The Auckland Writers Festival | Waituhi o Tāmaki has sparked a hiss and a roar following today’s full programme launch. There’s a real buzz in the air as locals look forward to a massive week of kōrero and stories across the Aotea Centre and venues around the city. If you’re keen to get amongst it, early bird tickets go on sale this Friday, 13 March, so it’s worth moving fast to snag a deal before the May madness begins on 12 May 2026.
Fiction fans will be lining up to see Slow Horses author Mick Herron, celebrated Indian writer Amitav Ghosh, local favourite Catherine Chidgey and Yellowface author RF Kuang.
The programme also features leading non-fiction voices including former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe, AI journalist Karen Hao, BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet, climate policy specialist Luke Kemp, foreign correspondent Barbara Demick and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, with panels exploring topics such as AI, climate change, the economy, mental health and modern masculinity.
Families won’t want to miss Dav Pilkey, creator of Dog Man and Captain Underpants, with a Pilkey Parade for young fans, plus the free PUKAPUKA Adventures weekend of family events on 16-17 May.
Browse our 2026 Auckland Writers Festival Collection for titles from this year's speakers or visit the Auckland Writers Festival website to secure tickets to events.
