerful, diverse storytelling.
Yumna Kassab
Friday 24 July
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Yumna Kassab's latest work is Goodbye My Love. Yumna’s books have been recognised widely in Australian literary circles, including being shortlisted for major prizes such as the Miles Franklin Literary Award and longlisted for the Stella Prize. Her writing has attracted critical attention for its lyrical style and focus on place, community and identity. In 2023, Yumna was named the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature, recognising her contribution to the cultural life of Western Sydney and Australian writing more broadly.
Ainslie Harvey
Friday 24 July
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Ainslie Harvey is the creator behind the viral internet sensation Hot History and the voice behind Sisters of Scandal, which shares mind-blowing tales of history’s boldest and baddest women. With a self-professed love of all things history and all things hot, Ainslie started her TikTok account in 2023 covering everything from the Romanovs to the Titanic. Thirty million likes and nearly 400,000 followers later, she has transformed her passion into a thriving business dedicated to not only covering the events of the past but changing our relationship with it forever.
Virginia Haussegger AM
Friday 24 July
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Virginia Haussegger AM is an award-winning journalist and gender equity advocate. Her latest work, Unfinished Revolution, explores feminist action in Australia, from the 1970s Australian Women’s Liberation Movement to the 2021 March4Justice rally and beyond. Virginia has reported around the globe for prime-time Australian news programs on Channel Seven and Channel Nine and was lead anchor of ABC TV News Canberra for 15 years. Virginia publishes across Australian media, with commentary in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. She is a Member of the Order of Australia and was recipient of the 2019 ACT Australian of the Year.
Andrew Upton - Live from London
Friday 24 July
7:30pm – 9:00pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Andrew Upton is a writer, director and former Co-Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) with his wife, Cate Blanchett. Andrew will be discussing his debut novel Krank Fuss live from his London base. Andrew led STC for eight years as co-Artistic Director alongside Blanchett in 2008–2012, acting as the solo Artistic Director from 2013–2015. His plays include Hanging Man and Riflemind, plus adaptations of Hedda Gabler, The Cherry Orchard, and Cyrano de Bergerac. At the UK National Theatre, with Howard Davies, Andrew created Russian adaptations, including works by Maxim Gorky and Mikhail Bulgakov. Ticket price includes choc top or popcorn.
Day 2 - Saturday 25 July
Gail Jones
Saturday 25 July
10:30am – 11:30am
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Gail Jones is one of Australia’s most celebrated writers, acclaimed for her lyrical, thoughtful prose and international readership. She is the author of eleven novels and the recipient of numerous prestigious literary awards, with work that spans continents and cultures. Her fiction is known for its elegance, intellectual depth, and emotional resonance, earning praise from critics and readers alike. Gail continues to shape contemporary literature with her distinctive voice and imaginative scope. Her latest novel, The Name of the Sister, further confirms her place as a leading figure in Australian writing.
Bri Lee
Saturday 25 July
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Bri Lee is a multi-award-winning, bestselling author known for her acclaimed non-fiction works Eggshell Skull, Beauty, and Who Gets to Be Smart. Her latest novel, Seed, marks another bold step in her literary career. In addition to her books, Bri’s journalism, essays and short stories have been widely published. She is the creator and editor of Substack News & Reviews. Bri’s first novel, The Work, released in April 2024, was met with strong praise and longlisted for the 2025 Indie Award for Debut Fiction, further cementing her reputation as a leading contemporary voice.
Astrid Jorgensen OAM
Saturday 25 July
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Astrid Jorgensen OAM is a choral conductor, composer, producer and entertainer who believes everybody can sing. She is the founder and director of Pub Choir® and author of the memoir Average At Best. An iconic figure in community music, Astrid has led over 400,000 people worldwide in improvised comedy music lessons since 2017. Known for her razor-sharp wit and infectious enthusiasm, she empowers untrained singers to achieve surprising musical results. Astrid’s work has been featured in global media and television, and recognised by a 2024 Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community.
Saturday Night Live! with Prof. Toby Walsh
Saturday 25 July
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Saturday Night Live! is a dynamic exploration of artificial intelligence, featuring the world premiere of Written In Our Voices, an immersive performance that invites audiences to become active participants in a shared journey through the enduring power of books, writing, and libraries. This new work acknowledges AI’s growing presence and challenges artists to respond creatively to today’s shifting cultural landscape. The evening continues with a conversation featuring leading AI expert Professor Toby Walsh, known for his insightful and accessible perspectives on the future of technology and ethics. Together, this thought-provoking event offers creativity, dialogue and fresh ideas.
Day 3 - Sunday 26 July
Lachlan Strahan
Sunday 26 July
10:30am – 11:30am
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Lachlan Strahan is a former diplomat and historian. In his latest book, The Curious Diplomat, Lachlan explores the Australian way of diplomacy and what Australia can do today to forge a path in a complicated and dangerous world. From the icy heart of North Korea to the halls of the United Nations, Lachlan gives a riveting insider’s account of diplomacy, politics and the evolution of Australia’s place in the world over the last 30 years.
Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks
Sunday 26 July
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks’ work sits at the intersection of media, power and gender. Her latest book, The Right Hand, features revealing conversations with chiefs of staff to the world’s powerful leaders. She is the founder of Missing Perspectives, a media startup platforming female storytelling globally. Founded in June 2021, it now reaches more than three million people each month and has launched an app connecting newsrooms with young female journalists. Phoebe has worked as a policy adviser across the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the United Nations Secretariat and the private sector.