Upcoming Events

The Scone Literary Festival is looking ahead to our flagship event in 2026 with the return of the

Patrick White Oration.

Held on Saturday 7 March 2026 at the Scone Race Club from 5.30pm, this much loved event will bring readers, writers and thinkers together for an evening of ideas, storytelling and conversation. For the first time, the Oration will be presented in March, aligning it with the Festival’s broader rhythm and reinforcing its place in the cultural life of the Upper Hunter. The Patrick White Oration is the Festival’s flagship bi-annual event, honouring Australia’s only Nobel Prize winning author and welcoming a nationally recognised voice to Scone. The evening will feature a keynote address by investigative journalist Kate McClymont, followed by a Q&A, with time to enjoy nibbles, connect with fellow book lovers and continue the conversation.


SECURE YOUR TICKET HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/patrick-white-oration-2026


Guest Speaker Kate McClymont

The Scone Literary Festival is delighted to welcome Kate McClymont to the Upper Hunter as the guest speaker for the 2026 Patrick White Oration. Her sharp intellect, incisive storytelling

and deep understanding of the issues that shape our society promise an evening of rich ideas, stimulating conversation and meaningful connection for our community.


Kate McClymont is one of Australia’s most respected investigative journalists and a ten-time Walkley Award winner, including the prestigious Gold Walkley. Her work has shaped national conversations and set benchmarks for fearless, ethical journalism, making her a powerful and fitting voice for the 2026 Patrick White Oration. Over decades at The Sydney Morning Herald, Kate has uncovered corruption, challenged powerful institutions and told complex stories with clarity and compassion. In 2012, she was named NSW Journalist of the Year for her investigations into the Health Services Union and the business dealings of former NSW Labor minister Eddie Obeid.


Kate is also the co-author of He Who Must Be Obeid (with Linton Besser), a landmark account of political corruption in NSW, and the author of Dead Man Walking, which explores the murder of Michael McGurk and the darker edges of Sydney’s business world. The Festival team is thrilled to welcome Kate to Scone in 2026. Her remarkable perspectives are sure to stimulate rich ideas and conversations during the evening.


We hope you join us for a memorable evening in one of regional NSW’s most welcoming towns! Scone is a bustling regional town that prides itself on being open and friendly. Find out more about the stunning surrounds, accommodation and where to get the best coffee here.


If you would like to volunteer to be part of this incredible event, please Get in Touch

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Discover your voice and refine your craft at our Adult Writers Workshop, designed for writers at every stage of their journey.
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Panel discussion on Words and Language, 'Wild Country & Safe Places' moderated by Suzanne Leal, joined by Nardi Simpson and Jen Cowley.
Don’t Look Away
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Writers Donna Cameron, Simon Cleary and Dr Anika Molesworth have all addressed environmental issues in their latest works
In Conversation with Heather Ewart
Saturday March 8
Heather Ewart will be sharing her Back Roads journey and the many, many joys of small towns and how they uniquely sustain themselves.
How the Light Gets in
Saturday March 8
“There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in” says Leonard Cohen in his song “Anthem”
Book Tickets