Celebrate!
Sunday 11 October
9am – 5pm
Come and join the fun
Following a hugely successful inaugural event, the Newstead Young Writers Festival returns on Sunday 11 October 2026, bringing another inspiring day of creativity, imagination and storytelling to central Victoria.
Held every two years at the Newstead Arts Hub, the festival is a unique celebration of ideas, creativity and the art of weaving a good yarn. Young people of school age and their families are invited to explore writing in all its forms—from stories, poetry and comics to illustration, songwriting, zines, graphic novels and visual storytelling.
This year’s festival theme, Weaving Stories, celebrates the many ways stories connect people, places and ideas. Whether you’re writing your first story, sketching your own comic, filling a journal or developing your craft, the festival offers a welcoming space to create, learn and be inspired.
The festival transforms the historic Newstead railway precinct into a vibrant creative village, with workshops, performances and activities taking place throughout the Newstead Arts Hub grounds and surrounds.
More than 20 professional authors, illustrators, artists and storytellers will come together to share their skills through an exciting program of hands-on workshops, talks and creative activities for young people of all ages. From aspiring young writers to confident teenage creatives, participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from some of Australia’s most accomplished storytellers and artists.
Festival Convenor Dean McLaren said the festival is about creating opportunities for every young person to discover the joy of storytelling. It creates a safe space where students of all ages, abilities and diverse backgrounds can develop their love of writing, drawing and storytelling and be encouraged to express themselves.
“The response to our first festival showed just how much young people value the chance to create alongside professional writers and artists,”
“Writing and drawing is a great way for people of all ages to tell their own story and unleash their imaginations,” Dean said. “It is so important for young people to appreciate and value who they are and to develop a sense of self worth and belonging.”
Program information, bookings and ticket releases will be available on the festival website in the lead up.
To stay up to date with the latest announcements, subscribe to the festival’s VIP mailing list to get all the news, programming and ticket releases first.
Visit www.newsteadyoungwritersfestival.com to sign up and learn more about the festival.
Hope to see you there!
John Marsden Story Prize
This year the festival has partnered with the Newstead Writers Group to deliver the first John Marsden Story Prize for Young Writers. The Prize is open to all secondary school aged students in Australia, with entry is via the festival website. Entires close 31 August 2026. Winners from three age categories will be invited to read their work at the Festival.
Get involved
The Newstead Young Writers Festival aims to keep the cost of attendance low through the generous support of sponsors, donors and volunteers, ensuring young people from across regional Victoria can take part regardless of their circumstances.
If you’d like to help make this community event possible, the festival needs you! Follow the links for volunteering, sponsorship and donation opportunities.