Nambour book morning to open Hinterland Writers Festival

Last year’s Nambour market. 

Nambour readers, writers and book lovers will help open the 2026 Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival when the town hosts a morning of books, local authors and memoir writing on Saturday, May 2.

The festival, which runs from May 2-4 across Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Nambour, includes author talks, panel discussions, writing workshops, book markets and family activities, with organisers describing it as a three-day program for “readers, writers and lovers of books”.  

Nambour’s program will be centred on the Nambour Library Forecourt, at the corner of Currie and Bury streets, where a book market will run from 8am-midday.

The market will feature pre-loved and second-hand books, indie authors and self-published authors, giving locals the chance to browse for something different and meet writers selling their own work.

The Nambour market will encourage visitors to discover local authors, creatives and book-related gifts. Happening just before Mother’s Day it represents a great opportunity to find gifts for Mum.

A satellite memoir writing workshop, Starry Horizons with UniSC Assoc Prof Paul Williams, will also be held in Nambour from 9.30am-11am on May 2.

The workshop invites participants to explore their own life stories through practical memoir-writing exercises.    

Rhonda Billett from I Am Nambour said the local festival morning would be a welcome celebration of books and community.

“We look forward to hosting a wonderful literary morning in Nambour,  with lots of amazing self published, Indie authors as well as second hand and preloved book sellers,” she said.

“The festival is in its third big year under Artistic Director Lea Dodd’s expertise and direction, we are so lucky to have her and the team deliver this event for the Sunshine Coast Hinterland this year and we can’t wait to celebrate books and reading culture from Maleny to Nambour.”

 The Nambour Book Market will be held at Nambour Library Forecourt, corner Currie and Bury streets, from 8am-midday on Saturday, May 2. Tickets for the Starry Horizons memoir workshop are available via events.humanitix.com/starry-horizons. More information: schwritersfestival.com.au.