Home - Scone Literary Festival

March 7 2026, Scone NSW

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Celebrating all Word Makers!

Held in the Upper Hunter every two years, the Scone Literary Festival is a three-day celebration of words, creativity and communication. Join us in 2027!

Bringing together a diverse collection of Word Makers from all over the world, participants will experience positive conversations and robust debates at this bi-annual event. The Festival provides an invaluable sense of community connection, and supports endeavours of emerging artists and wordsmiths of all genres.

Our organisation also hosts the Patrick White Oration each alternate year, member events, creative and community events, small group workshops, writing competitions and in school author visits.

About The Festival Upcoming Events

2025 Festival Program

Thursday March 6

Find out more about each event or guest by clicking on their name. To reveal full program details on mobile, please scroll across the page

When	What	Who	Where
Thursday March 6, 6.30-8.30pm	‘Getting to know our feelings’ Wellbeing literacy event	Georgie Collinson, Dr Marcelle Moore, Jen Cowley	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Friday March 7

When	What	Who	Where
Friday March 7, 9.30-11am	Cancelled Friends and Family Wellbeing	Cancelled due to Cyclone Alfred Morning tea with Georgie Collinson	Cancelled Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Friday March 7, 9.30am- 3pm	Early Readers Program	Paula Stevenson, Marcelle Moore Sponsored by Godolphin Stud	Local Schools
Friday March 7, 10am-11.30am	Roving Poets and Performers	Roving poetry and entertainment with Jean Paul Bell and Tug Dumbley	Strathearn aged care, & Murruvale Aged care facility
Friday March 7, 10.30am-2.30pm	Primary Writers Workshop	Facilitated by Jo Riccioni Sponsored by Godolphin Stud	Scone Grammar
Friday March 7, 10am- 3pm	High School Author visits	Jeremy Lachlan Sponsored by Godolphin Stud	Scone Grammar School, Scone High School, St Joseph’s High School
Friday March 7, 10.00am- 12.00am	Amplify your Brand your Way! SLF in partnership with Scone Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc	LinkedIn specialist Lucy Bingle and Marketing strategist Louisa Bragg	Must register online- Free workshop Upper Hunter Shire Council
Friday March 7, 12 noon- 2pm	Merriwa Literary Lunch	hosted by the CWA with special guest Ryan Butta	Merriwa CWA - Single Ticket Event
Friday March 7, 12 noon- 2.30pm	Emerging Writers workshop From year 10, 11, 12 and Adults	Suzanne Leal Sponsored by Godolphin Stud	Hunter Warbirds Must register online- Free workshop

Saturday March 8

When	What	Who	Where
Saturday March 8.45am	Welcome to Country	Richie Lawton	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 9.15am	Opening of the 2025 Festival ‘Sustainability- me, we, us,The Planet’	Sal O'Regan	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 9.30am- 10.30am	International Women's Day Address	Geraldine Doogue Supported by Fox Wealth Advisory	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 10.40am- 11.30am	Visual Storytelling and Looking through the Lens	Moderator- Tim Elliot Tully O’Regan, Vanessa Lam, Merri May Gill	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 10.40am- 11.30am	The Worlds That Save Us	Moderator- Jo Riccioni Lev Grossman, Dan O’Malley, Kell Woods	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Saturday March 8, 11.40am- 12.40am	'Wild Country & Safe Places'	Moderator- Suzanne Leal Nardi Simpson, Julie Janson and Jen Cowley	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 11.40am- 12.40am	Crime Fiction - A Source of Sustenance?	Moderator- Catherine du Peloux Le Menage Chris Hammer, Tim Ayliffe, Michael Burge	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Saturday March 8, 12.40pm- 1.40pm	Lunch Book signings - books available at the festival bookshop, Scone Arts and Crafts	Refreshments and lunch available- Scone CWA	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Saturday March 8, 1.45pm- 2.45pm	The Land	Anthea Fawcett in conversation with Dr Anika Molesworth and Dr Catherine Chicken	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 2.45pm- 3.45pm	How the Light Gets In	Moderator- Catherine du Peloux Le Menage Suzanne Leal, Gail Holmes	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Saturday March 8, 2.45pm- 3.45pm	Don’t Look Away!	Moderator- Jo Riccioni with Simon Cleary, Donna M Cameron, Dr Anika Molesworth	Scone Grammar School
Saturday March 8, 4pm- 4.45pm	Pip Murray in conversation with Heather Ewart	Pip Murray, Heather Ewart	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Saturday March 8, From 5pm	Shopping, book signings drinks and entertainment at Scone Arts and Crafts	Dinner and wine available for purchase thanks to Greengrocer Catering and Emma’s Cottage Wines	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Saturday March 8, 5.30pm- 7.30pm	Film Makers' Evening (with a touch of live entertainment by Ted Saunders)	Small Town Coal by Geophyte.com Whip, Rev and Barrel- ‘Slightly Dangerous Passions’ by Merri May Gill ‘Seeds’ by School for Life Foundation Enjoy pop-up interval with Tug Dumbley and Jean Paul Bell	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Sunday March 9

