The 2026 Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki invites book lovers to spend a week with some of the world’s most fascinating minds, from 12 to 17 May 2026.

For 27 years, the festival has brought celebrated storytellers, bold thinkers and fresh new voices to the heart of the city. This May, thousands of people from across Aotearoa will once again gather in the city centre to explore a packed programme of talks, ideas and conversations — with literary heavyweights, global voices and exciting new talent all taking the stage.

Check out the festival programme here