New Literary Festival in Perth and surrounds

Although still a couple of years away, a dedicated WA festival will make its debut to incorporate literary talents of the Indian Ocean Rim.
A spiral design made up of books.

A new literary festival will be launched in the spring of 2026 as part of Perth Festival. It will take place in the grounds of the University of Western Australia and across Perth. Its remit is to highlight, in particular, literary offerings from nations around the Indian Ocean Rim, as well as homegrown Perth and Australian talent.

“We’re building a dedicated experience for both writers and readers, with the breathing space to curate a program that is truly reflective of the rich diversity of our region. Literature deserves its own moment in the spotlight, particularly in a city like Perth, where our connection to the Indian Ocean is so integral to our identity. The Festival will allow us to celebrate these connections in a way that’s distinct, meaningful and deeply rooted in the literary traditions of our neighbouring countries.”

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Thuy On is the former Reviews and Literary Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the Books Editor of The Big Issue for 8 years and a former Melbourne theatre critic correspondent for The Australian. She has three collections of poetry published by the University of Western Australian Press (UWAP): Turbulence (2020), Decadence (2022) and Essence (2025). Threads: @thuy_on123 Instagram: poemsbythuy