When	What	Who	Where
Sunday March 9, 7.30am- 8.30am	Self First Yoga Free & All Welcome	Upper Hunter Yoga with Nicole Walker	Scone Grammar School
Sunday March 9, 8.30am onwards	Westpac Helicopter Bush Poets' Breakfast	Roving Poets of all Ages	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Sunday March 9, 9.45am	Book Launch “The Way We Were” Scone’s Historical Tapestry 1825 – 2025	Bill Howey	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Sunday March 9, 10.45am - 11.15am	Scott Bevan sharing insights and musings about Return to the Hunter	Scott Bevan	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Sunday March 9, 11.15am	The Horse Capital of Australia….Why the Darn Horse?	Moderator- Scott Bevan Heather Ewart, Allison Sedgwick and Sarah Bishop	Scone Arts & Crafts Hall
Friday March 7, 12 noon	Festival Close

*Program is subject to change

Download Program

Bringing People Together

Our little Festival draws big names in the literary and creative worlds.

We encourage BIG questions, open robust conversation and FUN! Diversity of expression means that we celebrate words in all their forms – through books, podcasts, song, film, art, advocacy or verse.

We will be providing opportunities to engage in panel discussions, conversations, hands on workshops and entertainment. Word makers will connect with word lovers and share their stories and insights.

Support the Festival Connecting People

Lucy Bloom Scone Literary Festival Upper Hunter Festival1 318

Connecting all who have a love of words!

Uncovering, promoting and enhancing emerging writers, is our passion. All words have a place in our festival.

We also encourage those who've already 'made it' to share their experiences and enjoy a Festival that is truly unique. We love all genres of writing; the real, the unreal, historical fiction, romance, crime, humour, graphic, sci fi, fantasy, mystery, satire, short story, magical realism, young adult, drama, fairy tale.

We're about celebrating literary endeavours that improve the human experience!

SHARE YOUR IDEAS Our Past Guests

Join us this March at the 2026 Patrick White Oration!

We are pleased to announce that our flagship event, the Patrick White Oration, will return in 2026, bringing a powerful evening of ideas, rich conversation and divine storytelling to the Upper Hunter.

Held on Saturday 7 March 2026, the Patrick White Oration will unfold in the evening amid the quiet grandeur and striking surrounds of the Scone Race Club. As the Festival’s flagship event, the Oration honours the legacy of Patrick White, Australia’s only Nobel Prize–winning author, and in 2026 welcomes award-winning investigative journalist Kate McClymont to the Upper Hunter to explore literature, culture and the ideas shaping contemporary Australia.

Kate McClymont is a ten-time Walkley Award–winning investigative journalist, including the Gold Walkley, renowned for her fearless reporting at The Sydney Morning Herald and her decades-long commitment to uncovering corruption and holding power to account. With acclaimed books He Who Must Be Obeid (with Linton Besser) and Dead Man Walking, her sharp insight and compelling storytelling promise an evening of thoughtful ideas and engaging conversation.

Starting at 5:30pm, the evening will feature Kate's keynote address followed by a Q&A, with time after to enjoy nibbles and linger in conversation with fellow words lovers.

BOOK TICKETS