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Sorrento Writers Festival

April 24 - 27, 2025​

2024 at a glance

135 events
190 speakers
12 local venues activated
15,743 tickets sold
150+ volunteers
Local traders report business up 20-30%
267,000 individual website page views
43,400 IG accounts reached
Toward 2025

Planning has started on the 2025 Sorrento Writers Festival and already some big names in Australia’s book and journalism worlds have said yes, they’d love to join us next April.  

Among those speakers will be many new faces to Sorrento. We will also welcome back several authors, academics, illustrators, journalists, commentators and moderators who loved our previous two festivals and can’t wait to get the band back together.  

Early Bird tickets will go on sale in January with the announcement of several special events. And then in late March/early April the full program will be released so festival -goers can organise their travel and session itineraries.  

To keep in touch with news, updates, program announcements and invitations, follow us on Instagram @sorrentowritersfestival and subscribe to our newsletter.

What People Said About The 2024 Festival

Lots of valuable information, fuel for imagination, interesting insights, inspirational speakers and fun. And to be surrounded by fellow literature lovers at venues across that gorgeous town, Sorrento, was an amazing experience. The volunteers were wonderfully helpful and enthusiastic.
Sally CappMelbourne Lord Mayor
Just writing to thank you for such a wonderful festival. I am in awe of what you and your team accomplished - the number of sessions, the quality of the speakers and interviewers, how effortless and joyful everything felt, and how smoothly it all ran. I can't remember enjoying myself so much at a festival.
Dr Sarah KrasnosteinWriters
My deepest gratitude to you, the staff, and all the volunteers. I had the best of times.
Thomas MayoAuthor and First Nations advocate
The 2024 Sorrento Writers Festival was a triumph. It was embraced by the Sorrento community and by the so many outstanding panelists, authors and moderators - many of whom returned after the success of the inaugural one. The variety and quality of those taking part in the 135 events was warmly received by the nearly 16,000 attendees who enjoyed the ambience, friendship and enthusiasm of all concerned.
Ranald MacdonaldFestival panel member, academic and former newspaper proprieto
At Sorrento, I had a chance to engage with people such as Gail Jones and John Lyons, both long-time heroes of mine. These close interactions can give a genuine boost to the quality of Australian literature in a way that visiting celebrities just don’t. I know I came away inspired to get on with my next book.
Adrian HylandAuthor
The warmest congratulations to you, your team, the volunteers, the incredible authors, broad gamut of speakers, and all involved to make this year’s Sorrento Writers Festival the largest literary event in Victoria! The atmosphere at the sessions and the buzz in and around town were special. Sorrento felt magical. Hotel Sorrento is proud to be a sponsor of the Festival.
Anne PittDirector, Hotel Sorrento
I want to say a very big thank you for the wonderful few days I've spent at the festival. Words really can't describe just how much I loved it. I feel full to the brim with inspiration having listened to so many wonderful writers, authors, and journalists. There was such a lovely spirit in the hotel - even the staff on the front desk told us that they could feel it, and that it filled them with joy. I thought that was wonderful.
Belinda JefferyCook and author
It was tremendous - joyous is the word I am using to describe it all. Please pass on my gratitude to all the staff there at the festival, and to all your brilliant volunteers. The sense of community ownership and pride was intoxicating.
Christos TsiolkasWriter and critic
As a restaurant operating in the main street of Sorrento, we certainly felt the positive impact your event had on our business, not only did we see an uplift in clientele but also a great vibe in the restaurant as there was an opportunity for attendees to mix with performers in the same relaxed environment.
Sardo Restaurant, SorrentoOwners and staff
Your festival created an incredible experience for all who attended. …. It was a privilege to be part of an event that brought writers and readers together in such a meaningful way, especially during these challenging times when ideas festivals face so many uncertainties.
Dr Michael Carr-GregPsychologist and author
Thank you for creating such a marvellous festival. For the second year, I have left it feeling fulfilled, inspired, and renewed. The atmosphere, the speakers of such ability, humour and ideas, and being among likeminded people in so many of the creative fields makes living on the Mornington peninsula better than ever.
Susie HamsonFestival attendee
Thank you again for everything over the last few days. I thought it was a hugely successful writers’ festival. There was so much energy among the audience, writers and journalists. Certainly, for me it was one of the best writers festivals I’ve been to.
John LyonsJournalist and ABC Global Edito
I just wanted to thank you again for inviting me to your wonderful festival. I had an amazing time, and some great conversations.
Richard KingWriter and poet
That was a blast. Strange thing about literary festivals: you meet new people, but you really hook up with friends you never spend enough time with. Thanks for having us down there.
David MarrJournalist, author and presenter
Following the triumph of the inaugural Sorrento Writers Festival in 2023, I downplayed my expectations this year, only to have them exceeded. Over three and a half days, I attended 20 hour-long sessions. Well, 21 if the festival conclusion drinks are included, though that went for more than an hour!
Megan RuleFestival attendee
I had an absolutely smashing time at the Sorrento Writers Festival last week. I spoke at four sessions and attended another six, and loved talking to fellow writers and book lovers. It is such an amazing place and the atmosphere was so welcoming. The staff and volunteers did an amazing job. I would be thrilled to be invited back.
Troy BramstonJournalist and autho
Previous
Next
Three Sessions You’ll Love...

