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As a UNESCO City of Literature, Melbourne is the perfect destination for lovers of the written word. The Melbourne Writers Festival is one of the city's biggest and boldest literary events – attracting around 40,000 bookworms.
The four day festival sees authors, playwrights, journalists, poets, songwriters, performers and most importantly – readers from all over the world convene in the city, to discuss fiction, art, food, science and other novel ideas.
Held across the first weekend of May, the festival program consists of artist talks, debates, performances and workshops. Audiences pack out the city's most literary spaces, such as State Library Victoria, The Capitol and the Athenaeum Theatre. Smaller sessions are held in libraries and bookish nooks in Melbourne's inner-neighbourhoods.
Quick facts
Where: primarily in Melbourne's CBD
When: May
Attendance: Up to 45,000 readers and hundreds of writers
What to bring: a reusable bag for books purchased after talks, or perhaps your own dog-eared copy of the author's novel, to be signed after the event.
