The Sorrento Writers Festival is a not-for-profit cultural and community organisation that brings year-round literary events, discussions and talks to Sorrento, the wider Mornington Peninsula and the Melbourne community.

The Festival was conceived by Corrie Perkin, an award-winning journalist and former bookshop owner. The inaugural Festival was held in April 2023 with 94 events and 144 speakers. In 2026 — our fourth festival — we staged 175 events across five days, welcomed more than 230 authors and speakers, sold 23,112 tickets, and were supported by 202 volunteers.

Our Festival has a long-term commitment to improving literacy, enhancing learning, and providing a safe, stimulating and mutually respectful environment in which to discuss ideas. We want more children reading books. We want them to experience the joy of storytelling and the power of their imaginations. In July 2025, the Sorrento Writers Festival Literacy Fund was launched and is now providing funding for important literacy projects across the Mornington Peninsula.

In 2026 we staged our fourth annual event and, once again, delivered extraordinary experiences while showcasing remarkable Australian – and some Irish – talent.