2026 Festival
Program Updates
Thursday April 23
9am-10am
The Power of the (Morn) Pen and Its Impact on My writing
The moderator of this session is now Jaclyn Crupi, Tracee Hutchison no longer attending the festival
Footy to Fiction – this event has been cancelled
World Book Day – Barry Jones is no longer attending the festival, Ben Ball will take his place on the panel
10.30am
In Conversation: Melissa Leong, moderated by Jane Hone, this is a new session, to be held in The Continental, The Ballroom
In Conversation: Wesley Enoch, this session has been cancelled as Wesley is no longer able to attend the festival
In Conversation: Danny Ben Moshe, this is a new session, moderated by Tim Byrne, held in Hotel Sorrento Cooper Room
12pm
Two to Tango has moved from Hotel Sorrento Salt Bar to Hotel Sorrento Cooper Room
In Conversation: Lucinda Price has been cancelled, Lucinda no longer attending the festival
The Iran Crisis with Ross Garnaut, this is a new session in the Salt Bar, Hotel Sorrento
Shakespeare Unpacked: This is a free, open to the public event in Ellen Grant Hall
1.30pm
Me Stripped Bare (i): Lucinda Froomes Price has been removed from this panel and Melissa Leong has been added.
Between Us: Katherine Hattam and Drusilla Modjeska: This event has been cancelled
3pm
Footy to Fiction this event has been cancelled
4.30pm
Drinks with the Crime Writers: Paul Daley is no longer attending the festival and has been removed from this panel
6.30pm
Talking Footy: Dwayne Russell has been removed from this panel and Colin Carter has been added
Friday April 24
8am
In Conversation: Pip Williams and Heather Rose, this has been added as a new event at the Sorrento Bowls Club, moderated by Tim Byrne
9am
In Conversation: Sarah Wilson, Tracee Hutchison has been removed as moderator, Charlotte Guest is now moderating this panel
Meet the Debutants: Emily Lighezzolo is no longer attending the festival, Rebecca Armitage added to this panel
12pm
The Women 20th Century Art Forgot, this event has been cancelled
3pm
Between Us: John Faulkner and Barry Jones, Halcyon Hall, The Continental
Barry Jones no longer attending the festival, this is now Between Us: John Faulkner Unpacks a National Treasure with Niki Savva moderating
In Conversation: Don Watson – this session now moderated by Michael Brissenden as Paul Daley is no longer attending the festival
On Business and Leadership: Ben Crowe, this session will be moderated by Peter Wilmoth. This session is supported by Slade Group
6pm
Cocktails by The Pool: This session has moved to The Continental, The Barlow, due to screening requirements
The Rehearsal Room: this will now be held in The Continental, The Ballroom (moved from 5.30pm Saturday at Ellen Grant Hall)
ANZAC Eve Special – Tim Byrne is now moderating this session as Paul Daley is no longer attending the Festival
Saturday April 25
2.30pm
In Conversation: Louise Milligan, this session has been moved to Sunday 10.30am in Ellen Grant Hall
4pm
Seas, Rivers and Oceans: A Love Letter, this session has been moved to Hotel Sorrento, Cooper Room
Iran at the Crossroads: This session will be held in The Continental, The Ballroom
Shokoofeh Azar, Kylie Moore-Gilbert and Clinton Fernandes with Michael Brissenden
It’s A Girl Thing: Laura Macdonald has replaced Tracee Hutchison as the moderator for this session
5.30pm
Inside the Rehearsal Room: This session has been moved to 6pm Friday in The Continental, The Ballroom
In Conversation: Geoffrey Robertson moderated by Peter Inge, The Ballroom, The Continental
Drinks with the Reviewers, this event has been moved to The Cooper Room, Hotel Sorrento (moved from The Ballroom, Hotel Sorrento)
Sunday April 26
8am
Tragedy at Porepunkah, this is a new event with John Silvester and Don Watson with Corrie Perkin at the Sorrento Bowls Club
In Conversation: A.C. Grayling and Geoffrey Robertson this is a new event at the Sorrento Community Centre
9am
To Mark Carney, You Had Me at Hello, Annabel Crabb has been removed from this session, Jennifer Hewett has been added to this session as a panel member.
10.30am
The Mushroom Tapes: Helen Garner is no longer on this panel as she is unable to attend the Festival. This session is supported by Coote Family Lawyers
Is Sport Truly a Level Playing Field, Caroline Wilson has been removed from this panel, Inala Cooper has been added to this panel
In Conversation: Louise Milligan moderated by Jo Dyer at Ellen Grant Hall, this event was moved from Saturday 2.30pm in Cooper Room, Hotel Sorrento
12 noon
The Game/Race/Tournament, Caroline Wilson has been added to the panel for this session
3pm
Advance Australia Fair, Wesley Enoch and Barry Jones have been removed from this panel, John Faulkner and Marcia Langton have been added to this panel,
Basket Case or World’s Most Liveable, Kylie Soanes has been removed from this panel, this event has moved to Ellen Grant Hall
Three Books I Always Recommend and Why, this session has been moved to The Continental, The Ballroom