Blak & Bright Writers Festival 2026: Who Has the Right to Offend?

The Blak & Bright Writers Festival, recognized as Australia's largest assembly of First Nations authors, will take place in Naarm/Melbourne from September 3 to 6, 2026. This year’s festival occurs against a backdrop of increased political tension in the writing and publishing sectors, following disputes at Adelaide Writers Week, Bendigo Writers Festival, and UQP's controversial decision to destroy a children's book authored by a First Nations writer. A prominent panel, 'Who Has the Right to Offend?', will feature notable First Nations figures like Evelyn Araluen and Melissa Lucashenko—who both resigned from UQP in protest—alongside Tony Armstrong, Rudi Bremer, and Chelsea Watego, focusing on issues of censorship and public discourse. The festival kicks off on September 3 at the Capitol Theatre with a performance by Luke Currie-Richardson. Additional highlights include a keynote by Araluen and Tiriki Onus at The Wheeler Centre, a live Dungeons & Dragons event by Claire G Coleman and Dungeons & Damper, and a fiction writing workshop led by Tony Birch. The closing event at Camp Sovereignty will showcase poetry, music, and storytelling. Artistic Director Bebe Oliver has prioritized accessibility, offering activities for children and teens, with some events taking place outside the city, including at Ballarat Library.