31 October-
2 November 2025
The Queenstown Writers Festival is an unmissable event each November for anyone who loves books, words and insightful conversation.
The 2024 festival
has wrapped
Our sixth programme was the largest and most diverse we’ve brought to the Queenstown Lakes. More than 25 nationally acclaimed writers took part in a host of events including author conversations, workshops, a book launch, theatre and panel discussions.
2024 Festival Guests
Angela Thompson
Kate Evans
Tayi Tibble
Sonya Wilson
Claire Baylis
Emma Wehipeihana
Holly Dunn
Nikki Macdonald
Mike White
Jacinta Ruru
Gavin Bishop
Anne Stevens KC
Olive Jones
Debbie Jamieson
Saraid de Silva
Peter Newport
Rachael King
Karyn Hay
Craig Hoyle
Scott Bainbridge
Steve Braunias
Lil O’Brien
Margaret O’Hanlon
Tusiata Avia
Key Sponsors
Support the Festival
The Queenstown Writers Festival is run by a charitable trust on volunteer power and with the generous financial support of patrons and sponsors. If you want to help us connect people over a shared love of words, stories and ideas, consider supporting our work.
On the blog
Meet Gladys Henderson, the newest trustee of Queenstown Writers Festival.
QWF Chair Tanya Surrey reflects on 2024 and hints at what might be in store for the 2025 Queenstown Writers Festival.
An edited transcript of Jane Bloomfield and Kyle Mewburn’s conversation about Kyle’s 2024 novel, ‘Sewing Moonlight’.
Queenstown-based Emma Wright is the author of Body Confident: A Guide to Raising Happy Eaters.
Dïne the Fox is a Glenorchy-based illustrator. She illustrated Ruby Loud Mouse and The Ruru, a story by Alice Pearce.
Bookworms walking down Shotover St would be forgiven for spying wetsuits and snowboard gear in the window of NZSHRED and strolling right on by.
