WORDfest 2026’s theme is What it Means to be Human
The last weekend of July is all about Apollo Bay WORDfest, a celebration of literature in all its many forms. This year’s featured authors are:
| Robbie Arnott Limberlost, The Rain Heron | Sofie LagunaThe Eye of the Sheep, The Choke |
| Gina Chick We are the stars | Louise Milligan Shellybanks, Pheasants Nest |
| Rhett Davis Arborescence, Hovering | Mark Mupotsa-RussellThe Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt, The Wolf Who Cried Boy |
| Toni Jordan Addition, Dinner with the Schnabels | J.P. Pomare Seventeen Years Later, The Gambler |
| Hannah Kent Burial Rites, The Good People | Christian White The Long Night, Wild Place |
Head to Apollo Bay WORDfest’s website for ticketing information and the full program.
CALLING ALL READERS, WRITERS AND THINKERS!
This year’s theme: “What it Means to be Human”.
The WORDfest team is working hard behind the scenes to bring you yet another sensational writer’s festival. We have been devastated to see the cancellations of the Bendigo, Byron Bay and Adelaide festivals and feel very fortunate that our small but mighty festival hasn’t had any of these dramas.
There will be five Warm Winter Words author sessions with ten Australian writers. And of course our wonderful community events, Poetry & Pies, The Great De(bay)te and the kids program involving the students of Apollo Bay P-12 College will return.
WORDfest is entirely volunteer driven. If you would like to join our team, please contact us by email,
Kate Bourne, Festival Director
Email: info@apollobaywordfest.com
WORDfest Needs YOU!
WORDfest planning is well underway however, organisers are putting an early call out for volunteers to help with various tasks, including flyer distribution, setting up and packing down various venues around Apollo Bay, helping on the doors and at the bars. Organisers are also seeking offers of accommodation for guest authors. If you are able to help support this year’s event in any way, please email
Head to Apollo Bay WORDfest 2025 for ticketing information and the full program.
ABOUT
Our annual literary festival is a feast for book lovers, writers, poets and the regional community, held the last weekend of July in Apollo Bay. With award winning author talks, writers workshops, poetry and pies night, and the local Great De’bay’te there is something for everyone across the three day festival. This is a weekend not to be missed and is a well loved feature of our annual arts events, since its establishment in 1994.
Hosting a mix of local writers and performers alongside writers and performers from the larger literary community, the annual WORDfest aims to enhance the literary culture of the region and connect it with the wider world of literature.
For more than 30 years, we’ve been committed to bringing great Australian writing to Victoria’s south-west shores. As we’ve grown, we’ve realised that great use of language can take many forms and it’s our desire to share this with you. We are Apollo Bay WORDfest, proudly presented by Apollo Bay Arts.
Apollo Bay WORDfest started as Warm Winter Words in 1994 and grew into a Literary Festival in 2016.
Apollo Bay Arts – WORDfest Coordinator – Kate Bourne
2025 WORDfest INFO
Real and Imagined is the theme for this year’s event, which is bound to inspire and enlighten readers and writers of all ages.
Award winning Anglesea author Mark Smith will discuss his latest psychological thriller Three Boys Gone and leads an impressive and dynamic line-up of speakers, including Jock Serong (Cherrywood), Kylie Ladd (The Mix Up), Maggie Mackellar (Graft) Lia Hills (The Desert Knows her name) Rachel Morton (The Sun was Electric Light) Tracey Spicer (Man-Made) and Kate Mildenhall (The Hummingbird Effect).
WordSmart Kid’s day kick starts the celebration of books on Friday 25th of July at the Community Hall, followed by Poetry and Pies in the evening at the Mechanics Hall.
A jam packed Saturday 26th July will showcase our authors in three panel discussions at the Mechanics Hall, while Saturday evening’s Great De(Bay)te returns with new teams that will entertain with their quick wit and wisdom!
The program rounds out on Sunday 27th July with a Writers Workshop at Marrar Woorn Neighbourhood House and Bookclub event at the Apollo Bay Library.
The short story competition returns for junior and open ages, while WORDfest partner Great Ocean Reads Bookstore will be fully stocked and have a pop-up store at the Mechanics hall with novels by all authors for signings.