Come In, The Water’s Fine

Three of Australia’s hottest new novelists discuss their debut fiction.
 
Friday April 26, 9-10am
Sorrento Bowls Club

Book now

Telling Australia’s History

Judith Brett, Inala Cooper, Kate Fullagar and Don Watson with Michael Cathcart
 
Friday April 26, 10.30-11.30am
Sorrento Community Centre

Book now

Books as Game Changers

Three authors reflect upon their own books, and the work of others
 
Friday April 26. 12 noon-1pm
Sorrento Community Centre
 
 

Book now

What People Said About The 2023 Festival

The 2023 Sorrento Writers Festival was a resounding success. In our first year, the Sorrento Writers Festival established itself as one of Victoria’s most exciting literary events. Feedback from presenters and the public was incredible.

There was so much to love about the Sorrento Writers Festival, but here’s what matters: I spoke with several audience members who’d never been to a writer’s festival before. And they loved it. They each left the session excited by books, and ideas, and stories. For me, introducing the most democratic of art forms to regional Victorians was the best part of the weekend.
Toni Jordan
Writer
Hi Corrie, I wish to thank you and your army of volunteers who stood by the festival and believed its success would catapult it for an annual event marked on the calendar. Thank you bringing communities, visitors and writing enthusiasts together - believers of the art.
Chris Hammer
Author
Hi Corrie, I wish to thank you and your army of volunteers who stood by the festival and believed its success would catapult it for an annual event marked on the calendar. Thank you bringing communities, visitors and writing enthusiasts together - believers of the art.
Debra Mar
Mornington Peninsula Deputy Mayor
What a fabulous, inspiring, thought provoking festival you hosted. It was such a lovely environment to immerse oneself in - everyone was friendly, inclusive and genuinely thrilled to be there. I was particularly delighted with the way the Voice was received. Thomas Mayo is a star. As is Corrie. Actually she is an entire galaxy.
Belinda B
READ MORE TESTIMONIALS

2023 Festival in Pictures

The local community embraced the idea of a new cultural event on the Mornington Peninsula’s southern tip, while first-time visitors to the area were delighted by the region’s natural beauty, the shopping, cafes and bars, and the warm and inclusive welcome they received.
SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE 2023 FESTIVAL

Supporters of Sorrento Writers Festival

The Sorrento Writers Festival would not have been possible without the support of our fabulous donors.

the balnaves foundation
margaret lawrence bequest
sidney myer fund
hansen little foundation
arnold bloch leibler
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

VIEW ALL DONORS | VIEW FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL

You give, we grow

It’s as simple and as wonderful as that.

We thank those who donated to our 2024 Festival. If you’d like to contribute financially as we plan 2025, please contact our the office [email protected] or click the Show Your Support button above. Please remember we have Federal Government DGR status so your donation over $2 is tax deductible. And you are helping us build an outstanding year-round program of author and ideas-inspired events.

writers festival mornington peninsula

words matter

Welcome to The Sorrento Writers Festival, a new not-for-profit cultural and community organisation that will bring year-round literary events, discussions and talks to Sorrento and the wider Mornington Peninsula community.

Our inaugural four-day Festival runs April Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 and we hope you’ll join us.

This seaside gathering of great ideas brings together some of Australia’s finest minds and deepest thinkers. In April we welcome more than 100 writers, journalists, academics, commentators, illustrators, and musicians to our beautiful part of the Peninsula. And we can’t wait.

The Sorrento Writers Festival acknowledges the Bunurong people of the great Kulin Nation, the traditional owners of the land on which our Festival takes place. We celebrate our region’s deep First Nations history, its European settler influence, and its contemporary role as one of Victoria’s most beautiful coastal villages.

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The Festival begins in

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Connect.
Share.
Listen.
Learn.

The Sorrento Writers Festival is an opportunity for writers, readers and the wider Sorrento community to come together to celebrate the power of storytelling.

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  • More than 100 renowned authors & speakers across 90+ events
  • 4 days of important conversations
  • A celebration of words, writers & big ideas
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Speakers

craig silvey

Craig Silvey

Professor Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

Professor Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

sofie laguna

Sofie Laguna

jane harper

Jane Harper

professor marcia langton

Professor Marcia Langton

laureate professor peter doherty

Laureate Professor Peter Doherty

All Speakers
sorrento writers festival

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