Western Port Writes ... a literary festival

Western Port Writes ...

Western Port Writes ...

Western Port Writes (WPW) is a biennial literary festival based in the Western Port region of the Mornington Peninsula, held in Somers and surrounds. Designed to celebrate creativity and the art of the story, it showcases established and emerging writers connected to our region and beyond. Our hugely enjoyable and successful inaugural festival was held in 2024 and our 2026 festival is coming in October.

2026 Festival Program

Our 2026 Festival Program is live and tickets are now on sale. The program is chock full of brilliant writers, commentators and presenters, and an exciting list of panels, in-conversations, children’s sessions and special events.

The festival begins with a special Opening Night event on Friday 9 October and continues over the weekend of 10-11 October. We’d love to see you there.

See our Program page for all the program details and booking links.

To stay in touch with early festival news and updates, be sure to Subscribe to our Enews.

About Western Port Writes

Western Port Writes is a community-based literary festival in the Western Port region of the Mornington Peninsula. It is convened by a dedicated volunteer committee.

News & Events

Things are happening at Western Port Writes 2026. Keep an eye out here or on our socials.

Western Port Writes 2026

WPW 2026 program is released and bookings are open

Western Port Writes News 2026

Western Port Writes News 2026 is hot off the press

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WPW26 FESTIVAL PROGRAM IS LIVETickets are now on sale. Check out our magical program and book your seats!This year’s theme, What’s the Narrative?, explores what’s behind the stories we love.See you in October!🔗 Ticket link in Bio 🔖 Festival Program link in Bio#WPW26 #westernportwrites2026 #literaryfestival #celebratingstories #morningtonpeninsula
Tomorrow!The Festival Program will come out tomorrow. And tickets are on sale.There’ll be sun!#WPW26 #westernportwrites2026 #wpwliteraryfestival #celebratingstories #morningtonpeninsula
WPW26 Festival ProgramComing in two days…#WPW26 #westernportwritesliteraryfestival #celebratingstories #morningtonpeninsula
The countdown begins…WPW26 Festival Program coming in 3 days. Tickets on sale Monday 10 August.#WPW26 #westernportwritesliteraryfestival #celebratingstories #readersandwriters #morningtonpeninsula
A moment of peace on Western Port…
Countdown begins.It’s just one week until the WPW26 Festival Program lands. You won’t want to miss it. Stay tuned!Program release and tickets on sale from midday Monday 10 August. #wpw26 #westernportwritesliteraryfestival #festivalprogram #comingsoon
AUTHOR REVEALSWe’re thrilled to share more WPW26 writers with you. And so excited to announce crime king Garry Disher; debut novelist Lisa Moule; political commentator and academic Paul Strangio; and illustrious scientist Dr Kylie Soanes.Join us in October to hear these brilliant thinkers and writers discussing their books and areas of expertise.Festival Program out on 10 August. Subscribe for early access! Link in Bio.#wpw2026 #westernportwritesliteraryfestival #writersandreaders #garrydisher @lisamoule6 #paulstrangio @drkyliesoanesGarry Disher has written over 60 books, his latest is Mischance Creek.Garry grew up on a farm in the mid-north of South Australia, the setting of his popular Hirsch crime novels and the Booker Prize nominated literary novel, The Sunken Road. A full-time writer, he lives on the Mornington Peninsula and is the author of 60 titles: general and children’s/young adult fiction, and the widely translated and award-winning Hirsch, Wyatt and Peninsula crime novels. In 2023 he was awarded the Australian Crime Writers Association’s lifetime achievement award. His latest recent stand-alone thriller, Sanctuary, is shortlisted for several awards.We can’t wait to talk with Garry about crime in far flung places!#mischancecreek @text_publishingMulti-talented Lisa Moule is a voice actor, broadcaster and writer. Her debut novel The Mother of All Calamities is an exploration of parenting in the age of social media. 
In 2023, Lisa won second prize in the Emerging Writers’ Short Story Prize. An award-winning short story writer, she was shortlisted for the Peter Carey Award with Newton’s Cradle and she has won or been shortlisted for major Australian literary prizes. Not only a writer, Lisa is also co-host of 3CR’s Published or Not.Her debut book is a commentary on parenting and motherhood in the now, and we can’t wait to peel back the curtain with Lisa.@lisamoule6 @allenandunwin #themotherofallcalamitiesPaul Strangio is an academic and a respected political commentator - an expert in the field of political leadership.He is an emeritus professor of politics at Monash University, a political historian and the author and
SOLD OUT SPECIAL EVENT A Conversation With Kate LeggeTogether with the Shoreham Community Association, we’re delighted to invite you to a warm conversation with acclaimed author and journalist Kate Legge, as she chats with award-winning journalist and documentary-maker Belinda Hawkins about food and friendships.Kate’s latest book, Delicious, explores food, the way it holds memories, and marks life events. And the friendships it creates.Following the talk, we’ll be celebrating this beautiful memoir with an inspired-by-Delicious afternoon tea, based on the recipes in the book.We hope you can join us by the fireplace on the last Sunday in winter. Don’t delay, tickets are disappearing fast.📆 WHEN: Sunday 30 August 📍WHERE: Shoreham Community Hall, 67 Byrnes Rd Shoreham ⏰ TIME: 2pm - 4pm 🔗Booking link in Bio#aconversationwithkatelegge #delicious @allenandunwin #afternoontea @petersens_bookstore
Western Port Writes 2026 Festival Program and tickets are coming soon.Not long now!Don’t miss out on the news. Become a Subscriber and enjoy early bird access!Link in Bio🔗#WPW2026 #westernportwrites2026 #festivalprogramcomingsoon #festivalticketscomingsoon