Mountain Festival 2026
Set at the foot of Geboor (Mount Macedon) on Wurundjeri Country across three days Friday 13 – Sunday 15 November, Mountain Writers Festival offers a literary festival experience unlike any other. Celebrating stories that deepen our relationship with place through our enduring theme ‘Nature. Place. Story,’ the festival brings acclaimed Australian writers into conversation with local and regional voices for a weekend of conversations, workshops, performances and immersive events.
Our interstate guests this year include legendary activist Bob Brown, author and academic Debra Dank, writer, filmmaker, musician and consultant Victor Steffensen, author Mirandi Riwoe, author, poet, rapper, visual artist and winner of the 2026 Miles Franklin Award Omar Musa, cellist Mariel Roberts Musa, poet and midwife Lulu Houdini, YA writer Josh Hortinela, writer and producer Johanna Bell, and critic and writer Neha Kale.
This year’s program continues our commitment to climate resilience and the craft of storytelling, with a wide range of curated sessions. Your Weekend or Day Pass gets you access to nine curated panel and in conversation sessions each day as part of our talks program.
We are also celebrating the vital voices of regional writers and offering programs for young people – including our first-ever schools day and an exciting partnership with Kyneton’s Squishy Minnie Bookshop. Plus, an evening of free performances and networking for writers – including The Wheeler Centre’s Next Big Thing: Regional, and an open mic presented in partnership with Writers Victoria.
Check out the full program of events and lineup of guest artists on our website: https://mountainfestival.com.au/program
Mountain Writers Festival is supported by Creative Australia, Melbourne Airport, Creative Victoria, Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Community Bank Gisborne & District. We are grateful to all our generous supporters and partners.
A festival shaped by place
There is something about being surrounded by mountain air, towering trees and the changing landscapes of the Macedon Ranges that encourages you to slow down and look at things differently.
Mountain Festival embraces that sense of place, creating opportunities to listen, learn, question, create and connect. Expect a program that explores our relationship with nature and Country, the stories held within landscapes, creativity, sustainability and the ideas shaping our future. With festival venues centred around Macedon, it’s easy to make a weekend of it. Arrive by train, settle into the village, explore the surrounding mountain landscape and discover the local food, wine, gardens and country hospitality that make the Macedon Ranges such a special place to visit in spring.
The 2026 program
Mountain Writers’ Festival returns to the Macedon Ranges in 2026, celebrating stories that deepen our relationship with place through our enduring theme ‘Nature. Place. Story.’ Through conversations, workshops, performances and immersive events, the festival brings together readers, writers, artists and thinkers for a weekend of stories shaped by nature, place and community.The festival brings acclaimed Australian writers including Bob Brown, Debra Dank, Tony Birch, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Omar Musa, Jac Semmler, Victor Steffensen and more to be announced into conversation with local and regional voices. Set at the foot of Geboor (Mount Macedon) on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country across three days Friday 13 – Sunday 15 November, Mountain Writers Festival offers a literary festival experience unlike any other.
Festival Passes
The main way to engage with the festival is by booking a Weekend Pass – which ensures access to our full talks program at Jubilee Hall on the Saturday and Sunday, or a Day Pass to gain access to the full range of sessions on Saturday or Sunday.
Covering nine curated panel and in conversation sessions each day, our passes offer a more than 50% discount compared to purchasing individual session tickets. Limited rush tickets may be available for purchase on the door subject to capacity, so the best way to secure your spot is to get in early and book a pass.
Weekend Pass + Opening Night: $260.00
Weekend Pass (Saturday / Sunday only): $240
Day Pass (Saturday): $130
Day Pass (Sunday): $130
Single Session Tickets
Are available for all events in the program. All sessions except workshops and The Village Square are included in Weekend and Day Passes.
Opening Night Gala: Wilder ($35, or add on to a Weekend Pass for $20)
Closing Night: Ecotone ($30, included in Weekend and Day Passes)
Feature Event: The Village Square ($55)
Workshop: Poetic Attention with Lucy Van ($40)
Workshop: Writing History with Mirandi Riwoe ($25)
Workshop: Yesterday Island with Sam Voutas ($40)
Workshop: Flower Power with Jac Semmler ($25)
When is Mountain Festival 2026?
The Mountain Festival will be held from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026 in the village of Macedon, in the Macedon Ranges.
Where is Mountain Festival held?
The festival is centred around the village of Macedon, with festival venues located within the village and surrounding natural landscapes. The festival hub has previously been within a short walk of Macedon Railway Station.
How do I get to Mountain Festival?
Macedon is easily accessible from Melbourne by car or V/Line train. The train journey from Southern Cross to Macedon takes approximately 55 minutes, making Mountain Festival a convenient spring day trip or weekend escape from Melbourne.
Is Mountain Festival suitable for families?
Mountain Festival has previously included dedicated children’s and family activities, including nature-based workshops and creative experiences. The 2026 family program will be announced by the festival organisers.
Where can I stay for Mountain Festival?
Make a weekend of it and stay in one of the Macedon Ranges’ country retreats, cottages, boutique accommodation or hotels. Staying locally gives you more time to explore Macedon, Mount Macedon and the surrounding villages before or after the festival.
Mountain Festival 2026
13–15 November 2026
Macedon | Macedon Ranges
Check the official Mountain Festival website for the latest 2026 information.