Australia's city of culture and thought.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Melbourne, Australia — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Geraldine Brooks · National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) · August 18, 2026
Novelist Geraldine Brooks explores the intersections of historical research and visual art that inform her fiction. The lecture will draw on recent works and NGV collections to con…
Michelle de Kretser · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 18, 2026
Two-time Miles Franklin winner Michelle de Kretser discusses migration, place and language in her international fiction. The session explores how writers translate the dislocation …
Richard Flanagan · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 18, 2026
Richard Flanagan discusses his latest novel and the role of fiction in engaging with history and place. He will be joined in conversation by a leading critic for a wide-ranging dis…
Richard Flanagan · Wheeler Centre · August 18, 2026
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Flanagan explores fiction's role in understanding history, trauma and reconciliation. He will discuss his new novel and the responsibilities…
Geraldine Brooks · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 18, 2026
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks reads from her latest work and discusses research, historical reconstruction and the craft of fiction. The session includes audienc…
Anna Funder · Melbourne Writers Festival (Hamer Hall) · August 18, 2026
Anna Funder discusses the craft and responsibility of writing about real lives and political histories, drawing on her best-known works. She will take audience questions at the end…
Helen Garner · State Library of Victoria · August 18, 2026
Helen Garner reads from her recent memoir and discusses the craft of nonfiction and the ethics of storytelling. The event includes an audience Q&A and a short booksigning after the…
Naomi Klein · National Gallery of Victoria (NGV Ian Potter Centre) · August 18, 2026
Naomi Klein presents her latest thinking on climate justice, economic systems and collective strategies for a just transition. The lecture will include a moderated dialogue with an…
Richard Flanagan · Melbourne Writers Festival (Arts Centre Melbourne) · August 18, 2026
Nobel-nominated author Richard Flanagan delivers the festival keynote on the responsibilities of writers when fiction meets history. The talk will be followed by a short interview …
Sally Rooney · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 18, 2026
Internationally celebrated novelist Sally Rooney reads from her recent work and takes questions on language, intimacy and contemporary fiction. This festival session includes a sho…
Kim Stanley Robinson; Ceridwen Dovey (panelists) · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 18, 2026
Leading novelists discuss how fiction can imagine climate futures, ethics and policy in compelling ways. The panel will explore narrative strategies that bridge art and activism.
Leigh Sales; Chris Uhlmann; Peter Greste · Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne Writers Festival) · August 18, 2026
A high-profile panel examines trust, misinformation and the responsibilities of newsrooms today. Speakers will debate case studies and audience members are invited to contribute qu…
Christos Tsiolkas · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 18, 2026
In a live session at the Melbourne Writers Festival, Christos Tsiolkas reflects on the social fractures and narratives shaping modern Australia. He will read from recent work and d…
Geraldine Brooks · Melbourne Writers Festival — Melbourne Town Hall · August 19, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winner Geraldine Brooks reads from her latest historical novel and speaks about the research that brings forgotten lives to light. She discusses ethical responsibili…
David Marr · Wheeler Centre · August 19, 2026
Veteran investigative journalist David Marr reflects on the changing landscape of Australian politics and the media's role in holding power to account. The talk will include a mode…
Helen Garner · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 19, 2026
Helen Garner explores the intersections of memoir, reportage and legal constraint in contemporary Australian life. She will read excerpts and take questions from the festival audie…
Rebecca Solnit · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 19, 2026
Author and essayist Rebecca Solnit examines the power of stories to shape political movements and personal imagination. Her talk will bridge history, activism and the practice of h…
Richard Flanagan · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 19, 2026
Richard Flanagan reads from and discusses his forthcoming novel, exploring themes of memory, place and reconciliation. A moderated conversation will follow, with opportunities for …
Marieke Hardy · Melbourne Writers Festival · August 19, 2026
Writer, broadcaster and essayist Marieke Hardy explores the evolving forms of personal narrative across podcasts, essays and memoir. She will read from recent work and discuss how …
Tim Winton · Melbourne Writers Festival (Wheeler Centre) · August 20, 2026
Tim Winton opens the Melbourne Writers Festival with a talk about the sea, environmental imagination, and the stories that define Australian identity. The session includes a modera…